Challenge to Balmerino?

Press, 15 September 1976, Page 27

Challenge to Balmerino?

NZPA Melbourne. Tlie New Zealand trainer, Bill Winder, is monitoring the progress of the galloper. Happy Union after its week-end flight from Auckland in preparation for a possible challenge to Balmerino in Saturday’s 825,000 weightforage John F. Feehan Stakes at Sandown Park. Winder has surprised racing circles by setting the scene for a clash between the two gallopers after entering Happy Union and not his older stablemate Suleiman for the Feehan Stakes. Winder said he would see how Hapy Union settled in after the five and a half hour flight from Auckland before making up his mind on whether or not to declare for the Feehan before the Thursday morning deadline. Under the weight-for-age conditions, Balmerino and Happy Union would carry 57kg on what would be the former's Victorian racing debut. New Zealander Maurice Camphell. 25. the regular jockey for Balmerino, was also due in Meh bourne yesterday to ride the horse in his lead-up trackwork. Balmerino. who Is after his sixteenth win from only 28 starts, has not raced since carrying 2kg over weight-for-age to win in the $25,000 Brisbane Cun '8200m) at Eagle Farm on June 14 T wo other lead-up races to the; $125,000 Caulfield Cup which Winder is considering for Ilannv Union and Suleiman are tho $15,000 Underwood Stakes < 1948 m). on Thursday week, and the $20,000 weight-for-agp Caulfield Stakes (1948 m on October 9. both at Caulfield. The four-year-old Happy Union s<s 5 <s also eligible for the $12,000 Heatherlie Handicap (1800 m next Thursday week and the $20,000 V.R.C. Turnbull Stakes (2000 m at Flemington on October 2. Trainer Brian Smith has already said Ba’merino will start in the Turnbull after his first run in Saturday’s Feehan Stakes.