Noble Comment wins Werribee Cup

Press, 28 October 1982, Page 26

Noble Comment wins Werribee Cup

From

ALLAN BROWN

Melbourne

Noble Comment, a five-year-old gelding trained by George Hanlon at Epsom, made certain of his remaining in the Melbourne Cup field following final declarations on Saturday with his win yesterday in the Werribee Cup. After taking the lead with 600 m of the 2600 m to run, Noble Comment held off all challenges to win by a length and a half in the course record time of 2min 46.65. A former New Zealand six-year-old, Dealer's Choice ended a big run by taking second place and Lady Ice finished third.

Azaking, which finished fifth, performed best of the New Zealand runners. Magistrate came in seventh of the 16 starters. Payco eighth, Nazman eleventh and Focal Point twelfth. None of them ever threatened the eventual placegetters. Noble Comment is in the 'Melbourne Cup with 48kg, which puts him thirty-sixth on the list of qualifiers, but a certain rehandicap now due should promote him sufficiently to make certain his place in the final field.

The success of Noble Comment ended a frustrating spring for Hanlon, one of Victoria’s leading trainers, over many years. Just last week-end Hanlon again lost the services of his fine galloper Lawman —

sore after Moonee Valley — and Hanlon has had great trouble trying to get Isle of Man right again. •' Except for a failure two starts before yesterday's run — in the A.J.C. Metropolitan — Noble Comment had raced consistently well; one of his best recent efforts being a third in the 2400 m Geelong Cup. He was ridden yesterday by Robert Heffernan, who is the probable Melbourne Cup jockey. Dealer's Choice, though second by a length and threequarters from Ladv Ice,

raced well, having to overcome an early check which had him well back in the field. He is just about certain of a Melbourne Cup run — thirtieth on the list of qualifiers.

Noble Comment will go straight into the Melbourne Cup from here; whether Dealer's Choice will race again before next Tuesday has not been decided. He may have a start in Saturday’s Dalgety’s Handicap.