Springtide regains lead in Malboro series

Press, 23 October 1978, Page 12

Springtide regains lead in Malboro series

i Special correspondent Wellington Springtide took back the lead in the Marlboro Filly of the Year series she had lent to Tang with a stunning victory ir Saturday’s Desert Gold Stakes a.. Trentham and now looks set to sweep the board in the series — and probably “wipe out” the colts as well at Riccarton’s classic meeting next month. Plans are, said trainer Colin Jillings, that Springtide will race in both the 2000 Guineas — for colts and fillies — and also the 1000 Guineas, confined to fillies and the fourth event in the Marlboro series. She should have little trouble in winning both major events. Springtide has now accounted for Tang and other challengers twice in easy fashion, winning the Gold Trail Stakes at Hastings last month and also i made some useful colts look | less than outstanding when romping away with the : Gre.. Northern Guineas at Ellerslie recently. She missed the Lowland Stakes to go to Ellerslie and Tang won that, but on Saturday the Hastings filly had nothing to show against Springtide. At the top of the back straight the race looked decidedly odd. Out in front by at least ten lengths was Michael Gillies on Bequest with the re*t of the field closely bunched. Bequest led round the turn with, at that point, no signs of coming back to the others, so a sharp sprint developed. At the entrance to the home stretch it was lover. Bobby Vance on Springtide came through in la matter of strides to hit the 1 front and though Tang did her best the Takanini filly went past the post easing up.

The margin was three lengths and a auarter — and could have been more — with Musical Lady running on very well to take third money, but two lengths further behind. Then came Gold Dust a short length back in fourth, ahead of Artemis and Tan Again. The win lifted Springtide s

points total to 23. Tang has 21.5, Gold Dust 10.75, Musical Lady 3.25 and Tears 2.5. Springtide has changed hands yet again. Just before she won the Gold Trail she was bought by northern breeder and stud master, Eric Hayden, who in turn sold her to Americans, E. L. Gaylord and H. Noble, just a few days ago. The filly’s new owners are, naturally, keen to race her in America and Hayden said that after seeing but the Filly of the Year series Sprintide would cross the Pacific in the Autumn to contest a series at Hollywood Park.

Both Jillings and Vance have a high regard for

Springtide. Both hold the view that she will have no trouble in seeing out middle distances at least and Vance commented that the filly has the acceleratic . and ability to win at any distance.

Though disappointed that) Tang was beaten, con-: nections of this speedy filly I were not too disheartened.; Tang was under the care of: Keith Couper until last Mon- ■ day, when for health reasons; he had to relinquish her; training. She joined Charlie; Cameron’s team at Hastings and her rider, Des Harris, said that he was quite happy with the run and thought Tang had some improvement in her before the 1000 Guineas.