Sir Silver Lad picked in Mackinnon Stakes

Press, 29 October 1977, Page 22

Sir Silver Lad picked in Mackinnon Stakes

From J. J. BOYLE, racing editor Melbourne ! Two sensations of Mel-1 bourne racing carnivals in! ithe 1950 s involved the] i“sacking” of New Zealand Hockeys who had been [engaged for top Melbourne ’Cup chances. Keith Nuttal was stood down for Dalray and Bill Williamson substituted before that great stayer won the Mackinnon Stakes and the Melbourne Cup in 1952. Four years later Bob Skelton came to Melbourne to partner the Wingatui stayer. Ark Royal, but on the eve of the V.R.C. carnival he was replaced by the Australian jockey, Reg Heather. Heather “inherited” a slice of turf history when he rode Ark Royal to dead-heat with Fighting Force and Pandie Sun in the Hotham Handicap.

But they missed a chance to win the Melbourne Cup three days later, the late Mr George Bartons stayer being sidelined by injury. This year there is another much discussed “sacking” of a New Zealand jockey. The 48-year-old Des Wyatt has been replaced as rider of Sii Silver Lad, but unlike the Dalray and Ark Royal incidents, the substitute rider is a New Zealander, in this case the 19-year-old Brent Thomson.

Wyatt seemed to be at a loss to appreciate the tactical challenges of the turning Moonee Valley course in the Cox Plate last Saturday. Last season’s top staying three-year-old was left with rather too much to do after being shuffled back to the rear group early. The New Zealand combination tried hard to rally on the wide outside but the task proved hopeless. Today Thomson “inherits” the mount on a talented galloper which has thrived since his Cox Plate failure, and it would be another ironic twist if the new combination emerged victorious. Sir Silver Lad is one of seven New Zealand-breds in the Mackinnon Stakes field and the $20,000 weight-for-age event comes into close attention because of the quality of form it can come up with as a Melbourne Cup guide. Last year the Bart Cum mings-trained Gold and Black won the Mackinnon Stakes at long odds before running second in Van der Hum’s Melbourne Cup.

Gold and Black goes after ■ the Mackinnon Stakes again today. Many will be; surprised if he fails to reach one of the places, but to aIL appearances he is still one: good gallop short of the; level of fitness he will need’ for 3200 m in the big one [next Tuesday. That is not to say he will not be good enough to win! a' 2000 m today Bart Cum-1 tnings expects the South' Australian-owned New Zea-; land bred In the Purple geld-1 ing to settle some way off the pace and to capitalise on Flemington’s long straight to get into the thick of the fight for the prizes.

VICTORIA DERBY The Cummings stable will put three runners, Belmura Lad, Stormy Rex and Bold Zest, into today’s $lOO,OOO Victoria Derby.

Roy Higgins, the No. 1 rider for the stable, has settled for Stormy Rex, a brown gelding by Storm Ruler, Belmura Lad, winner of ths A.J.C. Derby last month, wil be ridden by Harry XVhite, who has also met with outstanding success on stayers from the stable.

Cummings will race Belmura Lad in blinkers today. The Belmura colt has taken some time to adjust after racing “right handed” in Sydney but it is bejieved he will settle and run kindly from the start today. One of the most improved three-year-olds in the Derby field is Jazidium (OncidiumJazz), which was bought for $75,000 at Trentham as a yearling and looked as if he would recover that outlay when he impressively won the Geelong Derby Trial on October 19.

The Hotham Handicap, the last race on today’s programme will supply the final message as to the likely strength of New Zealand’s Melbourne Cup challenge next, week. Royal Cadenza has had an unrewarding trip but his Cambridge trainer, Stewart Dromgool, believes this noted bargain horse will find enough improvement on the big Flemington course to make a show in the Hotham Handicap.

5.40 p.m. (N.Z. time)— MACKINNON STAKES $20,000; weight-lor-age; 2i')oom. 1 3308 BATTLE HEIGHTS (2) 59 R. Lang; looks bright and has thrived since his fair run for eighth in Caulfield Cup. 2 0585 GOLD AND BLACK (1) 59 J. Duggan. Won this race last, year before running second in Melbourne Cup. Impressive finisher for fifth

in Caulfield at last start. One of top chances. 3 5622 HAPPY UNION (9) SI P. Hyland. Good second to Sir Serene in Governor’s Stakes at Moonee Valley, close to his best three-vear-oid form. 1221 INCEPTOR (6) S» J. Stocker. Stylish winner of '■> erribee Cup on Wednesday. . .'538 JOUEUR (4) 59 J. Letts; Failed at Moonee Valley last week. 6 1944 WAVE KING (10) 59 R. McCarthy. Won Metnsle I Stakes in September, fourth i in A.J.C. Metropolitan. Wearing well. 7 3748 DOMAX (8) 57 J. MurI ray. Adelaide form good, but in stronger class here. 8 5513 SALAMANDER (5) 57 R. Higgins. Has thrived since his strongly finishing third in Caulfield Cup. Won Turnbull Stakes, this distance, on fast track here October 1, 9 0558 SIR SILVER LAD (3) 57 B. Thompson. Got too far out of his ground in Cox I Plate. Fast finishing fifth behind Salamander in Turnbull St-Rkcs 10 4110 DENISE'S JOY (7) 54.5 B. Andrew's. Failed in Caulfield' Cup. Won W.F.A. Craven Plate 12000 m) at Randwick the time before. Selections: Sir Silver Lad, Gold And Black, Salamander. 7 p.m. (N.Z. time) HOTHAM HANDICAP 812,500; 2500 m. 1 7307 ROYAI CADENZA (2) 54 B. Thomson. Third behind Family of Man, Unaware, middle-distance at Caulfield October 8. Fair run though unplaced in Governor’s Stakes at Moonee Valiev last week. 2 0431 MAJOR TILL (5) 54.5 J. Stocker. Impressive winner of Goongy Handicap at Caulfield, October 12. Third in Turnbull Stakes two starts back. 3 1420 TOM'S MATE (1) 53 D. Peake. Showing nothing in Werrlbee Cup. Runner-up in Geelong Cup. Might rate another chance on big course. 4 0004 VALADERO (10) 53 E. J. Didham. Dogged staying type. Fourth last start in Geelong Cup. 5 1214 IMPELLER (11) 52 P. Trotter. Lased tenaciously to win Herbert Power Handicap (2400 m at Caulfield, October 8. Weakened in Caulfield Cup. 4 0134 BEAU'S DEMAND (9) 51.5 D. Messingham. Mostrecent placing was in Cranbourne Cup. Won over 1600 m the time before. 7 9421 GOLD PULSE (7) 51 B. Andrews. Won'over 2000 m ip fast time in Sydney last Saturday. Cost SIOO,OTO in 'N.Zas yearling and now shaping a sif he will handsomely recover that outlay. 8 0083 TROCHEE (8) 50.5 R. J. Skelton. Strong finisher for third in Governor’s Stakes at Moonee Valley. Roomier course should stiu his style better. 9 4907. BILGOLA BOY (12) 49 A. TrevOna. Failed in Geelong Cup las start. v 10 0787 POPULAR DEMAND (13) 49 J. Duggan. Fair run in welter at Caulfield last start. II 8970 SUCH FUN (4) 48.5. Last in Governor’s Stakes at Moonee Valiev. 12 9440 PRIZE BRANDY (4) 48.

Has failed to win this season. 13 8973 YASHMAK (3) 48 J. Letts. Third in Geelong Cup after leading close to home. Selections: Gold Pulse, Major: Till, Vaiadero.