RACING Stormy Seas regarded as big danger in Cup

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33067, 7 November 1972, Page 8

RACING Stormy Seas regarded as big danger in Cup

(N.Z.P.A. Staff Correspondent/ MELBOURNE. ~ The “Johnny come lately” of Australian racing, Stormy Seas, will attempt to put the seal on his meteoric rise to glory with victory in the $lOO,OOO Melbourne Gup (3200 metres) in Melbourne today.

Little more than a month ago, Stormy Seas, trained at Warwick Farm in Sydney by S. A. Brown, was no more than a promising-looking middle-distance performer.

Largely on the strength of those performances, Brown decided to bring Stormy Seas to Melbourne when he brought Kista south for the One Thousand Guineas at Caulfield. Kista was unable to handle the left-handed tracks and failed in her mission, but Stormy Seas went from strength to strength. He finished second in the Coongy Handicap at Caulfield on October 18, then went on to beat a host of cup gallopers when he chased Sobar home in second place in the Caulfield Cup. On Saturday he beat a strong field in the weight-for-age L. K. S. Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington. Stormy seas is rated the big danger in the cup by several trainers with horses engaged, including T. J. Smith, who has Gunsynd, and E. Temperton, who nas Magnifique. GUNSYND FAVOURITE

Gunsynd, now the outright favourite for the cup, since the scratching of Sobar on veterinary advice, galloped brilliantly at Flemington yesterday. Gunsynd clocked 37{sec for 600 metres on the steeple grass, three metres out. “He is wound right up and I think he will win the cup,” Smith said.

Magnifique, off her feed and troubled by a seasonal complaint last week, has recovered and will be hard to beat.

Temperton has no fears about her seeing out the two miles and although she has plenty of weight, 8-4, for one of her form background, she looks ready to make a bold attempt to give Temperton and the Wellington owner, Sir Walter Norwood, their second successive Melbourne Cup. In a significant move the top Sydney jockey, J. Duggan, got off another cup runner, Haarle, to take the mount on Dark Suit, so he might be a danger. The race looks a threeway battle among Magnifique, Gunsynd ana Stormy Seas, with Altai Khan, Ansin and Baghdad Note dangers if they produce top form and the event is run to suit them. The field for'the cup is:—

3.40 p.m. (N.Z. time)— MELBOURNE CUP $100,000; 3200 m. 1 131 GUNSYND (11) 9-7 (g h, 5 yrs, Sunset Hut—Woodie Wonder, trainer, T. Smith; jockey, R. Higgins). Great champion. Never been fitter, last start, October 28, easllj’ won Cox Plate (2000 metres), which followed his grand third with 62kgs to obar in Caulfield Cup (2400 m the previous Saturday. 2 905 BAGHDAD NOTE (N.Z.) (15) 9-2 (gr g, 7 yrs, Kurdistan—Fair Note; trainer, R. Heasley; jockey, E. Didham). Has not won a race since this cep in 1970, and may have deteriorated. Some improvement in his sixth start in Australia on this visit when fifth to Stormy Seas in L.K.S. Mackinnon Stakes on Saturday. 3 221 STORMY SEAS (N.Z.) (21) 8-6 (ch h, 5 yrs, Whistling Willie — Discordant; trainer, S. A. Brown; jockey, P. Cook). Great improvement in recent weeks. Second to Sobar in Caulfield Cup on October 21. Even better when winning L. K. S. Mackinnon Stakes last Saturday. 4 101 SCOTCH AND DRY (14) 8-5 (br g, 6 yrs. Double Bore —Murlangus; trainer, N. Kelly; jockey, P. Finger). Victorian galloper which loves to lead and has won at this distance. Got away with big break In Hotham Handicap (2500 m last Saturday. Never in danger of defeat. Seems certain to set fast pace. 5 028 BATTLEGROUND (6) 8-4 ch g, 5 yrs, by Natural Bid— Rosasham; trainer, G. Murphy; jockey, B. Gilders). Has won at Flemington over 2400 m but recent form suggests he may find class too good. 4 133 MAGNIFIQUE (N.Z.) (17) 8-4 (b m, 4 yrs, by Alcimedes —Rosebelle; trainer, E. Temperton; jockey, R. Marsh). Stoutly-bred mare which created big impression in only two runs in Australia. First up third to Gunsynd in Cox Plate over 2000 m, running on well, then another sound effort when close third to Stormy Seas in Saturday’s L. K. S. MacKinnon Stakes. 7 513 DOUBLE IRISH (19) 8-3 <b h, 5 yrs, by Better Boy— Blarney Lass; trainer, W. S. Warke: jockey, P. Jarman). Consistent staver which should go well. Ran on strongly to win Moonee Valley Cup on October 28 over 2600 m. At his top for this. 8 154 ALTAI KHAN (4) 8-2 (ch h, 4 yrs, by Atilla— Mountain Rose; trainer, P. J. Hughes; jockey, R. Mallyon). Won the A.J.C. Metropolitan last month and has thorough preparation for this. Two runs since then in W.F.A.

