Balmerino may go to Laurel

Press, 8 October 1977, Page 20

Balmerino may go to Laurel

iNZPA London The champion New Zea-! land galloper. Balmerino, irnav line up in the rich Washington International in Laurel. Maryland. next month after all. He will also be kept in England for next: season. His trainer, John Dunlop,! told the NZPA yesterday:! “We’ll run him in Milan in! 10 days and if he’s all righU ■ there, we’ll take him to> IWasbington.” ! The five-year-old bay’s i Auckland owner. Mr Ralph j Stuart said last week before the Prix de I’Arc de Triomphe that he was not interested in returning to the United States. But the! change in plans was decided after Mr Stuart returned to England from Paris. At Laurel, Balmerino is expected to come up against the horse he just failed to catch in the Arc on Sunday, the Irish-trained three-year-old Alleged, as well as other Arc runners and the best America offer. j

Dunlop said Balmerino ■ would have to win in Milan to earn the trip across the . Atlantic. “It’s only a fairly; average field and it’s a i course which would suit] 1 him. 1 think he’ll win." Mr Dunlop said. The Milan race, on Octo-j iber 16, is the Primero de' Jockey Club e Coppa d’Oro. j I a 2600 m event with a stake !of about 561.000. Balmerino won one out ot [four races in the United: States earlier this year and! Mr Stuart said the tracks, and the atmosphere there! just did not suit him. But; Mr Dunlop said yesterday' that the Laurel track was! jmore like European courses) | and should suit Balmerino. ’ The United States’ ban on' bloodstock imports from j Britain because of the out-] break of metritis is not ex-1 pected to stop Balmerino or' other British horses from i racing there. “Each case is) 'judged on its merits.” Dun- ■ lop said, “and apparently the! 'ban does not apply to horses! I in training.” >

Balmerino is in good shape after his second in the Arc. Dunlop said, “but it ■ takes a few days to determine how a horse has come j out of a race like the Arc. “We’re not expecting ant problems though. We gave (him a bit of a canter yesterday morning and everything is all right. He seems to ap predate being back in ' Sussex.” Mr Dunlop’s stables are on Lavinia, the Duchess of 'Norfolk’s estate at Arundel — sporting surroundings j better known for the starting off point for touring I cricket teams. I “All going well Balmerino jwill spend another year ’there. Dunlop said Mr Stuart 'had agreed the horse should I stay in England for next season, with the King (George VI Stakes and Queen (Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot and again the Arc at Long- | champ the main aims. j “I’m delighted with the I decision because I’m sure we lean have a successful season,” Dunlop said.