Fine Offer on trial today

Press, 12 October 1983, Page 34

Fine Offer on trial today

NZPA staff correspondent Melbourne The New Zealand colt, Fine Offer, goes on trial for a derby start in the Norman Robinson Stakes (2000 m at Caulfield today. However, exactly which derby will not be known until later in the week. Colin Hayes, the colt’s new trainer, said yesterday that Fine Offer and Beechcraft, which he accompanied on a flight from New Zealand last week, would both run in a derby. “But one will be saved for the Perth Triple Crown Series and the other will run in the Victoria Derby.” Both Fine Offer and Beechcraft were added to the Colin Hayes team when the top trainer went on a buying trip to New Zealand a fortnight ago. Hayes purchased Fine Offer and a half share in BeSihcraft for the inter- 1 ? national owner, Mr Robert

Sangster. He said Mr Sangster would be in Melbourne later this week and derby plans for both colts would then be discussed. The most likely course will be for Fine Offer to run in the $200,000 Victoria Derby* and for Beechcraft to tackle the $275,000 W. S. Cox Plate at Moonee Valley. Beechcraft would then be likely to go to Perth for the Triple Crown of the West Australian Derby, the Australian Derby and the Western Mile Classic. However, classic plans will not get off the ground for Fine Offer until he comes through today’s Caulfield assignment. One of his main opponents in the Norman Robinson Stakes will be Tri-Flow, the horse Hayes nominated as one of the top local classic hopes. Tri-Flow is at 6-1 on the third line of betting, with Fine Offer a 7-4 favourite.