Allez Bijou wins Sandown Cup

Press, 16 November 1981, Page 28

Allez Bijou wins Sandown Cup

NZPA staff correspondent Melbourne

New Zealand horses took all the top places in the $60,000 Sandown Cup (2400 m at Sandown on Saturday. But once again the New Zealand stayer, Koiro Trelay. failed to show the class that gave him two cups in his homeland this year. Despite getting a rails run in the straight he weakened to finish tenth.

The Noble Bijou gelding, Allez Bijou, is a five-year-old out of Time Lass. Ridden by Gary Willetts, he won the race by a length and a quarter from Lovelace Watkins. winner of the Wellington Derby two seasons back. The New Zealand mare, Kip, which beat Allez Bijou in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Flemington the previous Saturday, finished a game third two lengths behind Lovelace Watkins after being in front for most of the journey. The New Zealand-bred Sovereign Red ran his usual honest race for fourth. He

looked to have a winning chance after the home turn but, probably due to his strenuous campaign this season, could not raise the extra effort needed. Lovelace Watkins was unlucky in the running of the Sandown Cup, getting caught behind tiring horses on the home turn.

By the time his jockey, John Letts, had the favourite clear of the ruck, Allez Bijou had gained a winning break, although Lovelace Watkins was storming back over the last 200 m. Result:— SANDOWN CUP $60,000, 2400 m. 5-3 ALLEZ BIJOU (5) 53 G. Willets 1 2- LOVELACE WATKINS (4) 54 J. Letts 2 3- KIP (7) 54 R. Heffernan 3 Others in finishing order: 4-2 Sovereign Red, 6-6 Andromache, 13-13 Renagen, 9-8 Diatric, 7-7 Peninsula, 11-12 Rock Show, 1-1 Koiro Trelay, 8-11 Andrias, 12-9 Favoloso, 10-10 Crystal Royal, m len. 2 len. Time: 2:31.2. Win: $6.65. Places: $2.15, $2.20, $2.15. Quinella: $21.20.