Malaz will lead S.I. challenge in Auckland

Press, 4 June 1984, Page 15

Malaz will lead S.I. challenge in Auckland

By

G. K. YULE

The 'South Island will have at least three worthwhile representatives in the $40,000 Juvenile Championship to be run at Alexandra Park on June 23. Spearheading the team will be Malaz, winner of the Sapling Stakes in national record time at Ashburton on Saturday, while the runnerup. Nardinski. will also travel north, as will Westburn King, which did remarkably well to finish seventh at the end of a strength-sapping 2400 m. For Malaz. the win was minor compensation for what many thought was a rather unlucky second to Billbob in the Image International Stakes at Alexandra Park a week earlier. Saturday’s race was the first Sapling Stakes run without early entries and it attracted a ’ splendid field, probably the best ever, with a consequential top-class contest. As was the case in all but one of his earlier 11 starts. Malaz drew badly, starting from the second line. He settled quickly, but was a good wav from Nardinski, which adopted the role of pacemaker. Silence joined Nardinski briefly*’in the

lead, and later Passe Partout ranged out. In the meantime Hamish Hunter had Malaz back some six places from the pace. The colt began to pull quite fiercely when the pace slackened a shade near the 1200 m. with Hunter setting him alight and looping the field. He was alongside Nardinski 900 m out and sat there until the straight, where he took a short lead, increasing his advantage to a length at the line. Nardinski held second by a short length from Samson, which made up quite a few lengths in the run home. Nardinski's stablemate. Adios Trick, which tracked the pacemaker throughout, was only a nose away, fourth, after having her chance and doing by far the best of the three fillies in the race. Loveridge, which lost ground early. was not far away in fifth place without looking likely to return a dividend, shading Master Mood and Westburn King, which provided a minor feature of the race by finishing so close after breaking badly at the start. The winner paced the 2400 m in the national.record time of 3min 8.75, <sth the

final 800 m in 59.15. The previous record was 3min 10.1 s returned by Natural Guy in the same race 12 months ago. “He raced a bit more keenly than he has before." commented Hunter, who trains him at Ryal Bush for his partners. Mr and Mrs Adam Hunter, of Edendale. "He’s had a fair bit of racing really and I’ll wait and see how he recovers from the race before making a final decision about the Auckland race," he added. "He's never been troubled by travelling so I suppose we'll be there." Hunter is keen to oppose his Auckland rival, Billbob, once more. "I just hope we draw decently for a change if we go north," he said. Malaz. which has now had three wins and eight placings for almost $37,000 in stakes from his 12 starts, is an eye-catching colt by Lordship, winner of the Sapling Stakes in 1961. and sire of Olga Korbut, successful in the event in 1975. Malaz is a son of Tempest Water, by Tempest Hanover from Water Model, tracing back to First Water, founder of an outstanding family. He is closely related to Model Hardcraft, the

only other horse the Hunters have started in the Sapling Stakes. He finished third to Royal Lopez in 1979. This is the family which has produced such classic winners as Noodlum. Olga Korbut. Free Gift, Tactile. Adroit, Timely Score. Matai Dreamer and Markalan. Malaz is a half-brother to a winner in Tempest Scot, a qualifier in On My Toes, and to a weanling filly by the New Zealand Cup winner, Trusty Scot. She is again in foal to Lordship. The ultra-consistent Nardinski paced his usual splendid race. "He begins too well and is actually better in behind than in front,” said Jack Smolensk!. “I thought about letting Malaz go when he got to me in the back straight, but he (Malaz) was pulling a bit and I decided I’d stay where I was. It was just over the last little bit that Malaz started to go away from us. "He got a little bit too far away from the leaders on the home turn and did well to get up for third,” commented Paul Young, the driver of Samson, whose part-owner and trainer. Ted Lowe, was admitted to hospital on Saturday morning missed the race.