Lord Module assured of favouritism in $l00,000 Auckland Cup

Press, 8 February 1980, Page 1 (Supplement)

Lord Module assured of favouritism in $l00,000 Auckland Cup

Special correspondent

Auckland

Lord Module seems bound to be the favourite for the Auckland Trotting Cup at Alexandra Park tomorrow night. But equally probable is that he will be at more liberal odds than seemed likely before the barrier draw was made.

Lord Module drew No. 10. There is little chance of. the second horse on the ballot-ed-out list, Myron (No. 7) getting into the field so Lord Module will be at No. 9. This is the extreme outside position behind the mobile barrier and with the first bend coming soon after the start the covering of much extra ground is inevitable — unless the horse is eased. It is an intriguing situation and Lord Module’s traiher-driver, Cecil Devine, is unsure what his tactics Will be. “It’s a position I’d prefer not to be in ” he said yesterday, “But then that’s the luck of the game.” A dashing workout at Alexandra Park on Wednesday showed Lord Module had done famously since his] Unfortunate experience on|

. the first night of the meet- ; ing last Saturday, when he • was virtually put out of the I race in a skirmish .at the » start. . His form previously was outstanding, including wins ■ in the New Zealand Cup, • New Zealand Free-For-All > and Pan-Am Mile. As well, • he now holds both National : race and time trial mile ■ records. i Compounding the difficult draw in tomorrow’s $lOO,OOO race is the fact that the field j!undoubtedly is the strongest , for a major race anywhere ; in the country this season. Roydon Scott, Young ’ Quinn, Locarno and Katy’s • Command are among those 1 which did not contest the New Zealand Cup last No- ■ vember and Sapling and De-

lightful Lady were both below their best then.

Tall Order

Tremendous interest is being taken in the reappearance at the park of Young Quinn, Inter-Donii-nion champion there in 1975 and since then an outstanding performer in the United States.

It is a tall order for a 10-year-old which has had only one race — at Ruakaka 10 days ago — since he had his last start in America a year ago. But he had done everything right in training and his trainer-driver, Charlie Hunter, is quietly confident the old fellow will acquit himself well.

In any event, Young Quinn’s class will take him a long way. Delightful Lady looks the main local hope. She has a great record this season having won eight races, the first five at successive starts.

Off 15m in the Choysa Marathon Handicap on the first night, she gave a sterling performance to run third. Back on level marks with her rivals, and with an ideal barrier draw (No. 3) she must be given a royal chance. And Alexandra Park unquestionably is her favourite track. Another Pukekohe-trained mare, Katy’s Command, is also an Alexandra Park spe-

cialist. Her success in the : Choysa Marathon was achieved in her usual dogged style.

Badly drawn

Katy’s Command has drawn badly, though, and will need plenty of luck in the running from a secondrow position.

Locarno, Sapling and Trevira all have plenty of sup? porters. In the Choysa Marathon, Trevira was second and Locarno seventh. Locarno’s trainer, Robin Butt, was naturally disappointed but the gelding has shaped well in training since and he could easily prove last week’s form all wrong. Sapling has regained top 1

iform at the right time. After: tracing well below his best for several months, he won a double at. Forbury Park last week the second time running a track record for 2700 m.

The winner of the cup last year, he is a free-going front-runner and could well wind up making the pace. If only for the fact that he will be driven by Peterj Wolfenden, Trevira must be strongly considered. Wolfenden has won the race four times, with Damian in 1960. Cardigan Bay (1961 and 1963) . and Sole Command (1978.) Trevira has been showing consistently fine form and with a reasonable passage 'could be tough to beat.