Sovereign Red wins stakes

Press, 14 September 1981, Page 24

Sovereign Red wins stakes

NZPA Melbourne The New Zealand-bred galloper, Sovereign Red, fought out a great battle with Deck the Halls to win the $30,000 Craiglee Stakes (1600 m at Flemington on Saturday and firm in markets for the Caulfield Cup. The weight-for-age race was a virtual repeat of the Liston Stakes at Sandown two weeks ago when the two tussled for the finish, with the same result. “It was a brilliant run as he just kept fighting back every time Deck the Halls tried to get past him on the inside,” said Sovereign Red’s trainer, Geoff Murphy, after the race. Sovereign Red (Sir Tristram — Taiona) beat Deck the Halls (Father Christmas — Royal Russett) by half a length with another threequarters of a length to Mr Independent. In the latest market for the $200,000 Caulfield Cup, raced on October 17, Deck the Halls remains 6-to-l favourite. Axman is at 8-to-l, while third favourite at 10-to-1 is Sovereign Red. Hyperno put in a solid effort for fifth and was not disgraced. He is expected to show improvement in his next starts. The Rangong gelding remains 7-to-l second favourite for the Melbourne Cup in November, behind Koiro Trelay (11-to-2) in latest doubles markets.

Murphy said he was likely to run Sovereign Red next in either the $35,000 Underwood Stakes (2000 m at Caulfield on September 24 or the $120,000 Epsom Handicap (1600 m at Randwick on October 3. “I will wait until the weights for the Epsom come out next week before making a final decision but he would have a big chance on winning over the mile on Saturday’s run,” said Murphy.