KARLOO MICK FEELS AT HOME IN NEW ZEALAND

Any trainer who travels their horses will readily admit that one of the biggest problems that they face when they arrive in a new place is whether the horse settles in and begins to eat and drink as if they were at home.

Karloo Mick has only been away from Dubbo for just over one week and he has already settled into New Zealand life remarkably quickly according to his trainer Barry Lew. Lew is aiming his stable star at next month's $1 million New Zealand Cup and can't believe how well the horse has coped with all of the travel and change to his regular routine.

"I always knew he would enjoy getting back to the beach but I am really surprised at how well he has handled everything since arriving" Lew said.
"He started eating and drinking straight away which was great. I had spoken to the people at Mitavite and they assured me that I would be able to get everything in New Zealand that he was used to and they were spot on."

Karloo Mick is set to make his New Zealand debut next Monday when he competes in the Ashburton Flying Stakes and Lew is confident that the horse will be ready to perform at his best.

"After I trialled Karloo Mick at Dubbo Sunday week ago I said to my wife that he was in the best condition that he had ever been in when leaving home for a feature race. It's very hard for me to say that he is going to come out and run this time next week because I am not working him on a track but I know he feels strong and that's all that I need to know."

Lew worked Karloo Mick on a beach in the lead up to both of his Inter Dominion placings and the trainer is very happy with the facilities that he is currently using just outside of Christchurch.

"He has worked on the beach every day that he has been here. He jogs down about two miles and then I turn him around and he works about three quarter speed back."

"I reckon we must spend between 90 minutes and two hours at the beach every morning. He likes to go out into the water up to his knees for about ten minutes and wind down after his work. Plenty of other gallopers and harness horses use the beach and when he sees them he is just so keen to go with them. He wants to race."

Lew and his wife Rhonda were guests of the New Zealand Trotting Club last Friday night at Addington and were very impressed with the hospitality of the New Zealanders.

"I think the club is very happy to have Karloo Mick here. When we arrived at the races last week they showed us to the Karloo Mick table and made sure we had a great night."

"The horse has also had his fair share of publicity since he arrived. The photographers were at the stables recently to get some snaps of him and although I haven't seen it I believe he is on the front page of their trotting weekly."

While Lew is looking forward to the New Zealand Cup he is by no means confident of taking out New Zealand's most prestigious harness race.

"I am just so thrilled to have the horse here getting ready for their biggest race. There are so many good horses in the event that it is hard to put expectations on him. I know he will do his best and that's all I ever want from him."

** Karloo Mick was set to trial at Addington on Wednesday afternoon from a standing start.

BUCCA'S GRINGO TO BE AIMED AT THE NEWCASTLE MILE

Last Friday night's Harold Park winner Johnny El Gringo will be set for the Newcastle Mile by his Bringelly trainer Anthony Bucca after pulling up well from the impressive victory. The six year old defeated a strong field including New South Wales Derby winner Make Me Smile comfortably and despite his relative inexperience Bucca believes the time is right to test him against the best.

"I definitely want to start in the Newcastle Mile" Bucca said.

"I would really like to give him a shot at the good horses over a mile. It is his pet distance and he already has a couple of records over the distance at Menangle. He is a very fast horse, he likes to lead but the other night he showed he can back off and run a quarter, it's all going very well at the moment."

Johnny El Gringo might be enjoying a good run recently but the son of John Street North does deserve some luck after sustaining two serious injuries during his three year old season.

"He has got two bowed tendons. He did them when he was three year old. It has been a really hard time for us because we have spent about two years in the background just working on him and as a result he does a lot of swimming to stay fit."

"He gets around on his tendons alright at the moment but we have to look at his runs and space them out."
Bucca contemplated retiring Johnny El Gringo after he finished third behind Karloo Mick at Young in May but after a conversation with Cobbity trainer Dennis Wilson, Bucca decided to give the gelding one more chance.

"I spoke with Dennis and asked him what he did with all of his good horses in the past that had some serious issues and he said if the horse was happy in training then he should be given another campaign."

"Dennis said to me if I thought Johnny El Gringo would handle a spell and the work he would have to do to get race fit again then I should do it and that was enough for me. I decided to give him another go."

The decision has been a successful one with Johnny El Gringo winning three of his four starts this campaign and last night's win took his prizemoney over $100,000.