McGinty doubtful starter today

Press, 20 March 1982, Page 17

McGinty doubtful starter today

NZPA Sydney The New Zealand colt. McGinty, is apparently suffering '"jet lag” after his flight from Auckland on Wednesday’ and may not start as planned at Rosehill today. McGinty's trainer. Colin Jillings, expressed concern on Thursday night over the colt’s loss of appetite since his arrival and said he wanted to see how he settles before committing him to a race. The horse is entered for the $25,000 Todman Slipper Trial (1200 m up against the unbeaten Marscay. “The plane trip over was no problem for him whatsoever and he seemed quite okay yesterday morning,” Jillings said. "At home he’s normally a ‘good doer,’ but

last night he’d just take a mouthful and walk around his box to the bin again.” McGinty is in Australia to contest the $50,000 Golden Slipper Stakes (1200 m at Rosehill on April 3.

Meanwhile, the Golden Slipper favourite. Rancher, turned in a sizzling track trial at Warwick Farm yesterday. "Ridden by Norman Waymouth. Rancher ran 800 m in 45s to beat an Adelaide two-

year-old, War Chest, by two lengths and a half. War Chest ran second to Rancher in the Blue Diamond (1200 m at Caulfield on February 27 when they last met. Rancher went straight to the front with War Chest, ridden by Mick Mallyon. sitting about two lengths behind throughout. It was the fastest, of the two-year-olds heats with the starting stalls 13m short of 800 m. "It’s the first time Rancher has been allowed to stride out since winning the Blue Diamond," Norman Waymouth said. “He handled the Sydney way of going well. In fact he hung in on the bend."