Maori’s Idol likely to start in Cup

Press, 7 December 1978, Page 27

Maori’s Idol likely to start in Cup

Auckland ' The prospects of the great Australian trotter, Maori’s Idol, racing in Auckland, became considerably brighter yesterday. The horse’s owner-trainer, | Mr R. Healy, rang the Auckland Trotting Club seeking) 'information about the pro-! gramme for the cup meeting! ■ at Alexandra Park in Febru- ( ary. “He also wanted to know [ if we could help him with I transport arrangements,”! said Mr J. F. Patterson, the A.T.C. secretary. Mr Patterson said Mr] Healy seemed very keen to! run Maori’s Idol in the I $109,000 Auckland Trotting::

Cup before going on to: Christchurch for the Inter-: Dominion Championships j there a few weeks later. “We will help him in any! way we can,” he said. . “Maori’s Idol is a phenomin- [ )al trotter and his presence I lin the cup field would be a [ [tremendous attraction.” j ) Horses who finish further I Iback than fifth in the cup,j iwhich will be run on Febru-! I ary 10, will receive $2OOO ! [each — $lOOO less than last! year. i The winner’s share has) been increased by $2OOO to [552,000, second is worth] ]514,000. ($12,000 last year),! |third $BOOO ($8000), fourth! ($5OOO ($5000) and fifth,) !$3OOO ($4000). Unlike last year, when the' (club fixed the number of: [starters at 12 and was re-1 [fused permission at a late' [stage to increase the size of) the field, there could be a! [lineup of 14. ! Mr Patterson said the) ! committee was reserving the [right this time to name a; i figure when withdrawals [closed. ■ “The thinking at present! is that we should keep to I the safety limit, which is I 14.”