Leilani may be retired soon

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34103, 16 March 1976, Page 8

Leilani may be retired soon

(.V.Z P-4. Staff Correspondemf

SYDNEY

Leilani is likely to l>e retired to stud m New Zealand after three more races in the autumn, her trainer, Bart Cummings, said yesterday.

It had earlier been suggested b> Cummings that the five-j earold Oncidlum mare might be kept In racing for the W. S. Cox Plate at Melbourne in the spring. Cummings said he would recommend that Leilani s remaining races be welght-for-age events, and he will put this suggestion to her part-lessee. Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Andrew Peacock, when Mr Peacock returns from addressing the United Nations in New ork this week. The mare has 60kg in the Sydney Cup. and Cummings considers this is too much for her. She was scratched from the Cup last year after rain prevented lier having a workout two days | before the race. Leilani pulled up «el) after her failure at Flemington on; Saturday, and the Cumming's | stable can see no reason why she should not increase her, winnings of 5270.870 in the com-1 ing weight for age events. Inquiries showed that saddle probably sliuped because she held her breath during the slow running of the early stages j of the 2500 m Queen Elizabeth: Stakes on Saturday. Leilani ran third. of four I runners in the race, which Taras Bulba won. She was 12) lengths behind the second-: placed Shlftmar. Cummings said the girth was tight before the start, and had I been pulled up to the last hole.; but the elastic was not all that, it might have been. BALMERINO FAVOURITE Heavy betting at Randwick on, Saturday has seen the New Zealand three-year-old. Balmerino, go to the top of the market for < the 5100.500 Australasian Cham-, pionship Stakes i2ooomi ini Sydney on April 17. Punters wanted to bet on few other horses over the week-end. and Balmerino is now the joint favourite at 5 to 2 with Lord Dudley, after starting at 5 to 1 when the markets opened last week.

His trainer. Brian Smith, has booked Balmerino to fly to Sydney next Saturday on a flight

that will also carry Rattle Heights. Santa Cortez. Tom s Mate. Willie Quick and Lucky Strike.

Balmerino will open his Syd ney campaign in either the Raw son Stakes 'l7somi at Rosehlll on March 27 or the Tullock Stakes < 1850 m i at Rosehill on April 3. Smith’s horses will be stabled in Sydney with Harold Riley al Warwick Farm.

I Fury's Order and Oopik are jdue to arrive on a later flight about April 10. Markets for the three major races of the Sydney autumn carnival are:—

Champion Stakes 12000 m April 17: 5 to 2 Balmerino Lord Dudlev; 7 to 1 Read' O’Ready. IRafique; 8 to 1 Rosie Heir; 12 to 1 Tov Show; 15 to I Denise s Jov. Flow Now: 16 to I Cheyne Walk. Gold Pulse. Sniff. Lipman: 20 to 1 Jentle Jim. Biigola Boy, Current Issue.

I Dancaster Handicap 11600 m April 17: 7 to I Leica Show. 10 ito I King’s Helmet. Dalrello. ! Kingston Rose. Wave King: 12 to ;J Consider Me. Toy Show. ; Patronize; 16 to 1 Leica Lover. [Martindale, Ngawyni. Santa Cortez

I Sydnev Cup ,3200 mi. April 19 5 to 2 Taras Bulba: 10 to 1 Bal I merino. Fury ’s Order. Oopik; 14 ito 1 Battle Heights Gold Pulse. Philomel, Participator. Read' O'Ready; 16 to 1 Rosie’a Girl Suleiman.