By MIKE DILLON
The pressure is on rising superstar Mabuz.
Owner Nelson Schick has just paid a $A5500 late entry fee for the $A2.5 million Doncaster Handicap and the race is on to guarantee enough weight to obtain a start.
When Doncaster weights were released yesterday Mabuz was given only 49kg, which almost certainly will not get him into the final field.
Mabuz will have to win at least his final lead-up start to have any chance of being included in the line-up.
The late entry fee is non refundable if Mabuz misses the field.
"Our conditions state that only the final acceptance fee is refundable if a horse is on the ballot list," said Australian Jockey Club racing manager Colin Tuck.
Mabuz, outstanding in winning at Te Rapa last start, will take on open class for the first time at Ellerslie on Saturday and will once again be ridden by Vinny Colgan.
Derby fourth placegetter Karadan will resume racing in Nelson Schick's care on Saturday.
Karadan's final Derby preparation had been done by Roydon Bergerson, with whom Schick was keen to point out there is no dissatisfaction.
"Karadan was trained here for the first part of each of his two preparations. Roydon has done a wonderful job with him."
The Danehill colt will be aimed at either the AJC Derby or South Australian Derby and will join an Australian stable for the lead-up.
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Graham Richardson can't wait to get class mare Platonic to the barrier trials at Counties tomorrow.
The Matamata trainer has had a nervous five-week wait to see if a disastrous Wellington Cup raceday has had any lingering effects.
Platonic had her worst day as a racehorse standing for five hours on a float in a traffic jam caused by a fatal road crash on her way to Trentham for the group one Thorndon Mile on January 27.
In hot conditions the drama took its toll on the mare, who arrived at Trentham looking like she had already run her race.
She ran the worst race of her high profile career, finishing 11th as second favourite.
"The tragedy is, when she left Matamata to go to Trentham she looked fantastic," said Richardson yesterday.
"When she got home she'd lost just so much condition. She'd had a hard time on that float going to the races.
"A scope we had done when she got home showed gunge in her lungs."
Richardson is serious about looking at the $A460,000 Coolmore Classic and $A2.5 million Doncaster Handicap with Platonic, but needs first to ensure the mare is on her game with tomorrow's trial.
"She's looking good again, but I want to see what she does in the trial before I'm satisfied."
The $100,000 Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes at Te Aroha is a possibility for Platonic.
Richardson is delighted with the 50.5kg Platonic has been given in the Doncaster, in which Sunline was handicapped at 59kg. Topweight at 60kg is Hong Kong-trained Fairy King Prawn, who finished a close second to Sunline in the Hong Kong Mile in December.
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Previously unbeaten New Zealand-bred filly Just Call Me proved how important weight is in racing when she finished second in Dubai in the Pearls Of Dubai Prelude at the weekend.
The Pearls Of Dubai Stakes is run at set weights, the Prelude handicap being based on what sale price the horses attracted at the auction of Kiwi thoroughbreds late last year.
There was also a 1kg penalty for every race won.
Just Call Me (by Blues Traveller) was the sale-topper and had 60kg in the weekend's race, being narrowly beaten by Gayer (by Prince Ferdinand) on 54kg.
There will be an 8kg swing in the big race on March 15 with Just Call Me in 55kg and Gayer on 57kg.
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Starina could still be on track for the $A800,000 Sydney Cup despite having her preparation interrupted by a muscle problem in her hindquarters.
The rapidly improving mare will have to miss the St Leger at Trentham after straining a muscle early last week.
"She's had a week off and this morning is the first time I've been able to give her a bit of trotting," said trainer Kerry Verner.
Verner said it would be a week or more before he could be sure where he is with Starina's preparation.
Ideally he would like to give her a handicap start at Ellerslie on March 24.
Safely through that he would use the Chairman's Handicap at Randwick as a final lead-up to the Sydney Cup.
"If something goes wrong the Adelaide Cup is probably an alternative."
At only her second start in open company, Starina flashed home to finish third to Smiling Like and Ebony Honor in the Wellington Cup last start.
"Sometimes these things are a blessing in disguise," said Verner.
"I was happy enough with her condition a week ago, but she looks even better now."
Starina has been given 49kg in the Sydney Cup.
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