A start for Bettor's Fire in the Marlborough Winter Cup tomorrow will depend on the 3yr-old securing a Cook Strait crossing.
"He is in Bulls now and we just can't get a ferry crossing," Cran Dalgety, his trainer said last night.
Bettor's Fire has been racing well. He finished third to stablemate Donegal Delight and Bettor Dream at his last start at Alexandra Park on June 8 after a sixth in the Harness Jewels race won by Smolda.
Dalgety also has Bettor Move It in the Marlborough Cup. She ran third to Jellignite and Samuel James in the Cup prelude at Waterlea yesterday.
Dexter Dunn will retain the drive on Bettor Move It and Anthony Butt is to drive Bettor's Fire.
Dalgety withdrew Donegal Delight and Hip Hop Anvil from the Marlborough Cup as he felt the handicaps were too great.
Donegal Delight has a free-for-all at Addington on June 22 as her next assignment.
Jellignite overcame a 20m handicap to win yesterday.
Christian Charlie who was having his first start from the stable of David and Catherine Butt, led throughout 2300m yesterday. The Christian Cullen 3yr-old colt had not raced since December 29. Raced by Small Car World Ltd, Christian Charlie had finished fifth in each of his two starts when trained by Nigel McGrath, who bought him for $27,000 at the 2010 premier yearling sale.
Zac Butcher has become the third junior driver to reach 100 wins in a season.
Dexter Dunn was in a class of his own as a junior with totals of 146, 204, 168 and 220 wins in his four seasons from 2007-08. He was the leading driver each time in the open premiership.
Mark Jones is the other junior to reach 100 which he achieved in 1999-2000.
Butcher, the leading junior this season, is a son of David Butcher, the top junior in 1982-83 with 24 wins and 1985-86 (60).
Zac Butcher reached the 100 when he drove El Magic at Forbury Park on Thursday night.
Castellina Lover carried her army of supporters through at Forbury Park on Thursday night when she won by half a head without being driven out. She settled eighth and improved from the 600m in her first race for three months.
Castellina Lover was not liable for a penalty for her win.
Trainer Steve Dolan said she will go to Oamaru tomorrow week before heading to Brisbane for the Queensland Oaks.
Veteran Mataura horseman Jimmy Bond produced Aye One to win on Thursday night but he was not on hand. He was kicked on the hip when shoeing a horse on Sunday and felt the trip to Dunedin would be too demanding. His son Lyndon travelled with Aye One, a 4yr-old owned and bred by Bond's brother, Graham, who is working for a stable in Perth.
Aye One had one other start in August.
"We thought he [Aye One] was pinching himself so we had him gelded and that is why he has been off the scene," Lyndon said.
Aye One, who was given the run of the race by Dexter Dunn, is the first foal of Wren Alot, an unraced half-sister by Sir Vancealot to six winners including Royal Seal (eight wins).
Glyn Schofield had his appeal against a careless riding suspension dismissed yesterday, AAP reports.
Schofield was suspended for eight meetings at Wyong on May 31.
Schofield, who is third in the Sydney jockeys' premiership, rides at Rosehill today and starts his suspension on Monday. He can resume riding on July 5.
His ban coincides with a suspension for his son Chad who is out for six meetings after today.
Glyn Schofield's Rosehill mounts include Reigning in the Stayers Cup (3200m).
The Con Karakatsanis-trained 3yr-old finished eighth to Brambles in the group one Queensland Derby (2400m) last Saturday.
"It's a really strong staying contest and he is going to have to see the trip out," Schofield said.
