Trainer’s decision will have bearing on Cup

Press, 9 May 1984, Page 45

Trainer’s decision will have bearing on Cup

From W. R. Carston Blenheim A final decision by Paddy Busuttin with regards to Lady Gemma’s assignment at Blenheim today is sure to have a bearing on favouritism for the Bayer Rintal Marlborough Cup. Yesterday morning the successful Foxton trainer was keen to have a tilt at the first leg of the Marlborough Racing Club’s T.A.B. double, in preference to the Hospitality Champion Handicap, with the talented Serenader II mare. If Lady Gemma runs in the Cup the stable horseman, Gary Phillips, will have the mount. If she drops out of the field he will probably ride Four Crowns. For all her good form,

Lady Gemma, which will be going for her fourth win on the trot today, might have to work hard to keep her record intact. With 55kg, she meets Four Crowns and Gaelic Bid at level weights and is only Ikg below Princess Dan for this her first test in class-one company. Princess Dan, Gaelic Bid, and Four Crowns were the principals, in that order, in the finish of the Radio Marlborough Classic on the first day of the meeting so each is entitled to be on the short lists of fancies today. “If he thinks she is as good as that I just might put her on the market and sell her to the handicapper,” quipped Princess Dan’s Feilding trainer, Bill Fugle, yesterday morning. Princess Dan is up 4.5 kg on her first day weight, but

on the higher scaled minimum this time she has only been penalised 2.5 kg for that victory and that should not keep her out of the finish. Gaelic Bid, which ran Princess Dan to a neck, and Four Crowns, a strong finisher from far back last Saturday, meet her on I.skg and 2.5 kg better terms today. If both come up with peak runs again it could be sufficient to swing the scales in their favour. Pacific Charger, an impressive winner of the Gold and Blue Quality handicap on Monday, will command respect although up a grade, and Samplet, which chased him home, will be a sound second-string for the Busuttin stable. Unless there is rain—and that seems unlikely at pre-

sent—to brighten Kintail Lad’s prospects, the best of the others might be Errol Flynn. This capable Takanini stayer’s lack-lustre run of the first day surprised his connections and it is hoped that in the hands of a stronger rider this time he will lift his performance. With better fortune in the running than he had on the first day, the Invercargilltrained Cadmium should gain a well-deserved win in the Turuturu Lodge Handicap, the second leg of the double. On form already revealed at the meeting, the hardest for Cadmium to beat should be Extra Glance and Beach Bird, the first-day winner and runner-up, and Rebel Star and General Lee, the best behind Omoto Lass in Monday’s sprint.