Solitaire will pose problems for southerners tomorrow

Press, 7 August 1981, Page 1 (Supplement)

Solitaire will pose problems for southerners tomorrow

By

J.J. BOYLE

Solitaire will pose problems for the South Island’s best in the Amalgamated Packaging Handicap, second leg of the Canterbury Jockey Club’s T.A.B. double tomorrow.

Her victory in the Parliamentary Handicap under 53.5 at Trentham last month, and successes at Awapuni and Wanganui earlier in the winter, were achieved with shows of stamina that might be expected from a daughter of Zamazaan from the same family as the dual Melbourne Cup winner. Think Big. Unlike many of her relations, Solitaire is no great shakes when the tracks are firm, but she has campaigned rewardingly in the

soft, and it will be surprising if she does not play one of the big roles in the finish of tomorrow’s 2000 m race. Solitaire will be giving weight to all but Good Way. and she will meet that Amberley-trained Heathcote Handicap winner on better terms than when they met in the Parliamentary. Good Way was the Parliamentary Handicap third, close to two lengths behind Solitaire. He carried 55.5 that day, and has 57 this time.

Abe's Order will be attempting to complete a double that eluded Solitaire’s stablemate. London Trader, last vear.

London Trader finished fourth in the longer race after winning the Winter Cup.

Abe's Order, slammed his rivals at 1600 m in last Saturday’s 1600 m race but was unplaced behind Solitaire when the Zamazaan mare won at Wanganui and

Awapuni earlier in the winter.

Firpo. third in the Amalgamated Handicap last year, remains in the forefront of the South Island prospects this time through his Winter Cup fourth last Saturday. Unlike Firpo, the Goretrained Taramoa is a newcomer to middle-distance racing, but his determined finish for a clear-cut second in the Winter Cup invites the belief that he will manage 2000 m well. He is a brother

of Loch Linnhe. which made his mark over middle distance on the flat before becoming a top ’chaser, capable of winning two Great Northerns, races that set a premium on stamina. Fleetwood Mac holds his place fairly high on the list of possibilities at this distance.

He was fourth in a weaker field in the Heathcote Handicap on Tuesday, but might have played a bigger role in a race that made more demands on stamina