Altitude to miss early classics

Press, 18 August 1981, Page 28

Altitude to miss early classics

Special correspondent Matamata The exciting three-year-old prospect. Altitude, will not contest either of the Central Districts’ Guineas races next month. His trainer. Bill Ford, has decided to keep Altitude’s campaign on northern tracks for the time being and the colt will miss both the Wanganui and Hawke’s Bay Guineas.

Depending on underfoot conditions. Ford intends racing Altitude next in either the Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes at Te Rapa or the IZH Guineas Trail at Te Aroha.

The colt’s main assignment is the Great Northern Guineas at Ellerslie in October. It will be his first attempt past 1400 metres.

Through that one well, the Wellington Guineas at Trentham later that month is an obvious stepping stone and then Riccarton in November. Ford is delighted with the way Altitude came through his winning effort at Ellerslie last Wednesday. “He got over it better than I thought he would," Ford added. “It was a hard race in that bad ground but it does not seem to have worried him.”

Last season's leading three-year-old filly. Glamour Bay, is coming to hand steadily in a new campaign with Fred Beguely at Matamata.

The mare has been building up mileage at the training centre for three weeks and had a month of slow

work on a private track beforehand.

Beguely is in no hurry to get Glamour Bay back to the races. “She won't do much until the tracks firm up.” said Beguely earlier this week. "There are plenty of races for her later in the year. “A campaign loosely pieced together by Beguely for Glamour Bay takes in his pick of the numerous fillies and mares’ weight-for-age events on offer. Further ahead, a trip across the Tasman, possibly to Sydney, is under consideration some time after the New Year.

The New Zealand Oaks winner furnished noticeably during her spell and from all accounts is in for another highly successful innings.