Burletta’s class tells

Press, 8 March 1984, Page 30

Burletta’s class tells

Special correspondent Wellington Any doubts about Burletta’s ranking as the best three-year-old filly in New Zealand were dispelled when she overcame eight opponents to win the North Island Challenge Stakes at the Wellington Racing Club’s meeting at Trentham yesterday. Her winning margin over Reutemann was a long neck, with Blue Dee two lengths and a half back, third, ahead of Mac’s Gamble and Glenside.

Jim Cassidy rode Burletta and after the race he was whisked before the judicial committee, whose members were dissatisfied with his ride over the closing stages. He was fined $lOO for the “effort” over the final metres.

Burletta was having only her second run since coming back from a short spell. She had run third in the Members’, an open sprint at Napier Park, and the trainer, Patrick Campbell, was concerned on seeing the track at Trentham yesterday. It became quite easy and was starting to cut up a bit by the time the Stakes started.

Burletta likes firm going. She had before yesterday won 11 of her 18 races and now has 12 wins and stakes of around $179,000. She has won already this term the Wrightson Filly of the Year contest so there is not much left back home for her.

Early last week, Patrick Campbell made a quick trip to Sydney to investigate prospects.

Now the Burletta camp is considering various options. They include Rosehill and Brisbane, across the Tasman, and Awapuni and Te Aroha closer to home.

Campbell is not convinced about Rosehill. Brisbane in May, on the other hand, has a couple of set weight races, worth $50,000 and $lOO,OOO, and as added bait the top Australian, Sir Dapper, will not be there, according to a published report yesterday.

Back home the 2ZA Handicap, at Awapuni, in which Burletta can carry no more than a kilo and a half above weight-for-age (53.5) makes some appeal but if she remains at home the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes at Te Aroha is also on the cards.

Yesterday Burletta was

second last to settle, but Cassidy had her midfield in the middle stages and she cruised easily to the lead in the run home. Her margin was a long neck.

Reutemann turned in a good effort to get second and Blue Dee was a clear third in front of Mac’s Gamble and Glenside, close enough at the end.