Wanbin set to complete stakes double

Press, 6 September 1980, Page 21

Wanbin set to complete stakes double

Special correspondent Wellington Wanbin, winner of the Wanganui Stakes twelve months ago, looks set to make it a double in the renewal of the weight-for-age feature today. Though the track is unlikely to be as fast as it was last week when race and track records tumbled in a couple of races, it should not be too bad. Wanbin, from Cambridge,

indicated a return to something like his best form when he finished on well for fourth place behind Valour in the Bardstown Stakes at Avondale last Saturday, a little over three lengths behind the winner. Wanbin, which Also won the Foxbridge Plate last year, had Oakwell behind him when he won the Wanganui Stakes and that rival is down to take up the challenge again, though her lead-

up form is not inspiring this time. A bigger threat to Wanbin, therefore, is likely to come from the Winter Cup winner London Trader, from Awapuni. The Cup was the six-year-old’s first win for many months, but he seems sure to carry oh for a useful record this season.

He, too, ran in the Bardstown Plate last week and finished third after producing a strong run along the inside rail. In that sort of form, London Trader is obviously going to take a deal of beating. The mare Gay Shron, from Te Rapa, came back to racing in the sprint last week and did well, after getting out of her ground in the middle stages, to bowl along for fifth place. Gay Sharon, one of the better three-year-olds last term, should be able to improve on that run and she seems sure to finish in the money.

Officer Scott is the only three-year-old in the field this year. He Went a good race in the Wanganui Guineas last week, coming late, but fast to take third money. Three-year-olds are, perhaps, a shade leniently treated by the weight-for-age conditions at this time of year and an ability to keep with the pace, so often: necessary at Wanganui, could give Officer Scott a chance to become the second of his age to win the stakes? Mayo Mellay was three when he won the first running of the feature in 1976.