Lopez Mac Faber fit for Methven Cup

Press, 22 September 1983, Page 22

Lopez Mac Faber fit for Methven Cup

By

JEFF SCOTT

Lopez Mac Faber showed his fitness for the Methven Cup on Saturday when he outfinished Right Bower to win the C6-OC Pacers’ heat at the Addington trials yesterday. The Timely Knight entire led momentarily at the 1900 m, then trailed Right Bower from the 1800 m to the straight. He was too sharp for his rival in the run to the line, winning by a length and a quarter in 3min 23.3 s for the 2600 m, the leaders returning lmin 0.6 s for the last 800 m and 30.2 s for the closing 400 m. Lopez Mac Faber is capable on his day and is not the least of chances in a strong field on Saturday.

Right Bower (20m), which needs scratchings for a start at Methven, returned 3min 22s for second, finishing three-quarters of a length clear of Harvest Gold, three back mostly, with two and a half lengths to The Sting.

Most interest centred on the reappearance of last season’s Auckland Cup winner, Armalight. Looking a shade burly, the top mare settled fifth after starting from 30m and was not asked for an effort over the closing stages. She was timed to pace her last 2400 m in 3min 6.1 s to finish fifth, her last 800 m in lmin 0.75, her final 400 m in 29.55, and will benefit from the run. Hilarious Guest, which like Armalight is likely to resume in the Ashburton Flying Stakes on Saturday week, was slow away and after giving the ' leaders 50m, never got close finish-

ing a distant sixth, with Tarlad a dismal seventh.

Mystery Point, Ruthless, Star Rule and Vicki McQuade were other heat winners to impress with engagements at Methven. Mystery Point, runner-up to Hoss on the final night of the New Brighton meeting, was handy throughout the Cl heat and outfinished Roger, which was in the open, by half a length in 3min 27.55.

Born to Win, a candidate for the Methven Four-year-old Stakes, came on late for third, while his stablemate and race rival Premiership, was not at top to track him home over the closing stages. Ruthless (T. S. Harrison Three-year-old Stakes), was too good for Andronicus and Adioo Omahae in the three-year-olds’ heat returning 3min 31.25, the closing 400 m in 30s.

Star Rule, which has gained re-entry into the field in the first leg of the T.A.B. treble on Saturday, was an easy winner of his maiden heat by two lengths in 3min 31.85.

Star Rule is a five-year-old half-brother by El Patron to the New Zealand Oaks winner, Lady’s Rule, in John Noble’s team. He is down to make his debut at Methven.

Vicki McQuade (Marawhiti Handicap) won her heat in a leisurely 3min 37.2 s after setting the pace, the last 400 m in 30.15.

Dandy Blue looked forward when he won the C2 and C 3 pacers’ heat in 3min 27.35. The Scottish Hanover entire, which led, cleared

out by three lengths at the line, the last 800 m being run in 59.9 s and the last 400 m in 29.45.

Miss Louise, which trailed, Timely Victory, Redeemer and Roydon Trump chased him home, with Secret Knight, down to make his first start since April, 1981, in the S. G. Holmes Memorial at Methven, making ground well to finish next.

Kotare Crusade (3min 29.65) and Elsa (3min 30.65) were other impressive maiden winners, while William Jay (3min 38.55) and Black Barry (3min 39.65) also looked forward when winning the maiden trotters’ events.

Natty Jack, from a halfsister by Noble Lord to Saucy Jack, was successful in beating two others in the two-year-olds’ heat over 1400 m in lmin 575, the leaders pacing their final 400 m in 30.25. Results:— CO Pacers, 2600 m.— Star rule It D. Mangos 1, Cordon Noir It D. Hayden 2, Bonnie Scotland It I. Keith 3. 13 ran. Terri’s Terror fourth. 2 len, 2 len, ¥2 len. Time: 3:31.8. CO Trotters, 2600 m- . Jay It D. Nyhan 1, Delmond It J. Hampton 2, Fidelis It M. Hessey 3. Nine ran. Armbro Almont fourth. ¥2 len, ¥z len, 1% len. Time: 3:38.5.

CO Pacers, 2600 m- Vicki McQuade It J. Smolensk! 1, Lady Brandon It N. Le Lievre 2, Miss Echo It P. Jones 3. 13 ran. Master Tryax fourth. Len, len, nose. Time: 3:37.2. CO Trotters, 2600 m — Black Barry It A. Dykman 1, Barracuda It I. Schwamm 22, The

Skipper It J. Crofts 3. Nine rah. Belle Amanda fourth. tz hd, 2 len. 2 len. Time: 3:39.6. CO Pacers, 2600 m.— Elsa It W. Roberts 1, Count Gray It E. Cowie 2, Garry’s Last ’it W. Denton 3. 12 rah. The Diamond fourth. 4 len, len, len. Time: 3:30.6.

Cl Pacers, 2600 m.— Mystery Point It G. Sharpe 1, Roger It I. Schwamm 2, Bom to Win It P. Jones 3. 13 ran. Nordel King fourth. ¥s len, 4¥j len, Ms len. Time: 3:27.5.

CO Pacers, 2600 m.— Kotare Crusade It M. Rennie 1, Spanish Lace It B. Kerr 2, Minstrel Boy It R. Negus 3. 12 ran. Jason Troy fourth. I*4 len, hd, % len. Time: 3:29.6.

Cl Trotters, 2600 m.— Christmas Day It F. Forbes 1, Falcon Lad It M. Gillum 2, Noble Advice It K. Vincent 3. Eight ran. Allemand fourth. Bi len, % len, *4 len. Time: 3:38.9.

C2 and C 3 Pacers, 2600 m—- . Blue It R. Anderson 1, Miss Louise It R. Payne 2, Timely Victory It R. Nyhan 3. 11 ran. Redeemer fourth. 3 len, 2% len, *4 len. Time: 3:27.3. C3-C6 Trotters, 2600 m.— Inflamer It R. Geddes 1, Shylock It E. Crawford 2, Eee Tee 30 R. Cameron 3. Five ran. Tough Girl fourth. I¥> len, % len, 1 Vilen. Time: 3:33.5. C6-OC Pacers, 2600 m.— Lopez Mac Faber It T. Thomas 1, Right Bower 20 I. Cameron 2, Harvest Gold It J. Smolensk! 3. Others in finishing order: The Sting, Armalight, Hilarious Guest, Sun Seeker (lost driver). 1¥« len, % len, 2*4 len. Time: 3:23.3.

Three-year-old Pacers, 2600 m.— Ruthless It R. Nyhan 1, Andronicus It K. Vincent 2, Adioo Omahae It M. Rennie 3. Eight ran. Countess Royale fourth. IV4 len, hd, 10 len. Time: 3:31.2.

Two-year-old Pacers, 1400 m.— Natty Jack (Dryham Lea-Charanne c) It A. Dykman 1, First Boy It I. Schwamm 2, Ben Cutter It G. Hope 3. Only starters. Len, nk. Time: 1.57.