Noble Heights off to Aust. on Saturday

Press, 21 January 1982, Page 19

Noble Heights off to Aust. on Saturday

Special correspondent Cambridge The leading filly, Noble Heights, and the maiden galloper, American Express, will leave for Melbourne on Saturday in the care of their co-trainer, Laurie Laxon, of Cambridge. They will then travel by float to Adelaide where Noble Heights will prepare for the $130,000 Austrasian Oaks over 2000 m on February 10 at Morphettville, Adelaide.

It is planned for Noble Heights to have a lead—up race in the $50,000 Queen of the South Stakes over 1600 m a few days earlier. Noble Heights will be riddent by her usual jockey Garry Phillips. “She has done extra well since she won the Royal Stakes at Ellerslie,” said Laxon yesterday. Noble Heights hit out well when pace working over 2400 m with her stablemate Sure Can, on the sand at

Cambridge. Phillips has already made a trip to Morphettville to inspect the track which, according to Laxon, has irrigation facilities for use as needed.

noble Heights is a clear leader in the Wrightson Filly of the Year series in New Zealand.

Her position will be reassessed by her connections when she returns from Adelaide later in February. Although she holds an almost unassailable lead she would be back in good time to be prepared for the Great Northern Oaks at Ellerslie at Easter if her title is threatened.

American Express which was formerly trained by Ray Cleaver, at Cambridge for Mr and Mrs Gordon Pollock, of Auckland, was purchased by Laxon recently after showing placed form during a holiday trip to the Central Districts.