Mighty Me wins narrowly in New Zealand Derby

Press, 17 February 1983, Page 28

Mighty Me wins narrowly in New Zealand Derby

By

G. K. YULE

Mighty Me, given a dream run behind the pacemaker, Borana, came through along the rails and lasted for a narrow win in the New Zealand Derby Stakes at Addington Raceway last evening.

The race was a tame one with little pace on until the final 800 m in 58.85. with the full 2600 m in 3min 25.65, a far from flattering time in near-perfect conditions. Mighty Me's success was the most important for his trainer, Colin McLachlan, who races him in partnership with his wife, Sylvia. A gelding by Out to Win from the Fallacy mare, Believe Me, Mighty Me has now had 20 starts for seven wins and four placings worth 562.090. The race was marred by the favourite. Lyndon Robert, breaking at the straight entrance, checking Steady Edition badly. Lyndon Robert hit a wheel of the sulky of the tiring Dunhill, his driver. Robert Dunn.

being found guilty of. careless driving and he' was suspended until after Februarv 23. Dunn attributed his lapse to the fact that he thought Braedoon would be the hardest to beat and he was waiting to follow that horse. However, Braedoon. which was 10 lengths off the pace at the 800 m, was unable to make progress and he finished seventh. Lyndon Robert did remarkably well in the circumstances to finish fourth. While this incident was taking place, Borana drifted off the fence allowing Mighty Me through. He quickly assumed control and had enough in reserve near the end to hold off a strong late challenge from Glamour

Chief. Borana battled gamely for third a short length from Glamour Chief, with a length and a quarter to Lyndon Robert and four lengths to Cruising, a Cl horse. Family Fun was well back mostly and he was forced wide on the turn. He produced no dash in the run home and sixth was the best he could manage. Mighty Me will not race at the New Brighton meeting on Saturday, but will go on to Hutt Park for the Cardigan Bay Stakes, to be followed by the Great Northern Derby at the end of next month. For Robert Cameron, currently the country’s leading horseman, it was his third success in the race. He was successful with Bachelor

Star in 1971 and Game Adios in 1979. The Sting graduated to New Zealand Cup and probably earned himself a trip to Auckland next month for the Benson and Hedges InterDominion Championship series when he took advantage of a splendid run to win the Ellett Ryegrass Pace. Lumber Jack, after being about six back for most of the way. came on gamely to cut Camelot out of second in the last stride. Camelot was forced wide for a time near the 1400 m and was far from disgraced. He shaded Amaze by a nose, with Remote not far away, just ahead of Dreamy Dragon and the fastfinishing Kind Nature.