Delightful Lady in top form for Auckland

Press, 4 February 1982, Page 19

Delightful Lady in top form for Auckland

Special correspondent Auckland

Delightful Lady showed she was in fine form for the Auckland Trotting Cup meeting when she comfortably won the main event at a matinee meeting held by the Manukau club at Alexandra Park yesterday. Opposed by eight cup rivals over the big-race distance of 2700 m from a mobile start, she ’ was warmly applauded by a fairly sizable crowd as she romped home from Hurricane Shannon and John Tudor.

The performance delighted ; her trainer-driver, Gary HilHer.

“It was just what she wanted," Hillier said. “I had a good run and all I needed to give her was a flick of the whip approaching the home turn."

Delightful Lady surged past the pacemaker, Paul’s Byrd, on the bend and she carried on boldly to score by a length and a half from Hurricane Shannon. John Tudor was half a length back, third.

The time was a respectable 3min 29s with the last 800 m being done in 58.55. Delightful Lady has won the $120,000 Cup two years running. Before she attempts the hat-trick, she will compete in the Chardon Handi-

cap on the first night of the meeting on Saturday.

She is on 20m in the 2200 m invitation event and Hillier realises she faces a formidable assignment. “But she’ll go a good race." he said.

Hurricane Shannon ran on strongly from well back in yesterday’s trial and John Tudor did not lose any friends for the Cup.

“He needed that one," said John Tudor's trainer, Allan Dodds. Tom Knowles, the horse's driver, was pleased with the horse’s run.

Trio only battled into fourth ahead of Greg Robinson. which finished stoutly from the rear.