Bahrain will meet Sir James at level weights in N.Z. Cup

Press, 6 November 1978, Page 18

Bahrain will meet Sir James at level weights in N.Z. Cup

By

J. J. BOYLE

Bahrain has been rehandicapped I.skg to 54.5 in the New Zealand Cup for his narrow win as favourite in the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Benson and Hedges Gold Cup at Riccarton on Saturday.

Bahrain is now at level I weights with Sir James, which went under by a head to the favourite’s challenge in the first leg of Saturday’s TAB. double. Sir James will drop one Kilo in the New Zealand Cup next Saturday, and his rider. Bobby Vance, feels he will be able to ride the Ashbur-ton-trained stayer differently' to avoir* being left in front' as far out as he was on Saturday. Vance could only hurry and hope when the long shot Greysun came to the end of his run bevond the 600 m in the Benson and Hedges Gold Cup. The seven-vear-o'd straightened for home nicely clear and hv then Chris McNab on Bahrain had only faint hopes of getting to the favourite up for a successful challenge. “I tried him with the whip, and there was not, much there, but when I put the whip away he camei

again under hands and heels,” McNab said. ! A disappointed Vance said: “If Greysun had only! given me a lead for another ; four or five strides Bahrain wouldn’t have caught me. A ! great run. I’ll ride him difrferently in the Cup.” Bahrain and Sir James had I! their gripping duel clear of ■ the others, but Hvtest. in finishing third, made his conJtribution to a notable feat. ■| The first, second, and third horses were the only , mnners in the race for the deceased champion stallion f; Mellay. and Bahrain repre-' "=ents the last cron, and a [ bargain for the $4OOO be ! bro’ah* at the National! j yearling sales in 1976. Bred at the Beltana Stud •at Parnassus in North ■ JCanterbun’ bv Mrs E. G.J and Mr R. H. Rutherford,' ! Bahrain is raced by Mr and j : Mrs K. M. Davies, for whom; :jhe has now won five races. I : three of them this season. >i Royal Cadenza carried I

[.top-weight of 58kg into (fourth close behind Hytest on Saturday, with a per'lfnrmance that will assure • him of an army of backers in the New Zealand Cup, ir . which he will drop one kilo. Lavaro. a second runner for the Dromgool stable on Saturdav. did not dull his ' New Zealand Cup image either with his purposeful run for fifth. Andrew, seventh in the I Benson and Hedges Gold (Cup. will be attempting his < second New Zealand Cup !victory next Saturdav. He is 'eight, but like Royal Dell, ! sixth on Saturday, he retains : respect for markedly con(sistent form a' the New (Zealand Cup distance. After two lead-up wins i(something better than tenth .(was expected of Trochee c” •■Saturday. He drifted out (early in a field that (straggled after Greysun’s (share dash to the front, and (never got back into conI tention.