Drop in class for Delightful Lady

Press, 25 February 1981, Page 24

Drop in class for Delightful Lady

Special Correspondent Auckland From $120,000 and a $5OOO gold cup to $3200 and a free stalliton service valued at $750. A “comedown” indeed for the Auckland Trotting

Cup winner, Delightful Lady, when she contests the Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes at New Plymouth on Saturday. ’he champion’s share of the Cup rtake at Alexander Park on February 7 was $63,000, plus, of course, the gold cup.

Victory at New Plymouth would net her connections $2OBO and a free service to a Waikato-based sire, Midshipman. It will come as a major surprise if she does not win. Delightful Lady will be opposed by considerably weaker oppdsi'ton, the 2150 M event is re-

stricted to fillies and mares, some of whom have won only one race. A hi .dicap of 40m should be no trouble to her, especially as she is a fast beginner. Delightful Lady’s trainer, Michael Stormont, said at Pukekohe yesterday she was ‘jumping out of her

skin,” so we might as well race her. “And with the race a sprint, she doesn’t get a reassessment for the New Zealand Cup.” Delightful Lady’s next race after the New Plymouth meeting will be the Down Under Mile at Alexandra Park on March 14.