Nimble Yankee should Fare better

Press, 17 February 1978, Page 9

Nimble Yankee should Fare better

By

G. K. Yule

Nimble Y’ankee will only have to reproduce the run which gave him third behind Sole Command and Captain Harcourt in the $lOO,OOO Auckland Cup last Saturday to come out on top in the New Brighton Cup tomorrow.

Nimble Yankee was one of those to suffer in the skirmishes which marred New Zealand’s richest light-har-ness race and there was considerable merit in the manner in which he closed the gap on the two leaders towards the end of a fairly fast 2700 m. The son of Regal Yankee and Morsel has always shown great potential as a stayer and back to racing on a left-handed track he should be extremely hard to beat even thought he will have to begin from the un-

’ has had a chance to freshen since last he raced on January 14. He was placed in the New Zealand Cup and this field, while greater in size, is not nearly as strong. Luck in the running will play an important part in the outcome of this event and consideration will have i to be given to the chances ! of such promising pacers as American Chief, Rocky i Tryax, Lancia, Belmer’s s Image and the northern pair, ’ Pleasant Command and Anne’s Day. A field of only eight will contest the second leg, the Ballins Industries Celebrity Stakes, but the result is by no means cut and dried. Lord Module, fifth after an early lapse, and Main Star, the record-breaking winner of the Great Northern Derby a fortnight ago, have drawn wide, but they should have speed superior to most of those to have drawn inside . them.

ruly position and give a start to all but Palestine in a capacity field. Perhaps the hardest for Nimble Yankee to beat will, be the Gore pacer, Majestic Charger, a respectable fifth under difficulties in the Auckland Cup. His driver, Paddy Timmins, was a little disappointed in the fact that he did not produce much of a finishing sprint. However, that was not completely surprising as he was held up on the hcfme turn and lost two or three lengths at a vital time when the pace was at its strongest. Majestic Charger is a rugged stayer and from his favourable draw he should prove more than a match for most in the event.

Sapling, another Southland pacer, will be a top prospect after his unlucky third to Belmer’s Image and Trevira at Forbury Park on February 4. Sapling is one of the more talented four-year-olds in commission and there is no reason to doubt his ability to master a fast-run 3200 m.

Wee Win. on trial for the Inter-Dominion Championship series in Melbourne,