Red Tempo to miss classic races

Press, 11 October 1982, Page 33

Red Tempo to miss classic races

Special correspondent Auckland Red Tempo will be denied a clean sweep of the Guineas races but only because he is to be kept from Trentham later this week and. probably. from Riccarton in November as well. The Wellington Guineas, next Saturday, and the Canterbury Jockey Club's Two Thousand Guineas at Riccarton early next month, could have been the two next big assignments for Red Tempo, which scored for the fifth time in five starts with his Great Northern Guineas win at Ellerslie on Saturday. The coll, instead, will be freshened for Levin's rich sponsored event, the Bayer Classic, last year the Levin Turf Classic, on November 24. Trentham had not been considered. Red Tempo's cotrainer. Bruce Priscott. said at the week-end. An entry

was made for Riccarton but the trip was unlikely. Until the 1970 s the Great Northern Guineas winner usually took in the Wellington Guineas and often completed a double with the Trentham race. The introduction of new races like the Levin Classic and Te Rapa’s Plaza Purse has helped bring a change. The last Ellerlie winner who tried for the guineas double at Trentham was Crest Star, in 1977. Red Tempo was as highly impressive as in any of his four previous wins when taking the $27,000 Guineas at Ellerslie. There is not a three-year-old yet in sight who appears to be in his class. The Hawke’s Bay Guineas winner. Nicolove, battled hard to keep Red Tempo out. as he did when runner-up behind Special Nip in the Guineas Trial the previous week, but he never looked

like holding the other horse. Red Tempo had been one of the last few with the early rush and among the tailenders. at the halfway stage. From near the 600 metres, though, his rider. Chris McNab, sent him along to improve and there was such response that they were hardly into the home straight when Red Tempo burst through in the middle of the track to join Nicolove in front. McNab made quite certain by giving his mount two or three cuts with the whip but there was hardly a need, none of the others offering a threat. A question continuing to be debated is whether Red Tempo will get 2000 metres, which is the Avondale Guineas distance in December. then the 2400 m of the Derby. Nobody can say for certain but his relaxed style of racing suggests he will.