N.Z. Cup Planned For Hi Vita

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32354, 21 July 1970, Page 5

N.Z. Cup Planned For Hi Vita

“The Press” Special Service WELLINGTON. The Woodville trainer, S. A. Brown, has mapped out an interesting programme for the rising five-year-old, Hi Vita, which was a close second to Tramore In the Winter Cup Trial at Awapunl last week.

Brown aims to have Hl Vita at peak for the New Zealand Cup at Riccarton in November. He considers the chestnut ideal staying material. In the meantime. Hi Vita will start in the lOf Woodville Handicap. at Woodville, tomorrow He will then go to Pukekohe under the care of T. Barnsley, the stable foreman, who will be in charge of the team while Brown in is Australia. Hi Vita’s mission at Pukekohe Is the $5150 Motion Handicap, over 11 furlongs. Brown has chosen one of the toughest Courses and will really test Hi Vita’s staying powers. Pukekohe, not unlike Riccarton with its long straights, has proved beyond the most capable of stayers. But if Hi Vita is to manage the two miles at Riccarton about three months and a half later, he must first prove he possesses the necessary qualities. No doubt Brown had this in mind when selecting the Pukekohe race for Hi Vita. Hi Vita has tried a middle distance before, when trained at Carterton by C. Humphries. But in several attempts past a mile was found to be tacking in stamina. Hi Vita passed into Brown’s hands about a month ago and immediately caused an upset tn the stable by attacking ! Brown and knocking him out. . In fact, it was not the first time Hi Vita had been difficult to handle. He is “allergic” to veterinary surgeons and whenever they come near he be- ’ comes very unsettled.

Brown does not expect to return to New Zealand until about the middle of November, but will be in frequent contact with Barnsley. If Brown meets only half the success of his last Australian campaign he will still be pleased. None of the three major placegetters in the Winter Cup Trial at Awapuni on Saturday— Tramore, Hi Vita and Royal Tudor—will in fact contest the 15000 Winter Cup at Riccarton on August i. Tramore will continue to race in the lower half of the North Island, and Royal Tudor’s programme is uncertain.

J. Paul, the owner-trainer of Royal Tudor, is uncertain about the stallion’s future racing as weight is now the all-important factor in deciding a programme, and it seems certain that weight-for-age races will give him the best chances.