Noodlum in trouble and return delayed

Press, 4 August 1976, Page 26

Noodlum in trouble and return delayed

Noodlum’s return to racing has been delayed at least until mid-September, according to his part-owner and trainer, Freeman Holmes. The trouble is in his offhind fetlock and last week! an internal blister was' applied. "He can’t do any-1 thing for a fortnight,” said Holmes. “The trouble is not thought to be serious. We are oeing more careful than anything else,” he said. Noodlum had been back in steady work for some weeks and it was intended to resume racing with him at the national meeting at Addington Raceway. “He’d been going particularly well and had never looked stronger,” said Holmes. The trouble is much lower down in his leg titan the' previous problem which interrupted Inis racing last season and really came to the fore a few days before the New Zealand Cup last November. Noodlum has not raced since he finished third to Palestine and Speedy Guest in the Wellington Cup last January. Hopes are held that he will stand up to the preparation necessary to fit him

for the New Zealand Cup this year Holmes intends to start him off at one of the New Brighton Club’s meetings next month, or in the Ash- : burton Flying Stakes, a race, he won brilliantly last spring. In spite of interrupted l preparations, Noodlum compiled the splendid record of five wins and four placings; from 12 starts last term. Noodlum’s half-sister,' Olga Korbut, is making pleasing progress in her; prepaiation aimed at having' her ready for the national' meeting. Her stablemate, Torrid, is also bemg prepared for earlv spring meetings. He has been oft the scene for some; time because of a pedal bone injury. -He showed much! promise early last season. Robalan is another champion pacer coming along sat-; isfactorily in preparation for! another tilt at the New Zealand Cup, a race which he; won in 1974 and finished) third to Lunar Chance and' Final Decision 12 months' later. “He’s been jogging for

three weeks now alter spell, ing for four months.’’ saM his pert-owner and trainer, Denis Nyhan, yesterday. “I’ll jog him for anothet three weeks or so befori ! asking him for any speed. ' All T want to do is get hire readv for the Cup. He ca» iprolMbh’ get there by racinj regularlv at trials later on, and should be pretty fit bj I the end of October. ; “If there’s the slightest 'likelihood of a break-dowe he’ll be retired immediately,* (added Nyhan. I Robalan, now 10, has been off the scene since hi finished a dismal last in the Clarendon Free-for-all at Addington Raceway on January 2. i In the meantime, Nyhat ■ intends racing Eclipse ant Iprionty at the nationa I meeting, while Shoalestk will resume at the New ■I Bright on meetings nexl ! month. Illusionist and Relinquish will be ready foi racing later in the spring II while last year’s Dominion ■Handicap winner will be <>n hand about November. Ha Good resumed work yester•day.