Armalight outguns rivals

Press, 12 May 1980, Page 34

Armalight outguns rivals

Special correspondent Auckland

Like the high-powered rifle of her namesake, Armalight'A “outgunned” her rivals at Alexandra Park on Saturday evening. Tn adding the $21,250 final of the D. B. Flying Fillies’ Stakes to her already impose jng list-of victories, she ; thus joined a select band of three-year-old fillies to reach open company. Only Bonnie Frost and Black Frost (both in the 1969-1970 season) have attained similar feats in recent times. Armalight’s achievement is all the more remarkable in that, wheras the other two fillies won several races at two years of age, she did not start racing until last Boxing Day. Her outstanding record of 13 starts for 10 wins and three platings has been built up within the space of only six months.

On Saturday Armalight settled in to trail the early pacemaker Regal Cheval for the first 400 m or so but her driver P. T. Wolfenden was not content to sit in behind;

With just over a round to go Wolfenden worked her into the lead, and from that point proceeded to dictate niatters. Wolfenden had the filly under a good hold to the home-turn before asking her for a major sprint in the final stretch.

Regal Cheval and her stablemate Royal Decision, which-sat parked out most of the way, tried desperately to make some impression on Armalight over the final stages but they had to settle for the minor money. Still Royal Decision’s effort for third was . full of merit. The time for the mile was a respectable 2min 1.25. Armalight’s owner-trainer, Mr H. B. Smith is staying in Auckland over the next fortnight with the North Island Oaks, worth $15,000, next Saturday week, as the filly’s last major mission. “I’ve been meaning to give her a spell as she’s had a hard season,” Mr Smith said on Saturday, “but she keeps on going such good races. “I intend, though, to give

her a good long rest after the Oaks,” Armalight’s record earnings of $62,065 compare favourably with this season’s leading three-year-old galloping filly, Silver Nymph, which has a grand total of around $77,000. Armalight holds a further engagement at Alexandra Park on Wednesday evening. She stands out among an ordinary line-up of three-year-olds in the Captain Adios Stakes. Special Pride earned a big following for next week-ends Rowe Cup after running her rivals ragged on Saturday. So superior was she that she posted a new national record.

After setting a particularly solid pace, Special Pride surged away in the home straight to take , the Gentry Free-For-All by four lengths. Ajlsa Hanover led the chase after her throughout and battled into second place, even though she stood no chance with the winner.

An eye-catching run and one that was an excellent Rowe Cup trial came from Sure Mart. Back in the early

part, she mounted a sustained finishing run to take third, just shading Stormy Morn, which was fairly handy all the way. Special Pride’s success completed the T.A.B. double for her driver P. T. Wolfenden, who rated Armalight so well out in front in the first leg. Special Pride’s time of 2min 48.2 s lowered Ritch Hill’s previous New Zealand record for a mobile 2200 m by 1.75. . Only a four-year-old, by Game Pride from Jingles; Special Pride is making quite an impact on the open trotting ranks. Saturday’s race was her sixteenth for the term and her ninth victory for her Wellington owners, Mrs M. C. and P. J. Harnett. In anywhere near the same form she is obviously going to take a power of beating in Saturday’s $30,000 Rowe Cup. Scotch Tar, a disappointment on Saturday, would need to show a fair amount of improvement if he is to retain favouritism in the Cup from Special Pride. .