Hope for return of Kingston Town

Press, 8 January 1983, Page 16

Hope for return of Kingston Town

NZPA Melbourne The full, extent of the injury which prevented the champion galloper, Kingston Town, from racing in last Monday’s Perth Cup will not be known until at least the end of this month.

Kingston Town’s managing part-owner, Mr David Hains, said that the trainer, Tommy Smith, examined the injury, “but the inspection only confirmed what we already knew.

"The swelling in his leg is still there. “It will be the end of the month before we can make a complete diagnosis of the injury."

Kingston Town was shortpriced favourite for the Perth Cup but the injury forced him to be scratched a fortnight before the race, which was won by Bianco

Lady. Mr Hains said he had not given up hope of Kingston Town making a successful return to racing. “He’s come through injuries before and if he comes through this one well be back to try again,” he said. While Kingston Town’s immediate future is in doubt, another million dollar earner, Manikato, was back at work at Epsom this week and is almost certain to attempt an unprecedented fifth William Reid Stakes win this autumn.

Manikato last spring became only the second galloper in Australian racing history to win more than a million dollars in prize money and his trainer, Bob Hoysted, is confident the gelding can add to his total during the Melbourne autumn racing carnival.