Six O’Clock News to steer a new course

The Six O'Clock News camp is trying a different approach in a bid to get a true line on the talented stayer in the $17,000 Skycity Hamilton Casino Cup (2000m) at Te Rapa tomorrow.

Champion apprentice James McDonald, the country's leading rider, has picked up the ride on Six O'Clock News, replacing the horse's regular jockey Noel Harris.

Harris has ridden Six O'Clock News in all bar two of his starts since the Gr II Counties Cup in November 2008, including his most important victory in the Gr II City of Auckland Cup at Ellerslie just over 12 months ago.

Harris wasn't available for the first-up ride on Six O'Clock News this season when Michael Walker took the reins in the Foxbridge Plate at Te Rapa and Cameron Lammas was aboard when the horse was fresh-up from his unsuccessful Melbourne Spring campaign at Avondale on January 23, with Harris committed to riding at Trentham on the first day of the Wellington Cup meeting.

''It's an owners' decision for the change of rider,'' said Six O'Clock News' trainer Trent Busuttin.

''They wanted a change to get a new perspective on the horse. In Aussie things didn't go right and he [Six O'Clock News] didn't perform. That's left a question mark over him. He'd want to do something on Saturday to be a chance in the Auckland Cup.

''There appears to be plenty of speed in the race with the likes of Hurrah, Antipodean and Spectacular Icon and I'd like to see him ridden a touch handier of midfield instead of being out the back.''

McDonald had his first taste of Six O'Clock News ability when he rode the stayer in an exhibition gallop with Gr I placegetter Military Move at Te Rapa last month.

Six O'Clock News then went on to finish fifth of seven fresh-up over 1400m at Avondale when doing his best work over the closing stages.

''He's done well since the first-up run and from his work this morning he's a big chance on Saturday,'' said Busuttin.

''He should go a big race. It's not ideal stepping up from 1400m to 2000m second-up but there's improvement in him.''

Busuttin, who has stablemate Imabayboy racing in tomorrow's Gr III HS Dyke Waikato Guineas, plans to give Six O'Clock News his final leadup to the $1 million Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie on March 10 in a 2400m event at Ellerslie in a fortnight.

''I'd like to be able to give him a mile and a half run within a fortnight of the Cup but the race that slots in is the one at Matamata and its too short,'' Busuttin said.

- © Fairfax NZ News