By Jonny Turner
Plenty may have changed for The Big Lebowski but one factor remains the same ahead of his return to southern racing on Macca Lodge Kindergarten Stakes Day at Wyndham on Sunday.
The well-travelled pacer is back in the province where he was bred and raised to restart his career at the Brett Gray stable.
After last starting in the Group 1 Auckland Cup for Ray Green, The Big Lebowski looks well placed in Sunday’s Hunter Family Handicap (4.43pm).
But only if he can make a clean beginning.
“He was a bit hit or miss from a stand early on but he did get better as he went on,” Gray said.
“Getting away will be the big thing for him on Sunday.”
“He probably hasn’t been in a field of that size for a while, but hopefully he can get it right.”
The Big Lebowski has only had one trial since his shift south and he strode out to win easily in sharp time.
Gray feels it has been enough to have his stable newcomer fit and ready to run a big race fresh up.
“He was meant to race last week but it took another week to get his feet right,” Gray said.
“I am pretty happy with him, his work has been good and I think he is forward enough to go a good race if he can get away well.”
“He’s raced good horses up north, he didn’t have too many other options up there.”
“He’s come down as a rating 78 and he should be pretty competitive in these country cups races.”
Gray starts a team of seven on Macca Lodge Kindergarten Stakes Day.
The trainer rates Haley Jaccka and Flashpoint as two of his best winning chances behind The Big Lebowski.
Haley Jaccka faces her toughest career test in the Group 3 Wyndham Champagne Stakes (5.20pm).
“She’s been going great races every week so she deserves a go at this race.”
“She’s drawn (barrier) 1, if she could trail or end up three-back I think she could go a cheeky race.”
Flashpoint fronts up in another Southern Supremacy Stakes heat after winning the first qualifier of the series late last month.
“He was pretty ordinary at the trials last week but he is better than that.”
“He needed that run and his work since then has been good.”
“If they go hard, it will suit him, he’s a good stayer.”
Nathan Williamson will link up with Flashpoint, while Brent Barclay drives Haley Jaccka and Blair Orange reunites with The Big Lebowski.
Lakelsa needing a “little luck” in Wyndham Champagne Stakes
By Jonny Turner
Lakelsa may have to call on all of her star qualities in her Wyndham homecoming on Sunday.
The mare is back on her home patch for the newly minted Wyndham Champagne Stakes after stamping herself as one of New Zealand’s best mares with her brilliant summer form.
Two factors could stand between Lakelsa and a fairytale homecoming victory in the Group 3 feature.
But trainer Regan Todd is only concerned about one of them – the five-year-old’s barrier 9 draw.
“She could get buried on the fence is the worry,” Todd said.
“If the better mares that are drawn out wide get into the running line, they could get their momentum up and be very hard to catch.”
“Our mare is very fast, but she is going to need a little bit of luck, she can’t be getting too far out of her ground.”
While her fans may be concerned, Todd isn’t too worried about his mare’s last start defeat at Addington.
Lakelsa was just over four lengths from a hardy type in Vessem when running fourth in what was her first outing for six weeks.
“Looking back after the race, she was fresh up and she ran a pretty decent lead time and she just got tired that last bit.”
“We were hoping she would take good benefit from that run and her work this week has been very good.”
Win, lose or draw, it is planned that Lakelsa will have a well-deserved spell with her Wyndham owners Bruce and Al Sinclair following Sunday’s race.
Todd also starts Betterthancash at Wyndham’s Macca Lodge Kindergarten Stakes Day.
The trainer is hoping his pacer can get a little more luck after he ran on late in his last start fourth in the Wyndham Cup.
“He began well in the Wyndham Cup but there were a heap of lead changes and he ended up out the back.”
“He ran on quite well, he’s been staying down there since and the team has been happy with him.”
“If he begins as good again and is handy enough to them he should go a pretty good race.”
Todd also starts Aldebaran Crystal in a middle grade trot on Macca Lodge Kindergarten Stakes Day.
To see the Wyndham fields click here
