Victory Sarnel should do well

Press, 21 January 1982, Page 19

Victory Sarnel should do well

NZPA staff correspondent Sydney

A Ballarat owner-trainer, Peter Dow, is confident his classy American-bred pacer, Victory Samel, will put on a good showing in the $50,000 New Zealand Derby (2600 m at Addington next month. “He has been run up to 2200 m to date and can handle that. We are confident Victory Sarnel is a good staying horse and the distance in the Derby will not worry him,” he said from Ballarat in Victoria. Victory Samel, a three-year-old bay colt by the expensive United States stallion. Most Happy Fella, out of Valona Hanover, was bought by Dow as a yearling. “He was born a few days early so although he was only days old he was classed in America as a yearling so no good for racing. “We bought him for stud purposes but decided to take the risk and race him,” said Dow.

He would not say how

much Victory Sarnel cost but mentioned that stud fees for Most Happy Fella were of the order of $40,000.

Victory Sarnel has had 19 starts in his career and won nine. On Monday at Cranbourne he easily beat a field over 1650 m in the Mornington Improvers Stakes, winning in a time of 2min 06.25.

“He was third off the fence for most of the race and just took off around the field as required. He was well above the opposition,” said Dow. On Saturday night at Moonee Valley, Victory Sarnell will be one of eight pacers in a mile time trial. “I’m hopeful he will be able to break the two minute barrier." said Dow.

He was very pleased to have been invited to take the horse to New Zealand for the Derby.

“There is a lot of prestige attached to the race." he said. The experienced Victorian. Johnny Dewhurst, would drive Victory Sarnel in the Derby on February 17, he said.