Two stars go back to Talismano

Press, 5 November 1977, Page 16

Two stars go back to Talismano

By

J. J. BOYLE

Uncle Remus, favourite for the New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas at Riccarton today, has more than one common bond with Gold and Black, winner of the Melbourne Gup last Tuesday.

Apart from the obvious fact that they are superior equine athletes, they are the produce of mares sired by the Italian-bred stallion, Talismano.

And both are prepared by studious, skilful horsemen whose talents in a demanding field brought them quick recognition and early and continued success.

Colin Jillings, the 47-year-old Takanini trainer of Uncle Remus, made his first visit to Riccarton 26 years ago, and has had several rewarding days there since.

In Uncle Remus Jillings has a three-year-old with spring performances superior to those of Stipulate in a similar programme for the stable 17 years ago. Stipulate was fourth in the Great Northern Guineas, again fourth in the Wellington Guineas and third in the New Zealand Derby, then run at Riccarton.

Uncle Remus has finished second in the Great Northern Guineas, and has won the Wellington Guineas in style on the way to the first of the "national” classics for the season today. Seventeen years ago Stipulate was taken back home after his New Zealand Derby third to win the Waikato Guineas, then the Great Northern Derby at Ellerslie, and later the Wel-

lington Racing Club’s Gloaming Stakes, the predecessor to the Wellington Derby. Two seasons later Stipulate captured the New Zealand Cup and the Canterbury Gold Cup at Riccarton, the Auckland Cup, the Queen Elizabeth, and the Clifford Plate at Ellerslie, and the Trentham Stakes following a second to the freak stayer, Great Sensation, in the Wellington Cup.

Uncle Remus’s summer programme centres around the $50,000 New Zealand Derby at Ellersile. And if he wins that there will no doubt be more offers at a level one associates with the prices paid by Sangsters and Vincent O’Briens for Americanbred bluebloods.

But if the Jillings hopes are realised in the meantime and no sale is made in the next few months Uncle Remus will probably be in Sydney next Easter throwing down the challenge to the best of his Australian contemporaries in the Championship Stakes at Randwick.

Short quinella Crest Star will give Takanini a second leg to what will be a short-priced quinella if, as he did in the Wellington Guineas, he reaches second place behind Uncle Remus today.

Battle Eve’s half-brother can wind up a big run and the generous spaces at Riccarton will allow him to employ his finishing powers to the best effect.

Catastrophe has assembled a string of wins in less distinguished company, and usually on rain-affected tracks on South Island courses this season. His most recent victory was in the Gore Guineas Trial, a race memorable for Dual’s big run into third after losing lengths at the start. Catastrophe is to be pointed for the New Zealand Derby, with the Avondale Guineas as one of his leadup races.

He has pleased his trainer, Rodney Marsh, these last few weeks. “He can loaf on you on the tracks, but he feels as if he is getting a little better each week,” Marsh said yesterday.

Sly Wink was another three-year-old to come in for some attention at Riccarton yesterday. She was flown from Palmerston North on Thursday. her trainer, Erroll Skelton, preferring that to a 14-hour float trip. Sly Wink has pleased her trainer since she ran fourth in the Desert Gold Stakes and her speed duel with the likes of Panagor and Hi Roona should engage keen interest in the first running of The Pegasus (1200 m today. The Pegasus inherited this position on the programme when The Stewards was transferred to the last day of the meeting with the New Zealand Cup to preserve the traditional double.

The Benson and Hedges Gold Cup, the first leg of today’s T.A.B. double, is strong in North Island chances, notably through the sturdy qualities of Guest Star, Andrew, Reklaw, Glen, and Heidsieck.

The four-year-old Glen, is one of the youngest in the field, and claims further attention through his membership in the same family as Uncle Remus.