Vite Cheval wins classic

Press, 28 May 1984, Page 28

Vite Cheval wins classic

NZPA staff correspondent Sydney The New Zealand-breds’ domination of the feature races at the Brisbane winter Carnival continued on Saturday when Vite Cheval led a clean sweep of the $lOO,OOO Channel 7 Three-year-old Classic. The former top New Zealand youngster got the nod as he crashed across the line at the end of the 2020 m journey locked together with another New Zealandbred, Port Fair, while Riverdale was third and Rockin’ Remus fourth. The Vice Regal colt, having his first outing at more than 1600 m, fought on tenaciously under fierce riding from the veteran jockey, Kevin Mitchell, aged 55. Vite Cheval, which now has eight wins and five platings from 20 starts, came north from the Sydney autumn carnival, with the Sir Robert Askin Cup and the Doncaster to his credit, then at his last start added the Queensland Guineas. However, despite his reputation, he went out with

a big question mark over his ability to stay, although the punters took the gamble and made him 2-1 favourite. Port Fair, which raced in New Zealand as Beanstalk, also came north with two last-start wins, including the A.J.C. St Leger and proven ability over the classic race distance. He lost out in the photo in the bob of the heads, but his jockey, the former New Zealander, Bruce Compton, said later that the Amyntor gelding had been smashed across the head by another jockey’s whip in the straight, and this had cost him the win. The expatriate pair were in front of Vite Cheval half a stride past the post, but had to be content with only second money. Vite Cheval’s trainer, lan Saunders, is now thinking of putting the horse in the $lOO,OOO Queensland Derby over 2400 m in a fortnight but must first decide whether to continue with plans for the $75,000 Grand Prix Stakes over 2200 m next week. He told journalists that three big races in as many weeks could be too much for the little colt, but the incentive to tackle the next two is a $200,000 bonus for the horse that can win the Guineas, the Grand Prix and the Derby.