McGinty marking time before Aust. trip

Press, 1 March 1984, Page 25

McGinty marking time before Aust. trip

Special correspondent Auckland McGinty was allowed yesterday off, having been physicked lightly as part of the plan to get him to Sydney at the top of his form. The four-year-old, naturally enough, had a quiet time on Sunday. He was allowed trotting and cantering and will be given the same light work for the next few days.

McGinty’s preparation will then be speeded up but it might not be until the Tuesday before he goes to Sydney (he is booked on Wednesday, March 14) that

he is next tested.

His trainer, Colin Jillings, is banking on sending him along at speed over 1200 m on the Tuesday. “With his trip on the next day,” he said, “that should be enough for him.” McGinty will go to Sydney in the care of his regular rider, Bob Vance, and his attendant, Kerry Jordon, who looked after the horse during his period of quarantine in Melbourne towards the end of last year. McGinty is due to open his Sydney campaign with the Chipping Norton Stakes at Warwick Farm on March

17, though it is unlikely Jillings will see him in that one, his intention being to delay going to Sydney until March 26, just time to supervise the horse in his gallop the next day, the one that will count most in his preparation for the Rawson Stakes, four days later. Jillings plans just a threerace programme for McGinty in Sydney this time, winding up with the Tancred Stakes on April 14. The three big races, between them, carry stakes totalling $420,000 — the Chipping Norton, $20,000; the Rawson, $100,000; and the Tancred, $300,000.