Shaheen Is Top Guineas Prospect

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32393, 4 September 1970, Page 1 (Supplement)

Shaheen Is Top Guineas Prospect

’'the Preu" Special Service WANGANUI. Betters will faee the same old problem tomorrow in the Wanganui Guineas. There is the usual dash between form and breeding to cloud the result of the first classic of the season. On the one hand there is the form of Faiview Lad and Shaheen, both recent winners. On the other is the breeding of such horses as Silver Knight and Big Beam. Most betters will favour Shaheen and Fairview Lad.

The trainer, W. Sanders, rates Fairview Lad one of the best gallopers he has had. He must have seen something in the chestnut’s performances to rate him so highly. Probably his best two-year-old win was when, under Bst 41b, he beat Apollo Eleven, Securitas and Friday Affair in the Avondale Futurity Stakes on June 27. This was his first win

and he repeated a week later in the Waitemata Handicap on the same course. One thing against the rangy Waipa galloper is that all his races have been at six furlongs. A mile may suit him better, but there is no guarantee that it will. Shaheen is in much the same position. He ran away from Fairview Lad and plenty of the other three-year-old hopes in the Carterton Handicap. Then last week at Wanganui, he lasted to beat Amalfi, His Ayr and Kabir over a shade more than six and a half furlongs. BETTER BRED Of the two Shaheen, by Pakistan 11, is the better bred. He is related to the Melbourne Cup winner, Polo Prince and the crack sprinters. Paper Strip, False Step and Poutatau. Fairview Lad is from the family that produced the brilliant Silver Scorn, but that was some time ago and his particular branch relies for more recent laurels on Shakes and Scorn.

So classic blood in both pedigrees is there but rather well hidden. Still, fitness is an important thing, too, and both are conditioned to run out a mile. As a two-year-old Shaheen quickly struck form but was not so impressive in later races, although in his remaining four he finished fourth twice and third once. This season he missed at Levin but won at Tauherenikau and Wanganui. Silver Knight is bred to win the Guineas, but his shaky form background will not win him any followers.

Silver Knight is related to the A.J.C. Derby and V.K.C. St Leger winner. Prince Grant, so if he can produce his top form and handle Wanganui’s shifty track he may succeed. Silver Knight’s sire, Alcimedes, has just topped the Australian list. If tomorrow’s footing is reasonable, this colt could easily upset them all. He certainly appeals as the most likely in this field to make his mark later in the season.