Ben Kazam likely in Waikato Gold Cup

Press, 20 November 1982, Page 22

Ben Kazam likely in Waikato Gold Cup

Special correspondent Auckland Ben Kazam, after trying for so long to collect one of the big staying prizes, has his chance' at Te Rapa today in the $36,000 Waitako Gold Cup. ! Except for once — two starts back at Te Rapa, on October 26 — Ben Kazam did not run badly in the five races he had last season or in the four he has had since coming back from, layoff during the winter. In the first of his races last season Ben Kazam beat all except Hikotere over 1600 m at Pukekohe. He was next-second, twice third then second again at Gisborne. In his first two starts- this time up he won a 1600 m race at Te Aroha and a 2100 m event at Tauranga before his only real failure, in a middle-distance race at Te Rapa on Labour Day.. Now six, Ben Kazam failed only by inches when’ third behind Maurita, and Epilogue over 2200 m at Pukekohe oh November 6. He was ridden then by David, Peake, who has again taken the mount? Judged ;by their showings at Pukekohe,' Maurita and

Epilogue will again be hard to beat. So will Avitt and Hugel, if they race up to their impressive, Last-start form. Maurita showed her staying quality when winning the New Zealand Oaks last January. When she won at Pukekohe it was in her third race since coming back from a let up. She had looked to be nearing form when second at Rotorua the time before and it is reasonable to expect that she has improved further in the meantime. Epilogue was another of the failures at Te Rapa on Labour Day. He was a game winner on the track in August and impressive indeed at Pukekohe with his big finishing run from the tail of the field. Avitt capped a run of good form with his Rotorua Cup win on October 30. Hugel looked well on. the way towards fulfilling the promise he showed last season when he won the Dargavilfe Cup last week. Perhaps the‘field overall, was not of much strength but Hugel, for all that, was highly impressive. : Makorby, from Woodville,

is an interesting visitor as are Bijou Boy, from New Plymouth, and Hagenblue, from Foxton. So Dandy, so due a win. might get his reward for consistently honest endeavour with a win in the second leg of the T.A;B. double the Radio IZH '‘1300”, though there are several other possibilities, among them Decanka, Curtsey and Lens. Even against the best the Matamata filly, Zephyr Souba, would have merited respect in the Waikato Guineas, another of today’s big' attractions. With the good ones, like Red Tempo and Nicolove absent she seems a very real prospect to win. One of the O’Sullivan stable’s team, at Matamata, Zephyr Souba has won two of her four races this season and has gained a second placing as well. She was an easy winner last time, in a class-four 1200 m. race at Rotorua on October 30. Special Nip, in his good form of the .'early spring, would certainly be tough for Zephyr Souba to beat and Open the Door is one of the likely improvers. ' 4