Armalight recovered from fungus infection

Press, 12 March 1983, Page 17

Armalight recovered from fungus infection

From

G. K. YULE

Auckland

While the fungus infection in her hind heels has cleared up satisfactorily Armalight's owner-trainer. Brent Smith, feels that the 1983 Auckland .Cup winner might be below her peak for the Second Qualifying Heat of the Benson and Hedges InterDominion Championship series at Alexandra Park this evening. Smith worked Armalight over 3200 m in about 4min 42s yesterday and she was blowing quite hard afterwards. However, she looks even better than when she won the Auckland Cup last month and it will be surprising if she fails to get into the thick of the finish. Armalight has been under constant veterinary attention for the last few days, with the coronet band causing some concern. There was no heat in the affected area yesterday and the general opinion is that there is little

to cause worry. The cloud over Armalight has brought the rugged Victorian stayer. Gammalite. into demand for this heat. The pair have met three times, all at the New Zealand Cup carnival in November, 1981, when the Addington crowds were thrilled by the awesome displays of speed and courage from Leo O’Connor's horse. Since then Gammalite has travelled widely and logged up numerous wins and placings . in the best company, finding Popular Alm more than a match in most of his recent racing. Popular Alm will be an odds-on favourite in the final heat of the night, with Australian visitors claiming that he will prove to be unbeatable throughout the series. His driver and part-owner, Vin Knight, does not share quite the same confidence. "I won't be completely surprised or upset if he gets beaten as it will be his first attempt on the track,” he

said. "There is nothing wrong with him and I reckon he's as good now as when he won the Hunter Cup." he added, suggesting that some of his remarks could be a smokescreen about his prospects. Hilarious Guest and Dundas are likely to be the hardest for him to beat, but northerners expect Ben and Melton' Monarch to finish close to the dividend bearing placings. Tremendous interest is being taken in the remarkably consistent Wondai's Mate, the first Queenslandowned and trained horse to compete in a series in New Zealand. He is in the first heat, a race for which Bonnie’s Chance will be a commanding favourite. A four-year-old by the Adios Butler horse. The Houseman, Wondai’s Mate is trained by his owner, Merv Reinke, a peanut farmer from some 200 km outside Brisbane, and he will be driven by his son Daryl, aged 31.

Wondai's Mate is a plainlooking stallion, but he is obviously well above average in ability. He has never been out of the money and his owner thinks he is ready for a big run tonight. ‘‘He’s got some good ones to beat, but he'll only have to race up to what he’s shown back home in the last two months to keep Queensland's flag flying." said Merv Reinke. The veteran Yaldhurst trainer, George Noble, has had a worrying time since El Regale arrived in Auckland on Wednesday. “He nearly died, but a veterinary surgeon gave him an injection and he’s coming right, but he's lost so much condition,” said Noble. The trouble could not be diagnosed, but it is thought to have been the effects of the long float trip from Christchurch. Noble jogged El Regale yesterday morning and the horse seemed quite bright afterwards.