Late change of course gives Sovereign success

Press, 20 November 1978, Page 32

Late change of course gives Sovereign success

By

G. K. YULE

A desperate switch from the rails well inside the last 100 m gave Jack Smolenski and the diminutive Sovereign a win over the pacemaking Ostrava in the New Zealand Derby Stakes at Addington Raceway on Saturday.

Sovereign fought against his boring pole as Smolenski attempted to send him through inside Ostrava, which was drifting off the rails. Then, with the winning post not far off, Smolenski decided to go round Ostrava. Sovereign showed rare gameness when a serious effort was called for and he dashed up to Ostrava, catching him just short of the post and beating him by a neck going away. Sovereign fell from favour after he finished ninth in the Derby Trial on November 7. However, there was an explanation for his dismal showing, although the stipendiary stewards failed to investigate his running. Trouble with a hopple shortener caused the colt to Income unbalanced and he was unable to show bis best. Sovereign’s 3min 29s for! the 2600 m, was the slowest! since metric distances were | introduced. The pace was slack in the middle part, where one 800 m section took Imin 9.25. The last 800 m took 59.65. Smolenski has no definite plans for Sovereign, but the Champion Stakes on Boxing Day and the Great Northern Derby are certain to be on his programme. A beautifully-proportioned

tlcolt, Sovereign is only 14.2 ij hands. He has now had 11 seven career starts for three , I wins and three placings. He was bred by Mr John >1 Osborne, a member of the i! committee of the Metropoli--‘tan Trotting Club, who races • him in partnership with his > I father, Mr Maurice Osborne, •’and Smolenski, who had not ■ previously won the classic. He is the third Derby i j Stakes winner sired by ’Bachelor Hanover, who was i! represented earlier by Bachiielor Star and Noodlum. Sovi ’ ereign is a son of Royal Bel- : mer (lmin 58.85), a Standardbred Breeders’ Stakes i winner with 12 successes to > her credit, by Thurber Frost, tracing back to Purple i Patch, ancestress of a host > of winners, few of which •ihad been of note in classic i events. I Among the many fine winJners tracing back to Purple Patch have been Lady Bel- ; mer, Countless, Loyal Rey, . Gienurquhart, Patchwork, i Rhinegold, Ingle Belmer and jßelmer’s Image, and a host I of other worthwhile per-j !'formers, especially in open, •'staying handicaps. Wing Commander put i interest in the finish by getII ting within a length and a ihalf of Ostrava. “He was livery slow early 'and I

couldn’t hurry him,” said Doody Townley. He gradually made up leeway and had he secured a better run in the home straight, there is little doubt he would have been closer. Matai Dreamer, a shatje slow, had his chance, but could not quicken at the end of a race not run to suit a staying type. He finished fourth, ahead of Augustus Rex, which was

I in the open for most of the ■ way. I The favourite, Genesis, i could do no better than i sixth, some three lengths i from the winner. However, there were excuses for him • as he was checked early and : received a rocky run on the 1 home turn, where he was i forced very wide. Passable looked a place chance until I (he broke inside the last ; 100 m.