Dont' Say Clang looks the best of eight Winter Cup hopefuls down to contest the $12,000 Winter Cup Trial at Washdyke tomorrow.
All in the field bar Jeannot have the $125,000 group three feature at Riccarton on August 2 on their agenda.
Don't Say Clang, impressive winner of his last three starts, is equal Winter Cup favourite at $7 in TAB fixed-dividend betting with Pindy, who contests the Opunake Cup at New Plymouth today.
The 4yr-old Don't Say Clang had his last win in an open 1400m on a heavy track at Ashburton on July 6.
His previous win was over 1600m in a rating 80 race at Riccarton.
The gelding has recorded five wins, six seconds, and three thirds from 17 starts for Riccarton co-owner and trainer Teri Rae.
Peyow Peyow recorded a hat trick when he won the Amberley Cup (1600m) on a slow track at Riccarton at his last start on June 21.
He gives trainer Michael Pitman a strong hand in the race with top weight Benelli, who is on the third line of betting at $14 in the Winter Cup.
Pitman, who moved to 81 wins, three behind premiership leader Mark Walker, with two successes at Oamaru yesterday, has a top winning chance with Eel Win in the 3yr-old 1200m.
The gelding was left with Pitman by co-owner and trainer Sabin Kirkland after winning the 1600m 3yr-old race at the Waimate meeting at Ashburton last Sunday.
He has won seven races and $130,725 in stakes.
Catherine Tetzlaff will continue her association with Eel Win, her 3kg allowance bringing his weight down to 56.5.
Ricky Donnelly has joined the Pitman stable.
He does not intend to renew his trainer's licence next season.
Ben Hogan (Lisa Latta, Palmerston North), MacO'Reilly (David and Sarah Haworth, Levin) and Tiakinui (Ken Amey, Foxton) are North Island-trained runners in the Washdyke race.
The talented 3yr-old filly Oxford Aunt resumes racing in the rating 80 1200m tomorrow.
She has not raced since falling in the New Zealand One Thousand Guineas at Riccarton on November 10 when ridden by Chris Johnson, who has ridden 98 winners this season.
Terry Moseley will have his first ride on the Tuscany Flyer filly tomorrow.
Oxford Aunt has been back in work three months with trainer Pam Robson.
"She suffered a severe hock injury on her off hind leg in the Riccarton fall," Robson said.
"Terry has done a lot of work with her.
She is reasonably forward but will probably need the race as she has not had a trial.
"She will need to regain her confidence and sometimes horses fail to come back from that type of injury," Robson said.
Quid, an unbeaten trotter in Murray Edmonds in-form Motukarara stable, has been sold to Victorian interests, our Christchurch correspondent reports.
Christchurch bloodstock agents Joan and Paul Davies have transacted his sale to Victorian owner Joe Aquilina, of Rockbank.
Quid created a favourable impression when he impressively won his first start at Addington on July 4, prevailing by a nose from subsequent winner Yankee Nova.
A 4yr-old son of Wall Street Banker, Quid had showed up at trials before his auspicious winning debut and has not started since.
The Davies husband and wife combination has also transacted the sale of Shardons Rocket, a well-performed 1-win horse by Pacific Rocket in the Gene Robb stable.
Shardons Rocket has started seven times for a win and three thirds;Additional information for meetings today:Avondale JC:Scratchings:Race 2: Red Tiger.
Weather, overcast; track, heavy (11), rail out 9m.
Opunake RC:Riders:Race 3: Tonto Boy - D Bradley.
Race 10: Another One - P Taylor; Senorita Smiles - B Herd; Doctor La Bonga - C Johnson.
Scratchings:Race 2: Dude.
Race 4: Puahue Magic, Bolivar.
Race 7: Klassic Singer.
Race 8: Mr Benny Hill.
Race 9: Mostly, Alabama John.
Race 10: Sungirl, Killa Loox, Falkiss.
Weather, showery; track, heavy (11), rail true.
