Beckett hoping to emulate his father

When Southland trainer Cecil Beckett won the 1995 Wellington Cup with Ed, his hometown of Riverton celebrated with a street parade.

Beckett's son, Ross, doubts that the citizens of Christchurch will respond in the same fashion if he matches his father today, but victory would be reward enough.

Ross, one of Cecil's 14 children, trains Titsgittin, who looks a leading chances for today's $250,000 feature at Trentham.Titsgittin has a good strike rate, with 10 wins from 35 starts, and has already proved himself in the North Island. He ran third in the Thompson Handicap in March 2008, at his one previous appearance at Trentham, and capped off his cup preparation with a game third in the Marton Cup a fortnight ago.

The six-year-old, who has been aimed at today's race "for some time" has been a late developer and has had only six middle-distance runs. He was unplaced at his first run past 1600m but has won or been placed at every attempt since.

He has also drawn well today, after starting from the outside barrier in the Marton Cup. "He's got a decent draw at last and if everything goes right, he has to have a show," Beckett said.

Beckett has had only a handful of runners at Trentham but produced Wanderacross to win a race on cup day in 2006 and had his first crack at the Wellington Cup in 1989, with Sovereign Court, who was unplaced.

Titsgittin will be ridden by veteran Christchurch jockey Lance Robinson, who is attempting to strike another blow for experience over youth. Robinson, 52, is hoping to follow 55-year-old Noel Harris, who won the $1 million Telegraph Handicap on Vonusti last weekend.

Red Ruler was a $2.80 favourite for the cup last night, but there was support for Booming, including bets of $4000 and $1000 at $6. Walker's team ready RACING LIFTOUT

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