Auckland start next for Lyndon Robert

Press, 7 June 1982, Page 18

Auckland start next for Lyndon Robert

Bv

G. K. YULE

Lyndon Robert is to go north in an attempt to establish his ranking as top two-vear-old pacer of the season. On June 26 at Alexandra Park he will oppose Scott Baker, Lord Manhattan and other highlv ranked pacers in the $25,000 Juvenile Championships. Those who saw him beat Mighty Me. Bee El and Double Smooth in the Sapling Stakes at Ashburton on Saturday are fairlv confident that'he will achieve that feat.

After racing in the open for much of the way and being passed bv some three lengths bv Mighty Me starting the run home’, he showed rare staying qualities to win decisively by three parts of a length. Those who had backed him down to a win dividend of $1.85 were far from confident when Robert Dunn settled Lyndon Robert one off the fence. However, there was method in his tactics. His former employer, Jim Dalgety. who had’driven earlier in 'the day, suggested that Dunn keep Lyndon Robert away from the softer going near’ the rails. “He's inclined to ease off when he gets to the front so I wasn't worried when Mighty Me sped past me near the straight entrance. I knew he’d surge over the last bit

and that's what he did.” said Dunn, who has produced Lyndon Robert for six wins and four placings worth $30,090 from 11 starts.

Lyndon Robert was bred bv Mr Max Bowden, a Christchurch businessman, who had not previously had a runner in the Sapling Stakes. “We were going to Auckland whether we won or not today." said a delighted Mr Bowden.

Lyndon Robert is by the Bve’ Bye Byrd horse. Nardin's Byrd, which was sold at a big' price to Victoria earlier in the season by Eastwood Lodge Stud proprietor, Sam Ballantyne. who derived tremendous satisfaction from the win. Lyndon Robert is out of East wood Estelle, by Armbro Del from Red Rose, a mare he brought to Christchurch when he emigrated from Scotland.

Armbro Del is proving a most successful sire of broodmares. He was also the sire of the dam of Glide Time, winner of the Sapling Stakes in 1977.

Mighty Me returned a remarkable run for his second. He missed the start and must have lost the best part of 50m. Hd showed amazing speed to loop the field inside the final 800 m and take the lead at the straight entrance. He lost little when beaten. His part-owner and

trainer. Colin McLachlan, will now have to give consideration to taking him to Auckland as his run suggested he was entitled to an attempt on the big classic. McLachlan already has a contender for the event in Formal Fella, which is being prepared at Cambridge by Charlie Hunter and Garry' Smith.

Bee El, which received a rocky run on the home turn, came strongly but late to cut the pacemaker, Double Smooth out of third, with Family Fun. Braedoon and Monte' Neptune going encouragingly to head the others.

Capri, the “baby" of the field at three years, capped off some consistent racing with victory at the expense of the favourite, Betty Adios. in the Ashburton Licensing Trust Handicap. The daughter of Noodlum and New Moon will have only one more start this season. That will be in the Rangiora Winter Cup on Saturday. Betty Adios. also trying to qualify for the Rangiora Pace, was not disgraced as she was well off the pace after missing the start. Likely Lord qualified for the $5OOO Nelson Cup on June 19 when, after drifting very wide al the straight entrance. he wore down Skipphaven and won the Cavendish Handicap.