Clash over merit of cup success

Press, 31 October 1981, Page 21

Clash over merit of cup success

From ALLAN BROWN Melbourne Magistrate’s ownertrainer, lan Steffert, of Morrinsville, and Sydney’s Tommy Smith had an exchange through the columns of a Melbourne newspaper and general agreement seems to be that the New Zealander emerged ahead on points. Smith, who had been anxious for his horse, Blastaway, to win the Werribee Cup on Wednesday and thus improve his chance of a place in the Melbourne Cup field, was sharply critical of the handicap for the Werribee race. “Magistrate got into the

race with a ridiculously low weight,” Smith said. “He should have had 3kg more.” Smith added that Magistrate had been handicapped leniently because of his age, to which Steffert replied: “Is that the same Tommy Smith who said in Perth'last year that his horse (Reckon I’m Ready) would beat Magistrate in the Perth Cup because my horse was too old? “If it is then he’s a bad judge because Magistrate bolted in and Smith’s horse was not sighted.” The Victoria Racing Club handicapper, Mr Jim Bowler, decided not to penalise Magistrate in the Melbourne Cup because of his Werribee win.