Trainer in a quandary

Brian McKeagg wants to take Silvaraad to Trentham to race during the Wellington Cup Carnival - the only problem is he has to find a suitable race for the six-year-old.

Silvaraad produced a clinical home stretch sprint in the hands of Vinny Colgan to score a nose victory over Travellin' Man in the Herald on Sunday Mile at Ellerslie yesterday.

The Tauranga-based trainer was not surprised by the performance but confessed that he may have difficulties finding a suitable race for the seven-race win galloper.

"I was quite keen on taking him to Wellington for the 2-6 win race but I can't do that anymore because he's now a seven-race winner," said McKeagg.

"There is the option of throwing in a late nomination for the Thorndon Mile but that's an expensive option and that's something I'll have to discuss with the owners.

"He wouldn't disgrace himself lining up against the top milers in New Zealand but he's most probably a couple of lengths inferior to the really good horses.

"He's generally a very honest horse but he hasn't had much luck recently and that's reflected by his form line.

"He can be a tricky horse to ride at times but Vinny [Colgan] has got to know him really well and they've combined to win three races."

McKeagg will be shifting into a new barn, one of two that will be built on Tauranga Racecourse next month.

Silvaraad has a constant companion around the stables and on the racetrack. McKeagg's wife Joanne is the only person who handles the son of Volksraad.

"Joanne rides him in track work and she's his horse and nobody else touches him and he's her pet. I do ride a few in pace work these days but only the naughty ones.

"I'm looking forward to shifting into my new barn next month as it means I'll be able to train 20 horses which is a good number for me to handle."

- HERALD ON SUNDAY