Axeman stands out at Ellerslie

Press, 27 November 1982, Page 21

Axeman stands out at Ellerslie

Special correspondent Auckland Having competed so well against Australia's best this last month or so. Axeman will be a centre of attention when he tackles Jon. Our Shah, Nicolove. and the rest on weight-for-age terms at Ellerslie today. While in Melbourne Axeman had three races for a third, a first, then a second. It was an indication of his class and ability when he came back after two middledistances to all but win the Linlithgow Stakes, at weight-for-age over 1400 m. Kingston Town and Grosvenor were the only two ahead of Axeman in his first start and it was another very good one. Galleon, which beat him, by inches, in the Linlithgow Stakes. Between times the New

Zealand visitor had a thoroughly decisive win over Gurnefs Lane, in the 2000 m L. K. S. Mackinnon Stakes. Axeman has had ample time to freshen since Melbourne. It is three weeks since he last raced. The 1600 metres of the Great BritainNew Zealand Stakes should suit him admirably. The re-emergence of Jon in winning form has been one of the more pleasing features of this season. He looked so promising last summer until a respiratory weakness came against him. An operation in the early autumn seems to have remedied the trouble. Since back from the winter he has managed a fourth, a second and a win from three attempts. Jon might not have had much to beat last time, over 1600 metres at Te Rapa on

November 13. It was. nevertheless. hard not to be impressed by his performance. However, adding to Jon's task against Axeman is his wide barrier position. Along with most of them he will be giving a start to Axeman into the last 800 m or 600 m, the other horse being a quick beginner favourably placed with No. 2 at the barrier. Nicolove, the only three-year-old in the field, will be receiving weight from all his opponents; 7kg from Axeman and 6kg from Jon. So if he has class, as suggested by his efforts against those of his own age, he should go well. Bound to Honour took this one as a three-year-old last season, with 48.5 kg being a filly. Braless was successful also as a three-year-old before the name of the race was changed from the Owens

Stakes. Nicolove is a last start winner, in the Canterbury Gold Cup. a weight-for-age 2000 m at Riccarton on November 10. The time before he finished fourth, somewhat unluckily from some reports, behind Clansman and Our Flight in the New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas, over 1600 m. Our Shah, voted by racing writers the best sprinter in New Zealand last season, would need only to be at his best to get some of the stake and be very hard to beat. Among Our Shah’s wins this year was The Easter Handicap over this 1600 m. That was with 56.5 kg and by a decisive two and a quarter lengths. He won Trentham's Telegraph Handicap as well, over 1200 m. Our Shah was backed and

beaten in his last two attempts. his second and third races since back . from a spell, but he ran creditably each time and chances are he will improve for a bit. Drum, though the best of his many fine achievements was to win the Auckland Cup over 3200 m, has shown himself capable of a solid 1600 m. Drum has not raced for nearly two years but his class makes him a worthy candidate. None of the others, either, is much out of place. Sequita is remarkably consistent, Wren's Pride, Lightning, and the two visitors, Volare, from Awapuni. and El Pedro, from Hawera, do not lack ability. But they will probably be held by Paul's Gold, a Pukekohe mare with a pull in the weights from all except Nicolove.