Slugger in shock win over hot favourite

Press, 27 June 1983, Page 26

Slugger in shock win over hot favourite

Special correspondent Auckland Superior stamina carried the Morrinsville colt, Slugger, to a shock victory over the odds-on favourite, Comedy Lad, in the $30,000 New Zealand Juvenile Championship at Alexandra Park on Saturday evening. Comedy Lad had led from the 800 m and he looked like holding on when he had a slight advantage from Slugger 100 m from the finish. However, Slugger kept pressing on determinedy and, in the hands of Peter Wolfenden, wore him down to take the honours by half a head. He was clearly going better than Comedy Lad at the line and would have won by more if the race had been a bit further. “No excuses,” said Bob Cameron, Comedy Lad’s driver. “He (Slugger) stayed on just a bit better.” It was Wolfenden’s third success in the race, the premier event in the country for two-year-old pacers. His other winners were Black Watch in 1969 and Bronze Trail in 1976. Slugger’s victory thoroughly vindicated the opinion of his trainer, Dennis Scott, that the colt was a better stayer than a sprinter. Slugger had had two wins at a mile, but Mr Scott, a Morrinsville veterinary surgeon, always maintained Slugger would be at his best over more ground. Mr Scott and his wife, Kay, bred Slugger, which is by Smooth Fella, from Tanya Lee, by Tudor Hanover from Davita. They bought Tanya Lee from Mr Dave Anderson, the owner of Delightful Lady, for a mere $9OO when she was a yearling. Tanya Lee showed plenty of promise and, as a two-year-old, won twice at trials. She did not carry on with it and was retired to the stud «he was five. She has certainly proved a great proposition for the

Scotts. Slugger has now had three wins and nine minor placings from 16 attempts and his stake-earnings are $32,435. Mr Scott is a son of Clem Scott, a Christchurch trainer who won the New Zealand Juvenile Championship with Young Quinn in 1972. Slugger is the first horse Mrs Scott has raced and only Mr Scott’s second. The other was Clem’s Gain, a half-brother to Slugger. Mr Scott sold Clem’s Gain, when the horse was a maiden three-year-old. Slugger will now be turned out for about six weeks and then prepared for three-year-old races. Slugger and Comedy Lad had the finish of the big race very much to themselves. Skipper Byrd (third), was five lengths back after having had every chance — he set a strong pace until Comedy Lad took over — and there was an even bigger gap, eight lengths, to Lucy Lumber, the best of the four fillies in the field. The time for the 2200 m was a brisk 2min 50.75, which represented a mile rate of 2min 4.95, the last 800 m in Imin and the final 400 m in 29.95. Lord Louie, the only South Island horse in the field, was a big disappointment. The second favourite, Lord Louie, broke at the end of 300 m when in the lead. Slugger, Lonero Dream, Royal Mark and Look Me Over were checked. He broke again 500 m from the finish and completed the course a long last. His driver, lan Cameron, told the stipendiary stewards committee Lord Louie had arrived in Auckland late on Friday afternoon and he had been unable to work him on Saturday morning because the course was closed. Cameron felt the boring pole which is used on the horse would perhaps have been better left off for racing right-handed.