Basil Dean to go one better

Press, 19 May 1984, Page 19

Basil Dean to go one better

Special correspondent Auckland Basil Dean, on his form so far at the current Auckland Trotting Club meeting, looks certain to go one better at Alexandra Park this evening than he did last year in the country’s premier event for trotters, the $55,000 Rowe Cup. He scored a runaway win in a 2200 m free-for-all on the first night last Saturday and he made equally short work of most of his Rowe Cup rivals over 2700 m on the second night on Wednesday. The successes followed brilliant form in the South Island, notably his astonishing performance in the New Zealand Trotting Championship at Addington Raceway on April 21. His time of 3:15.3 for 2600 m beat the national record shared by the pacers, Steel Jaw and Bonnie’s Chance, by a tenth of a second.

In last year’s Rowe Cup, Basil Dean was second, beaten by six lengths by Sir Castleton. Both horses started from the front mark.

This time, Sir Castleton will give Basil Dean a start of 10m.

Over 3200 m. Sir Castleton’s handicap is not of much account, but Basil Dean is in such tremendous form he must be favoured to take the honours. Sir Castleton also has a fine record his year, marred only by his finishing well back in the Benson and Hedges Free-for-all last Saturday. He was unbeaten at the Adelaide Inter-Dominion Championship series in February, beating Scotch Notch in the Final, and until last Saturday’s race had had a first, a second and a third in as many starts. It may be wise to ignore Sir Castleton’s performance on the first night.

He was in all sorts of trouble, and finally broke after appearing to be hampered by another horse. Sir Castleton’s winning margin in last year’s Rowe Cup was probably the biggest in the race’s long history, certainly in the last 40 years.

The previous easiest win in this period was by Special Pride, which scored by four lengths and a half in 1980.

While Basil Dean and Sir Castleton look certain to dominate the betting, sev-

eral others in the field must be given good chances. The bonny Christchurch mare, Tussle, has beaten both Basil Dean and Sir Castleton before and she showed she was in good form with a solid run for third on Wednesday.

Others which deserve serious consideration are Malvena, Jenner, and Mini’s Pride and Cal Brydon. Malvena, a good stayer, was second to Basil Dean in the Caltex C.N.G. Handicap on Wednesday; Jenner is much better than his form so far at the meeting might suggest, and Mini’s Pride is at her best in stern staying tests.

Cal Brydon indicated he was returning to his best form when he finished second to Basil Dean on the first night. The Radio Pacific Mobile Pace, the second leg of the T.A.B. double, looks very open. Nell Baker, and Bravita have good chances and there is bound to be strong support, as well, for Velsique, Edwin Eden and Rosewood Birch.

Comedy Lad, Tabor and Honour On look a good combination for the T.A.B. treble.