Weekend options for jumps star Tarawera remain undecided with Flemington plans so far thwarted by a shortage of top jockeys.
Trainer Brian Johnston revealed he can’t find a suitable rider for Tarawera in Saturday’s $200,000 Andrew Ramsden Stakes at Flemington.
The Giant’s Causeway gelding drew barrier two in the Listed 3200m feature which attracted 18 acceptors but he is also also an acceptor for Sunday’s $75,000 Great Southern Steeplechase (3300m) at Mornington.
“We’re not sure which race we’re going to run him in as yet,” Johnston, who co-trains with Fran Houlahan, said.
“He’s a realistic chance in either one, but we don’t have a rider for him in the Andrew Ramsden as yet.”
“It’s very difficult as a lot of the good jockeys are away at the moment and it is a non-claiming race so it’s hard to put an apprentice on in those sort of circumstances.
“Dale Smith has commitments in Adelaide (at Morphettville) and Lisa Cropp, who won on him at Sandown, is committed to Hiphopopotamus.
“We are hoping that there are some more scratchings and that one of those jockeys can ride him otherwise he’ll run on Sunday.
“The horse is ready to do either job, they are both two-mile races.”
Johnston quipped that apart from the $120,000 first prize for the Andrew Ramsden, the race also qualifies the winner for the 2011 Melbourne Cup.
“He’s an underestimated flat horse and if he goes around he’ll be a realistic chance, don’t worry about that,” he said.
Two starts back Tarawera led all the way to win over 2400m at Sandown while last start the five-year-old was beaten narrowly when runner-up to Vindicating in the Brierly Steeplechase (3450m) at Warrnambool on May 2.
Tarawera, last year’s JJ Houlahan Jumps Championship winner following wins in the Australian and Crisp Steeplechases, will head the same way again this year leading up to the $200,000 Grand National Steeple (4500m) at Sandown on August 28.
He fell as favourite in that event last year which was won by Morsonique.
Tarawera will carry the 54kg limit weight if he runs in the Andrew Ramsden and has equal topweight of 68kg Great Southern, the same weight as Oakbank Great Eastern Steeple winner Petushki and Virvacity.
Last start Warrnambool Cup runner-up Niwot is a $3.80 favourite for the Ramsden with Tarawera at $14.
AAP TURF
