Rip Van Winkle likely to race in Auckland Cup

Press, 2 October 1979, Page 24

Rip Van Winkle likely to race in Auckland Cup

Bv

G. K. YULE

New Zealand racegoers will be in for a treat in the late summer when it is likely the former champion Australian pacer. Rip Van Winkle, will be seen in action.

The six-v ear-old which v. o.i >298.941 from 50 wins and 15 placines from 72: starts, has been back in work for some weeks with ■ the Ya'dhurst trainer.

George Noble, starting a, build-up which will have! him ready to appear at trials], in the latter part of Decern-y jber. No definite plans have

;been made for his racing, ] campaign, but h ; ’h hopes! |are held that he will be] 'ready for the 1980 Auckland! Cup ”at Alexandra Park on February 9. Then, if everything goes satisfactorily, he might be taken back to Sydney for the Inter-Dominion Championship series. After that a campaign in North America is under consideration. Noble is delighted with the progress made by Rip Van Winkle, but emphasised that so far he had not been given any serious training | tasks. “He’s so good that it’s almost unbelievable,” said I Noble, who over the years l has had many outstanding [performers such as Adioway, [Garcon Roux, Stanley Rio, Arania and Jay Ar in his care. Rip Van Winkle is at I present mixing training with ; ’his stud duties at Nevele R. 'Stud. Prebbleton. He is taken each day from the istud to Noble’s training establishment. “His stud commitments I are the main thing at the I moment,” said Mr Wayne Francis, a principal of the [stud. ] Rip Van Winkle will race lin the interest of Mr and I Mrs Michael Vanderkamp, of

;, Sydney, and Mr Bob [McArdle and Mr Francis. I The son of Thor Hanover [and Thelma Lass had a remarkable race record. He be- > came the fastest three-year-old ever in Australia when • he paced one mile in Imin 58.75, and the following season he improved his record to Imin 57.45. He gained 10 wins and three placings from 14 starts at two, 18 wins and four seconds from 22 starts at three, and 20 wins and three placings from 26 starts at four. He broke Fettle's 20-year-old record of 10 wins “on the trot” on a metropolitan course, winning 11 consecutive races at Harold Park. He won 28 classic and cup races, and is the only horse to have won the coveted i Triple Crown at Harold I Park. Rip Van Winkle was par- ] aded at the Hororata Trott-] ing Club's annual meeting last April and he was allowed to stretch out a little in a brush through the straight, amazing observers : when he recorded 14.4 s for ’ 200 m — and he had been ’ away from racing for about six months.