Racing and trotting Wee Win top cup chance after courageous win

Press, 28 August 1978, Page 18

Racing and trotting Wee Win top cup chance after courageous win

By

G. K. YULE

A gutsy half-length win over Majestic Charger in the National Handicap at Addington Raceway on Saturday brought Wee Win to the forefront among contenders for honours in the New Zealand Cup on Tuesday, November 7.

In marked contrast to the Louisson Handicap of a week earlier, Saturday’s race developed into a fascinating battle of tactics and it was only in the last few metres that there was any certainty about the likely outcome. The pace, too, was a rousing one, with the final 400 m in about 32s being among the slowest sections of the race. There was merit in the run of Wee Win. He ran out and checked Nimble Yankee at the start and settled near the tail of a spread-out field. He must have been from 50m to 60m from the leaders at that stage. He was still some seven places back when Belmer’s Image began to improve three wide from the 1100 m. Majestic Charger followed his southern compatriot up, with Wee Win moving out behind them. As his driver, Wes Butt, said later, ‘‘He must have been four or five wide on the home turn. He did not stop trying in the straight.

He’s a great stayer and that’s what carried him through.” i Ma Thompson, who trains the six-year-old by 1 Out to Win and races him in partnership with his wife, intends starting Wee Win in the two free-for-alls to be run next month by the New i Brighton Club. ’T’ve nothing definite map-i* ped out for him apart from 1 :

the Cup, but intend racing him about Canterbury until November. That will be enough to keep him fit, and there’s no way he will go to the North Island before the Cup,” he added. Wee Win finished third to Sole Command in the 1977 Cup. Majestic Charger improved on his fifth of al week earlier by fighting on| for second. He was handy) over the last 800 m and' shaped like an early winner. Rocky Try ax, after being I

handy early, lost his position. However, he was handy enough on the turn and got up for third, two lengths frob: Majestic Charger, and half a neck in front of Scottish Heath, which looked rather unlucky as he met trouble on at least two occasions. Palestine, pushed three wide at the 1200 m, did well 'for fifth, just ahead of Bel-

mer’s Image and the firstnight winner, In or Out, which was driven by Patrick O’Reilly, jun., in the absence of Alistair Kerslake, who was indisposed. ' The favourite, Sunseeker, could do no better than ; eleventh. He settled about four places back on the ! rails. “There were gaps he I could have moved into on j * several occasions, but he 'wouldn’t take them. In fact; 'he didn’t go nearly as well las I expected,” said hisi

■ | trainer-driver, Cecil Devine. 1 The Scotch Abbe five-year-:!old, Bad Luck, led for the i last 2000 m of the Royal I Ascot Handicap and held off F a strong challenge from the I early pacemaker, Tarport : Toby, by a short length. They were the only two vitally involved in the finish, ■ Longfellow Deeds taking I third two lengths back, half . a head in front of the disappointing favourite, West- , bum Vue, which was late working clear. Waylynne was right up fifth, clear of Jayex, which just battled over the final 200 m. The third favourite, John’ny Regalo, became aw- ; kwardly placed and was ’ never near the leaders, finishing tenth. 1 Bad Luck has now won seven races for his Belfast , owner-trainer, John Thompson, who drove him on Saturday. He raced very kindly I for Thompson once in the | lead and sped over his final 1400 m in the smart time of ) 29.85, giving his rivals little j chance of making up any .1 leeway.