Emancipation will be tested in Stakes

Press, 24 September 1983, Page 29

Emancipation will be tested in Stakes

NZPA Sydney Australian punters are eagerly awaiting the return clash between Australia’s glamour mare, Emancipation, and the New Zealandtrained Ringtrue, in the 550,000 George Main Stakes over 1600 m at Warwick Farm today.

Emancipation beat Ringtrue the last time they met in the Doncaster Handicap at Randwick on April 2, and the New Zealand gelding will be out to set the record straight. Ringtrue will be ridden by the expatriate New Zealand jockey, Bruce Compton, who also has something to prove after coming out of a two-month suspension. If Compton does well on Ringtrue today, he could land the ride in the Epsom Handicap next week. To add spice to the clash today, the gallant little New Zealander, Mr McGinty, also lines up in the George

Main, and, with Bobby Vance up, will go out second favourite to the grey Australian mare.

Both New Zealand horses have recently returned from lengthy spells. Ringtrue has returned a sixth and a fourth; Mr McGinty won his comeback at Ellerslie last month, but followed that with an eighth on heavy ground in the West End Stakes at Avondale a fortnight ago. Whether Mr McGinty starts in next week’s Epsom will depend on how he goes today, but the decision will also be influenced by whether Emancipation’s trainer, Neville 'Begg, decides to start the Bletchingly mare in the Epsom, now that it has been shifted to Warwick Farm.

Mr McGinty has earned himself plenty of admirers in Australia more for his big heart than his deeds.

He first ran in Australia in March, 1982, and turned on a brilliant performance to win the Todman Slipper Trial. But that effort stopped his Australian camKin its tracks, as he down and returned to New Zealand.

He tried again in March this year and opened his

account with a win in the Canterbury Guineas, before going on for a second and a third, ending with a disappointing seventh behind Strawberry Road in the A.J.C. Derby in the Randwick mud on Easter Monday. Mr McGinty has worked impressively at Rosehill since his arrival and the pony-sized entire is expected to be one of the few horses to really test Emancipation, which has run 16 times for 13 wins.

Ranged against the top trio are the All Aged Stakes winner, Rare Form, and the former New Zealander, Anchor In, which has had patchy recent form. Emancipation is the lightweight with 54.5 kg but starts on the outside of the nine-horse field, while Mr McGinty gets the “pole” position and carries 57kg.

Ringtrue goes out from barrier No. 6 and will be equal-top weight with 58.5 kg.