Tom’s Mate wins again

Press, 14 November 1977, Page 21

Tom’s Mate wins again

NZPA Melbourne The seven-year-old New Zealand gelding, Tom’s Mate, on Saturday added the Sandown Cup (§29,500) to his

C. B. Fisher Plate (2500 m success at Flemington the previous Saturday.

Perfectly ridden by Gary Wiiietts, he won the §30,000 event by a length from the New Zealand-bred Hypemo (Rangong - Mikarta) with Impeller, a half brother to Reckless, a further length-and-a-half away, third. Beau’s Demand was fourth.

The Arctic Explorer gelding relished the slow conditions at. Sandown Park — the first such track encountered by a New Zealand horse in Melbourne this [spring. I A battle of tactics developed between Willetts and Brian Andrews on Hyperno. Hyperno settled down in third place in the rails, with Tom’s Mate outside him. At the home turn, Willetts was able to steal a two-length lead when Hyperno became brifly pocketed by other runners. Although Andrews managed to get Hyperno clear, the four-year-old gelding raced erratically in the straight and was unable to make much impression as Willetts rode Tom’s Mate out hands and heels. Tom’s Mate was to have returned to New Zealand on Friday, but will now stay in Melbourne until early December, when he will be prepared for the Auckland Cup. Although entered for the Perth Cup — which will be run on January 2, the same day as the Auckland Cup — his trainer, Paddy Busittin, has said he has no intention of taking Tom’s Mate to Perth and likely rock-hard tracks. SANDOWN GUINEAS

The Sobig colt, So Called, won the $25,000 Sandown Guineas (1600 m The Adelaide-based colt was a disappointing favourite in this year’s Victoria Derby, finishing a wellbeaten seventh.

On Saturday So Called was a comfortable winner over Princess Taiaria and Show Ego.