Loughanure has ideal background for Trial

Press, 2 December 1981, Page 32

Loughanure has ideal background for Trial

Special correspondent Auckland At the set weight conditions which apply, Loughanure dominates the New Zealand Derby Trial at Ellerslie today.

Along with all the colts and geldings, Loughanure will carry 55kg, just 2kg more than the half-dozen filly acceptors who are also a long way behind him in the way of racing form. From 10 starts this season Loughanure. has managed three wins, three seconds and a third and a fourth placing. One of his wins was in the Wellington Guineas and he was runner-up in the weight-for-age Harcourt Stakes, at Trentham, Waikato Guineas and Wanganui’s Championsnip Stakes. As well as in the Guineas events, Loughanure met his three-year-old rivals on the same terms as today’s race

in a 1600 m event at Avondale on November 3 and won gamely with Bound to Honour second. It follows that in an ordinary handicap, Loughanure would be 'asked to carry much morq than any of the horses he will be meeting in this one. The 1575 m course precludes today’s race being of any great worth as a trial for the 2400 m the three-year-olds will be required to run on Boxing Day, but it is a distance Loughanure should go very well, especially now that a soft or easy track is certain. It was on very soft footing that Loughanure had such an

impressive victory in the 1600 m Doncaster Handicap, on the Ellerslie old course in late September. The next best will very likely be Fondella, Ballyneety, Ringtrue and Black Rono. A filly, trained by Clive Bennett and Bill Winder at Te Rapa, Fondella has been running her races out solidly,, last time for fourth in the Waikato Guineas, two starts back for second in a class four 1600 m event at Te Rapa. A wide barrier position could count against her. Ballyneety needs to improve only a little to become very useful. Ringtrue and Black Rono looked highly

promising last season and it will be disappointing if they do not come back to good form as the season goes on. Ringtrue was a winner in. the Great Northern Champagne Stakes. Black Rono notched a couple of very good performances at Ellerslie during the summer, beating Loughanure to take the Midsummer Handicap, then taking the Calliope Handicap from Isle of Man. Kev’s Boy and Assessed will be interesting when they compete in the class one Remuera Handicap, over 1575 m, both having had recent setbacks. They are good gallopers but at this distance might have. trouble holding Penycae and Aldeb.