Ben could give north win in Derby tonight

Press, 20 March 1982, Page 17

Ben could give north win in Derby tonight

Special correspondent Auckland The Pukekohe gelding, Ben, looks to have a great chance at Alexandra Park this evening of breaking the seven-year dominance of South 'island horses in the Great Northern Pacing Derby. Not since Ripper's Delight in 1975 has a northerner won the classic, which this year is worth a record $50,000. Run over 2700 m from a mobile start, the race has drawn all the best three-year-olds in the country. Undoubtedly, it is the strongest Derby field for years, including as it does, powerful South Island representation as well as all the leading northern secondseason pacers. The visitors are headed by the outstanding Rangiora filly, Hilarious Guest, the only three-year-old in New Zealand with ian open-class assessment. Hilarious ' Guest fared badly in the barrier draw — she is on the second row — but with the field limited to 12 starters she is unlikely to have many traffic problems. Success for Hilarious Guest would give her the New Zealand Great Northern Derby double, a feat which has been achieved by only Tactile in the 1961-62 season since Johnny Globe won both events in 1950. Hilarious Guest's ownertrainer, Maurice Vermeulen, is naturally disappointed with her barrier draw but, against that, he feels she has never been better. He worked her 3200 m at Luk Chin's track near Hamilton on Thursday. ‘■She went about 4min 405," he said, "the last 800 m in Imin 1.5 s and 400 m in 295. It was a really good run and I believe she is ready to go a great race.” Ben has drawn No. 7 but will come in a place if the emergency. Gallant Frost, does not get a start. Two starts.for two wins is Ben’s record so far at the Derby meeting and he was immensely impressive each time. On the second night on Wednesday, he beat a field which included some openclass horses. He graduated to a C 9 assessment so he' needs only one more win to join Hilarious Guest as an “eligible” for next season’s big cups.

Of the other five North Island candidates, Peter Foyle and Skipper’s Reign warrant serious consideration. Both have been racing well. As well as Hilarious Guest, the South Island will be represented by Mister Wood Chips, Lopez Song, Portfolio. Mai Mai, Mel's Boy and Enterprise. It is a formidable line-up, all having shown splendid form this season. Enterprise could be especially hard to beat. He was an unlucky second to Peter Foyle on the first night of the meeting and he. again finished strongly when third to Ben and Lemrac in the Patrons Handicap on Wednesday. His Palmersfon trainer and part-owner, Pat Heffernan, looks to have brought him to his peak at the right time. The second leg of the T A.B. double, the Down I nner Mile, is notable for the presence in the field of Delightful Lady. In what will almost certainly be her second-to-last race — her last will be in the North Island Breeders' Stakes at Alexandra Park next month — she looks to have bright prospects of notching her thirty-eighth win. Delightful Lady has drawn, No. 1 and the opposition does' not look particularly strong. Race 5 8.10 T.A.B. TREBLE CAPTAIN HARCOURT PACE 54310; C 3; mobile; 2700 m

Scratched: Harvey’s Sister, Rich Gift, Tiny Wave, Roseland Patron. Race 7 9.15 T.A.B. TREBLE SAPLING HANDICAP $5480; C 5: 3200 m

19 0074 Johnny Mac 2 20 Scratched: Parisian Glory. Amasias, Lazv Lord, Kamwobd Belle. Race 8 9.45 T.A.B. DOUBLE DOWN UNDER MILE $7145; OC: mobile; mile . 1 4553 Delightful Lady 1 It Fine run in Auckland Cup on February 12 at last start. From this draw, must have great chance. G. Hillier. 2 1008 John Tudor 2 It Will be helped considerably by mobile dispatch. T. Knowles. 3 0040 D'Or Favori 3 It Hard to fancy. C. Hunter. 4 0046 Mister Majestic 4 It Two sound races so far at meeting. J. Smolenski. 5 8600 Calm Flight 5 It Well beaten in Auckland Cup on February 12 at last start.' J. MacQuibban. 6 2131 Royal Decision 6 It Maintained grand form

with decisive win on first night. P. Jones. 7 6588 False Regal 7 It Weakened on Wednesday night after being parked out. J. Langdon. 8 2155 Remote 8 It Ran on strongly on. Wednesday night. 10 0977 Rambling Kidd 10 It Ran on well on Wednesday night after breaking early. G. Harris. 11 0404'Idolmite 11 It Solid effort on Wednesday night from hard mark. Looks to have good prospects. Scratched: Lord Marshall. Race 10 10.45 T.A.B. TREBLE T.A.B. QUINELLA SPEEDY GUEST PACE $4825; C 4; mobile; 2700 m

1 1058 Poplar Country 1 It 4 1445 Majestic Range 4 It 5 1715 On Your. Mark 5 It 6 1306 Strident 6 It 7 660 Young Bradly 7 It 8 4492 Rock Folly 8 It 9 2618 Lance Bevan 9 It 10 6650 Eastwood Vision 10 It 11 0913 Rain Girl 11 It 12 1457 Adover Laddie 12 It 14 0567 Captain Watbro 14 It 15 756 Cashaplenty 15 it 16 0006 Miss Della 16 It 18 7913 Altair UR It

1 0037 Miss-Ghana 1 It 2 1300 Glencarron 2 It 3 4093 Mischief Maker 3 it 4 9008 Justmat 4 , It

5 0911 Kane 5 It 6 0445 Hurricane Chief 6 It 7 8260 How About That 7 It 8 1556 Shenandoah 8 It 11 7729 Jacron 11 - It 12 0403 Rewiti Hanover 1 10 13 0900 Take Aim 2 10 15 8992 Orient Prince 4 10 16 2211 Jilaire's Chance 5 10 17 726 Ao Marama 6 10

1 8432 Hi Perfection 1 It 2 9600 Avalon 2 It 3 5870 Dustover 3 It 4 9923 Shadow Lord 4 It 5 1211 Newt 5 It 6 3384 Lord Tudor 6 It 7 4000 Breconshire 7 It 8 4059 Maruadell 8 It 9 4764 Riverside Hal 9 It 11 0095 Hoatu 11 It 12 2 Dillon Dale 12 It 13 0080 Roseland Schell 13 It 14 8070 True Bay 14 It Scratched: Boltin.