Monkey King rules roost

BY BARRY LICHTER

MONKEY KING was typically laid-back and Bailey's Dream typically keen as the stablemates stole the show at Addington yesterday, their last home hurrah before the Interdominion Championships.

Benny Hill's New Zealand Cup, Free-for-all and Miracle Mile hero justified his $1.50 odds, running down his rivals in the $75,000 United Fisheries Summer Cup, but the trainer was almost more focused on the long-awaited comeback of big Bailey, who hadn't raced for 13 months.

And, while he weakened only late to lose second on the line to Ohoka Dallas, Bailey's Dream's swift first-up run both pleased Hill and left him with a few headaches to solve before the first round of Interdom heats, at Harold Park on February 19.

"Halfway down Todd [Mitchell] looked confident of winning and it was only in the last 20 metres that he hit the wall – he was just too keen fresh-up," Hill said.

"But the way he hung today, he wouldn't get round Harold Park [a much tighter track].

"He wasn't sore, he was just being Bailey, that's what he does. I might have to put a pole on, even though I don't like using them."

Bailey's Dream, who had surgery to remove cartilage from behind a knee a year ago, was completely sound now, Hill said, and 90% ready for a busy month ahead.

The pair will not race again before flying to Australia on February 17, two days before the opening Interdom heat, and will have a second round at Newcastle on February 27, before the $A1 million final at Tabcorp Park on March 7.

"I want to have Bailey sorted out before Harold Park because we need to get some points on the board, but I was thrilled with his first run – they went 3:12.

"And even though Monkey was very lazy today, almost too lazy, that run will wake him up.

"Both horses are still a bit fat but they have a lot ahead of them. They'll race in the Auckland Cup on the way home too."

YOUNG GUNS FIRING UP

Canterbury trainer Tim Butt hopes to turn his boys into men when promising young guns Choise Achiever, Raglan and The Tower come north for next month's Auckland Cup carnival.

Butt nearly tore off an early hat-trick with the trio at Addington yesterday, only a supersonic last 800m by Raglan's surprise conqueror Auditor General spoiling the premier day party.

But the way all three of his charges performed, given their relative inexperience, thrilled the trainer and raised his hopes that he can pick up some of the lucrative Auckland prizemoney.

Butt says Choise Achiever, a recent six-figure buy into the stable, might lack the ringcraft of his more seasoned rivals, but he could not now ignore the $500,000 on offer for the Northern Derby on March 12.

In taking his record to four from four yesterday, the Courage Under Fire colt was never out of second gear to score by three lengths, reeling off a 55.3sec last half and 27.4 quarter.

"He's only just started racing but he certainly has the raw talent and that will take him a long way.

"We actually bought him for the Grand Circuit later on and I admit he's surprised us a little.

"But I'll take him north now for the derby heat – he's only lightly framed so I'll get up there nice and early to settle him in – and we'll see what he can do."

Butt said he had looked after Raglan since he was bought by a group of stable clients last October.

"But he's at the stage now where he needs to grow up a little and the experience in Auckland will help him do that."

Butt said the 1950 metres of yesterday's race did not allow Raglan to show off his staying ability and they had been surprised by the 26.2 quarter unleashed by Auditor General, the fastest last sectional run at Addington since 2004.

"He was only getting warmed up at the finish – he's a pretty good stayer and I'll be trying to get him into the Auckland Cup.

"Some of the other horses coming from the Interdominions could be tired by cup time and he is at the stage where he will improve a lot."

Raglan would contest the $50,000 City Of Auckland Free-for-all on March 5 and the $500,000 Auckland Cup on March 12.

Butt said he also expected the trip north to help The Tower mature into a very competitive trotter.

The young brother of topliner Sovereignty won his fourth race from six starts this campaign when he easily held off Goldstar Invasion to win by two lengths.

The high-priced Monarchy four-year-old got off to a slow start last year when he was found to be lame only four days after joining Butt.

"We don't know whether he did it in the race or in the float but we found a bone had chipped off the outside of his knee.

"We had him operated on and he's 100% now. He should go on and do a good job."

The Tower's win completed a good double for Auckland co-owner John Hall, who also recently bought into Choise Achiever.

- © Fairfax NZ News