He's out.
http://www.theinformant.co.nz/racing...asa-scratching
I think they did the right thing for the horse. That was a huge weight - the highest in this race in more than 20 years. There'll be other races for him.
The G1 Waikato Sprint next month (which he also won in 2009 and 2011) is weight-for-age, so he won't have such a huge disadvantage in weight.
I do like Durham Town now.
Field:
1 12121 Mufhasa 16 111 61.0
Scratched Stephen McKee, Ardmore
2 36411 Atomic Force (AUS) 4 107 59.0 Nash Rawiller Darren Smith, New South Wales
3 55745 O'Cartier 12 102 56.5 Hayden Tinsley John & Karen Parsons, Balcairn
4 54420 Vonusti 15 102 56.5 Noel Harris Tim & Margaret Carter, Cambridge
5 41654 El Chico 10 99 55.0 Lisa Allpress Michael Pitman, Yaldhurst, Riccarton
6 00X04 Atapi 18 98 54.5 Jim Byrne Richard Otto, Te Awamutu
7 X3267 Double Barrel 9 96 54.0 Darryl Bradley Moira Murdoch & Dominic Olson, Waiuku
8 12449 Imani 8 95 54.0 Robert Hannam Terri Rae, Riccarton Park
9 X1272 The Hombre 20 95 54.0 Jason Waddell John Bary, Hastings
10 81118 Durham Town 1 93 53.5 Vinnie Colgan Donna & Dean Logan, Ruakaka
11 X5600 Ego 7 93 53.5 Paul Taylor Ben Foote, Byerley Park
12 X2601 Guiseppina 22 99 53.0 James McDonald Steven Ramsay & Julia Ritchie, Maungatautari
13 3X4X1 Gaston 14 90 53.0 Kelly Myers Graeme & Debbie Rogerson, Tuhikaramea
14 X4220 Upsala 11 90 53.0 Matthew Cameron Kenny & Lisa Rae, Ruakaka
15 12101 Baby Guinness 21 94 52.0 Craig Grylls Karen Fursdon & Gemma Sliz, Matamata
16 11441 So Elusive 13 94 52.0 David Walsh Michael Pitman, Yaldhurst, Riccarton
17 11232 Starguru 19 88 52.0 Rosie Myers (a) Patrick Campbell, Hastings
18 5X122 Charma 17 85 52.0 Mark Sweeney Graeme & Mark Sanders, Te Awamutu
19 12512 Eight Schillings 3 85 52.0 Sam Spratt Stephen McKee, Ardmore
20 3X354 Rough Odds 2 84 52.0 Richard Collett, Pukekohe Park
21 25320 Kaptain Kirkup (IRE) 5 82 52.0 Michael Moroney & Andrew Clarken, Matamata
22 76742 Reuben Thorn 6 75 52.0 Grant Searle, Awapuni
The Hombre has to have a good chance too after his great Railway run.