What a Nuisance one to beat

Press, 27 April 1984, Page 19

What a Nuisance one to beat

PA Sydney The top Melbourne jockey, Pat Hyland, will attempt to win his first Sydney Cup (3200 m at Randwick tomorrow on a gelding he describes as “remarkable.” What a Nuisance, the favourite for the $160,000 event, has captured the imagination of Australians with his amazing versatility since arriving from New Zealand. “He’s a remarkable horse,” said Hyland. “He’s only plain to look at but he’s gone from strength to strength.” Originally the five-year-old bay gelding was brought to Australia with a jumping career in mind but his form in Melbourne improved so dramatically that he was sent on the Sydney Cup trail by his New Zealand trainer, Ken Rogerson, who is now based at Epsom. The St Puckle—Fashion Bell gelding, which had only won a lowly 1400 m maiden handicap in September, 1982, from 30 outings, has won seven of his 10 starts since crossing the Tasman with two seconds and a fourth and has taken his earnings to $81,812. “His form is tremendous,” said Hyland. “It seems nothing is beyond him.” And few would disagree if they saw What A Nuisance come from last at the turn to win the Monash Welter (1400 m at Caulfield last month. He still had to carry 59.5 after the 2.5 kg allowance for the apprentice, Steven Smillie, and won, despite backing up after his tough staying performance to win the Duke of Norfolk Stakes (3200 m at Flemington on March 24. What a Nuisance goes into the Sydney Cup as a winner over the distance and a winner of his last four starts, and the gelding looks the one to beat. At his latest run — jumping up from 1400 m to 2600 m — he came from well back to win from No Peer and Rock Show in the Chairman’s Handicap (2600 m last Saturday, which was his first run in Sydney and a terrific trial for the Cup. No Peer pulled up sore after working yesterday morning at Randwick and will not run in the Sydney Cup, according to his trainer, Bart Cummings. This leaves Cummings with only the one runner, the well fancied Trissaro. Trissaro, which won last year’s Tancred Stakes (2400 m is in top form again this year with three seconds and a third at his last four runs.

After finishing well for second to Hayai in the Tancred at Rosehill, he was not suited by the muddling pace of the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000 m in which he finished third to Chiamare and Fountaincourt, in a four-horse field. The Sir Tristram gelding ran seventh to Veloso in last year’s Sydney Cup but was not suited by the condition of the track that day and finished over 16 lengths behind the winner. A much better showing is on the cards this year.

Race 2 4.55(NZT) SYDNEY CUP $160,000; 3200m i 1452 Fountaincourt 12 56.5 2 2223 Trissaro 7 56.5 3 8931 Hayai 8 55.0 4 1709 Stylish Dude 9 55.0 5 0906 Veloso 4 55.0 6 1380 Admiral Lincoln 5 54.5 7 4492 Our Shout 15 54.5 8 6001 Chiamare 13 54.0 9 1111 What a Nuisance 10 53.5 10 7212 Alibhai 14 50.5 11 7056 Fast Food 11 49.0 12 4164 Jack Frost 3 48.5 13 4015 Spring Moss 16 48.5 14 1352 Gaudeamus 2 48.0 15 6050 Admiral Flash 6 47.0 16 5404 Bronze Lord 1 47.0