Balmerino has great win

Press, 11 April 1977, Page 13

Balmerino has great win

NZPA Sydney. Balmerino and Sir Silver Lad will go to the start of today’s $130,000 Sydney Cup at Randwick as the in-form contenders after great wins over 2000 m on Saturda\. Sir Silver Lad produced a mighty sprint down the outside to come from sixth on the turn to win the $lOl,OOO Australasian Champion Stakes by a length from New Zealand-bred Sala niander with Ming Dynasty third. And in the 515.000 weight-for-age Autumn Stakes Balmerino uas able to “blitz’’ his opposition in a leisurelv-run race. The four-year-old entire kicked clear on straightening and was easing up as he went to the post three lengths clear of the fast-finishing New Zealand-bred, Gold and A I'sterday, however, there minor problems worrying Hie trainers of both horses. Barry Petley said Sir Silver Lad had stripped his off hind leg on returning to scale and Brian Smith said Balmerino had been off his food. Sir Silver Lad’s injury was inspected by a veterinary surgeon after the race, but Petley said there appeared to be nothing wrong with him. The colt

! worked w r ell yesterday morning. I “At this stage he is a definite •starter for the Sydney Cup,” he 'said, "but we will have another ’look at it in the morning.” Petley was adamant tnat Sir {Silver Lad, which has not raced ’ beyond a mile and a half, would I last tne 32U0m of the Cup. ; He said Sir Silver Lad’s wide j barrier draw meant that bis veti eran jockey. Des Wyatt, was ’likely to trail early, in the runining and could rely on Sir Silver ’Lad’s sprint going to the post, i Smith said Balmerino had won 'in nice fashion and was pulling J up at the post. ! “The only thing is that his ] tucker bin is not as good as it {could be,” he said. “It could be because of the tight conditions | h e is under in Sydney.” Smith said he was expecting the Cup to be a hard race, and i rated Gold and Black and Our

. I Cavalier, from Queensland, as JI the biggest threats. J ! “Whatever I think, our horse jwiil b e the hardest for the .{others to beat/’ he said. “He is . what they will be worried about, j “I’m confident Balmerino will ’'■ run a big race.” > Following Saturday’s racing, ' Balmerino has firmed to be the , 7 to 4 favourite for the Cup. . Gold and Black is at 4 to 1 and - Our Cavalier at 5 to 1. The dual Melbourne cup winner, Think i Big, fifth in the Autumn Stakes, > is next at 6 to 1 and Sir Silver Lad’s odds have shortened to , 7 to 1. t With Battle Heights and An- ; drew both scratched because of 5 injuries, the only other New Zealand horse left is No Sur- ; render, which ran last in the I six-horse Autumn Stakes. He is • at 20 to 1.