Test for Panzer Chief

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32554, 13 March 1971, Page 8

Test for Panzer Chief

"The Press” Special Service WELLINGTON. As a stamina tost th. Now Zealand St Logar con bo unreliable, but If Ponzer Chief wine It today and rune a fast time ho will remove much of the doubt which exists about hie stamina. Panzer Chief’s quality is unquestioned, but brilliance and stamina do not often go together, and the question is whether his tremendous speed Is matched by similar stamina. There have been indications that the two are balanced in his make-up—his 11-furlong Storey Stakes victory earlier this term did not look the performance of a horse lacking stamina. Neither did he look as if he could not stay when he fought back magnificently to hold Klrrama to three-quarters of a length in the Great Northern Derby. But he has had stamina failures too, like the one in the Wellington Derby, yet whether it was a reflection on his stamina is impossible to assess. He has failed in shorter races

where there was no doubt of his ability to win, such as the Hawke’s Bay Guineas and the Rotorua Challenge Stakes. Beyond a suspicion that he might have been short of his hardest condition there has never been an explanation of his few failures and since they have occurred over varying distances they cannot be regarded simply as evidence that he does not stay. Few top three-year-olds have better chances to prove themselves at the St Leger distance—--14 furlongs—than the one awaiting Panzer Chief today. Too often the top horse meets a bunch of moderates and outsprints them. Today, however, Panzer Chief faces at least three which seem likely to get the distance. Dare Devil's withdrawal Is bad luck, but both the Tempertontrained colts, Silver Knight and Purdle, are good racehorses and would rank high tn any year. The only filly, Topsy, seems a stayer through and through.

Purdle, however, has not raced for a month. His track work, as usual, has been outstanding but more recent racing among the others may give them an edge on him. The big factor going for him Is his brilliant finish for second in the Wellington Derby, which was a fairly conclusive demonstration of his staying power.

Silver Knight was close behind him In third place and later

gave an equally convincing display when he beat Dare Devil over a mile and a half in the Benson and Hedges Inter-Island Handicap at Riccarton, He has since been beaten over 11 furlongs by Noir Filou, but the ground did not suit him. Topsy has gone a mile in her last two starts but has won up to 10 furlongs and should be thoroughly seasoned. She won the one mile Lady Norrie Stakes by going round the outer and at Te Aroha made up a huge slice of territory from last on the turn when she ran fifth. Fort Hagen is a rangy Copenhagen H colt which will be the stronger for his winter spell. He was to begin this after his race at Taranaki earlier in the week, but obviously he has done so well since than his connections have decided to give him another classic opportunity. His best performances have stamped him as middle-distance material of the highest class and possibly a stayer. The other runner, Wlremu, is the horse which nearly beat Kirrama in the Waikato Guineas last November. But his later racing suggests that the margin flattered him. If the race is truly run the winner should go close to 2min 55}sec for the mile and threequarters, which Terrific and Not Again have both run in this classic to share the national record. The Australian record is a half-second faster.