Powley regains stature

Press, 2 March 1981, Page 23

Powley regains stature

Special correspondent Dunedin Powley regained stature and consolidated her position as leader in the Broadlands Series with a slashing win in the Otago Mannequin Stakes at Wingatui on Saturday. Powley went two lengths clear in the lead from barrier rise, with The Dimple leading the chase. Powley was steadied at the 900 m to a length advantage, then opened up a break of three lengths at the 500 m which she maintained to the line. “I gave her a kick at the 600 m and she just took off," said Michael Casey,. who has ridden the daughter of Noble Bij’ou and Mellay Vite in her nine wins this season. “She was tiring a bit at the finish and should improve. She was unsettled and sweated a bit in her preliminary’.” Powley’s time for the 1600 m was Imin 36.2 s which compared with Imin 36s returned by The Fantasy winning the White Robe Stakes on the first day. Powley's next start will depend on her recovery from Saturday’s race.

“Fit and well she will go to Cromwell,” said her trainer Hector Anderson, sen, "Otherwise 1 will keep her for her Oamaru." Her Cromwell assignment would be the $5OOO Cromwell Stakes over 2000 m next Monday. Her race at Oamaru on March 23 is the $6OOO Waitaki Stakes (1600 m That is the fifth race in the seven race Broadlands series. Powley leads the series with 28 points, a lead of 16 over The Dimple. The Fantasy, which outclassed her rivals in the Galaxy Stakes, may be seen in action at the Wellington meeting which opens on Saturday. The Fantasy has been entered for the Chardon Mile, a weight-for-age race on the final day of the meeting. The Fantasy’s stablemates. The Twinkle and The Clippie, have also been entered for Trentham. However, a trip north for The Clippie is in doubt because she has been feeling the hard tracks. The availability of air transport will decide the trip for the other two.