races which don’t suit him but acquitted himself well. Nicely weighted and hard to beat. 9 760 ANSIN (N.Z.) (20) 8-2 (br g, 7 yrs, Cracksman — Fredrika; trainer, J. Winder; jockey, G. Edge). Wellington Cup winner of 1971. Ideally suited at this distance. First Australian run was sixth to Double Irish in Moonee Valley Cup. Typically tough stayer set for this one race. 10 062 DARK SUIT (5) 8-2 (b g, 6 yrs. Follow Suit—Fettercairn; trainer, G. M. Hanlon; jockey, J. Duggan). Another suited by distance. Won Sydney Cup last April on muddy track and beat Gunsynd. Went to line strongly when second to Scotch and Dry in Hotham Handicap (2500 m on Saturday and is nicely weighted. Chances better if track heavy. 11 050 POLE STAR (N.Z.) (8) 8-2 (gr g, 6 yrs, KurdistanEastern Light; trainer, J. Winder; jockey, R. Skelton). New Zealand stayer with heavy backing last two Australian runs. Was fifth to Chiming in Werribee Cup (2100 m on November 1, then disappointed behind Scotch and Dry in Hotham Handicap. 12 459 STOP THE SHOW (2) 8-2 (b m, 4 yrs, ShowdownForever Amber; trainer, A, Lopes; jockey, J. Stocker). Won V.R.C. St Leger (2800 m last April, but cup preparation hampered by leg trouble. 13 007 TEA BREAK (14) 7-10 (b g 5 yrs Adamastor—Tea Bell; trainer, A. J. Lyell; jockey, R. Setches). Sydney stayer which won two races at Rosehill in May this year over 2800 m and 3200 m. Latest form poor. 14 360 HAARLE (IS) 7-9 (ch h 4 yrs Niksar—Mary Major; trainer, G. M. Hanlon; jockey, S. Aitken). Melbourne four-year-old whose form was consistent before ninth to Chiming in Werribee Cup (2100 m on November 1. Previously placed three times in good company and could be the surprise packet in this field. 15 117 HAY BURNER (N.Z.) (13) 7-9 (b g 7 yrs Jekyll—United Princess; trainer, J. Cowan; jockey, N. Voigt). Another New Zealander who struck top form with wins at Caulfield (2000 m on October 21 and Geelong Cup (2400 m on October 25. Slightly disappointing in Hotham Handicap on Saturday but that run may be discounted as Scotch and Dry got away with a big break. 16 433 PIPING LANE (12) 7-8 (br g 6 yrs Lansborough— Londonderry Air; trainer, G. M. Hanlon; jockey, J. Letts. Has been racing well in weaker events but this distance might trouble him. 18 926 GLEN LANG (23) 7-7 (b g 6 yrs Lansborough—Blue Neon; trainer, W. Bullen; jockey, G. Lambie). Good second to Chiming in Werribee Cup. Tired when forced to take field up to Scotch and Drv in Saturday’s Hotham Handicap. Distance could trouble. 19 707 FAIR SHARE (N.Z.) (9) 7-6 (ch h 5 yrs Fair’s FairBonnie Heather; trainer, R. E. Fell; jockey, G. Willetts). Won at Caulfield over 2000 m on September 23. Hasn’t raced up to that form in recent starts. 20 749 GRAND SCALE (N.Z.) (3) 7-5 (blk g 4 yrs Gigantic —Te Poi: trainer, M. L. Willmott; jockey, R. Durey). Turned in grand effort when fourth to Sobar in Caulfield Cup after being forced off track. Didn’t live up to that effort when a flop behind Scotch and Dry in Saturday’s Hotham Handicap. Is handily ■weighted with 7st 51b ana has good Caulfield form.

22 508 DUGLIG (22) 7-2 (b g 4 yrs Sobig—Sarcelle; trainer, J. U. Poletti; jockey, B. Wood). His form in Melbourne has been moderate. 21 613 TIPPING TIME (7) 7-5 (br g 5 yrs Glorious Kingdom—Hydro Maid; trainer, G. M. Hanlon; jockey, B. McAuliffe). Is entitled to outside consideration. 23 346 SABOLI (10) 7-2 (br g 10 yrs Sabaean—Napoli; trainer, K F. Scanlon; jockey, R. B. Martin). Has been racing over hurdles. 24 649 GALA RED (1) 6-10 (ch c 3 yrs Gala Crest—Bon Treasure; trainer, B. M. Ryan; jockey, W. Winks). Maiden galloper. Scratched: Sobar (24).