Bonnie’s Chance poised to complete Pan Am double

Press, 18 February 1983, Page 26

Bonnie’s Chance poised to complete Pan Am double

By

G. K. YULE

Bonnie’s Chance looks poised to become the first horse to win the New Brighton Club’s Pan Am Mile two years in a row at Addington Raceway tomorrow evening.

Twelve months ago she first won the race, beating Quiet Win by three lengths, with three-parts of a length back to Dundas. She returned a time only half a second outside the race record of Imin 56.2 s set by Lord Kidule two years earlier. She also equalled Lord Module's race record on her home track at Washdyke. Last Saturday Bonnie's Chance could hardly have received a worse run in the Auckland Cup. but she showed remarkable ability to finish sixth without ever looking likelv to finish closer. In the absence of the other current pacing stars in the country, she looks an odds-on proposition to extend her

outstanding record. Unless there are unexpected scratchings, she will start from the favoured No. 3 barrier position. Quiet Win and Dundas, the other dividend-payers in the 1982 Pan Am Mile, are both proven performers against much stronger fields and they could be the two most likely to offer opposition to Bonnie's Chance. Both have performed well recently at trials and they should be ready for bold races. Particular interest will centre in two of the more exciting intermediate pacers in Canterbury. Diamond Moose and Our Mana, both of which have stormed through the classes in most impres-

sive style in the past few months. It is a big step from the opposition they have been encountering to meeting the likes of Bonnie’s Chance. Their chances of beating the talented mare cannot be taken too seriously, but it will not surprise if they finish in the top half of the field. They could be extended to contend with Norton, unbeaten in his last three starts, and The Sting, which made an overdue return to winning form in fast time on Wednesday. The New Zealand Derby Stakes on Wednesday was run at such a muddling pace that its outcome might not

prove a very valuable guide to prospects in the second leg. the 100 Pipers Celebrity Stakes, a mile race for three-year-olds. Southerners feel that Dear Sir. unbeaten in his two latest starts, is one of the more talented speedsters produced in their area for some time. If this is the case and he is able to take full advantage of his favourable No. 2 barrier draw, he should prove more than a match for his Canterbury rivals, the pick of which could be Lyndon Robert and Steady Edition. There will also be support for Braedoon, Glamour Chief, Harvest Gold and Borana, all of which have shown great ability at times.