Owners keen to run Ring the Bell in 'Arc’

Press, 28 March 1981, Page 24

Owners keen to run Ring the Bell in ' Arc’

NZPA Sydney The New Zealand Derby winner Ring the Bell could be set for the world classic Prix de I’Arc de Triomphe if he has a successful campaign in Sydney. The Prix de I’Arc de Triomphe will bj run at Longcl cmp, near Paris, on October 4 over 2400 m and the • winner will receive about $400,000. The great Balmerino was runner-up in the race, beaten a length and a half by Robert Sangster’s colt, Alleged, in the 1977 running of the race.

The “Australian” newspaper yesterday quoted Ring the Bell’s trainer, Neville Atkins, as saying the o\ ners of the Derby winner were

' keen to have a try at the rich French race. r Atkins could not be conI tact'-i yesterday but the : jockey, Nigel Tiley, sai I he • understood that to be the . plan, provided Ring the Bell did well in the $125,000 . Rosehill Guineas (2000 m ' next week-end and the $200,000 A.J.C. Derby i (2400 m at Easter. Last week Ring the Bell won tne first leg of this Triple Crown, the $75,000 Canterbury Guineas (19 r om). In the report Atkins said Ring the Bell was booked to return to New Zealand on April 22, two days after the A.J.C. Derby, and would then be spelled for about a month before being ">wn to France to have at least two leadup races to the Arc. “It’s a big plan, for sure,

but we think we have got the right sort of horse for that race. You may never have another as good as him so it is well worth the try,” he said. “The owners are very keen to try it on.” “I’ll be going and Nigel Tiley will be along to ride him. It will be a great experience.” Ring the Bell, a three-year-old colt by Hyperno’s sire, Rangong, is raced in partnership by Mrs Barbara Wild, of Sydney, and Mrs Eileen Mackley, of Auckland. Mr Hilton Mackley, an advertising executive, bought the colt for his wife for the r..w bargain basement price of $3OOO.

They, who has two rides at Rosehill today said they were closely watching King-

ston Town’s younger brother, Private Thoughts, which missed out on a run in the Canterbury Guineas but will start today in the $20,000 Phar Lap Stakes (1500 m Private Thoughts was G-to-4 favourite for the race today and success would ensure a start for him in the Rosehill Guineas next weekend. “I think his last run at Randwick was terrific,” said Tiley. At his last start on March 14 Private Thoughts finished powerfully for a brilliant two and three-quarter lengths win in the 1690 m Fay Handicap. After being eighth at the turn the Bletchingly colt showed his elder brother’s amazing acceleration and stormed home.