Steel Jaw’s trainer picks Camelot to win N.Z. Cup

Press, 6 November 1984, Page 46

Steel Jaw’s trainer picks Camelot to win N.Z. Cup

By

G. K. YULE

Camelot looks the winner of the New Zealand Cup at Addington Raceway today, according to Norm Lang, who 12 months ago trained and drove Steel Jaw to win the race by a wide margin in national record time for the 3200 m.

“When we went home last year we took a video of Steel Jaw’s races and we’ve played them through many times. Camelot’s run was outstanding when he finished second to us and the more we’ve looked at the video the more impressed we have been,” said Lang, who is in Christchurch on holiday to attend the first two days of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trot-

ting Club’s Cup carnival. “Camelot seems to be coming right at the right time and with just reasonable luck in the running I think he’ll go close to winning,” said Lang. Questioned about his apparent lack of patriotism towards the chances of the great Victorian pacer, Gammalite, he said: “Anyone who didn’t respect him

would be mad. He’s all heart and on the big track at Addington he’s bound to be right in at the finish. But I think he might find that handicap of 30m a bit much in such a big field.” Camelot is probably going to vie for favouritism for the race with Enterprise, with solid support certain for Norton, Double Cove, Our Mana, Hands Down and GammaHte. And the winner might come from among the ranks of those named. Supreme Ruler, Dillon Dale and Te Puke Expects all have encouraging race efforts to their credit leading up to the big staying test and with a few of the breaks in the running favouring them, they, too, could upset calculations. Camelot is one of six horses from Robin Butt’s team to race today. He also has Lady El, Olympic Mfdal, Agrinion, Ravena and Chataway engaged. As well he will drive Jamie Higgins and Kanturk. None of Butt’s drives look forlorn chances and it will be surprising if most of them fail to finish in or close to the dividend-paying placings. The appearance of Roydon Glen in the Firestone Cavallino Pace will be a highlight of the day. The brilliant four-year-old will be having his first start against fairly tightly-as-sessed handicap horses, but the jump in class is unlikely to trouble this talented young pacer.

Freightman and Peter Wolfenden migh combine to test the favourite. Freightman has a grand form background and from No. 9 at the barrier, he should make a big impact. Derby, eliminated from the New Zealand Cup, Agrinion, Tarlad, Regal Maina and Gene Evander will also have to be considered.

Another outstanding race should be that between Basil Dean, Sir Castleton and Cal Biydon in the Quinns Fashion Handicap. Sir Castleton will start from 40m, Basil Dean from 35m and Cal Brydon from 15m. Their form has been superior to that of any of their rivals and their handicaps are unlikely to be enough to keep them out of the finish.

The Fay, Richwhite Sires’. Stakes Semi-final will be of particular interest, with Samson, Olympic Medal and Westburn King three of the leading chances. They will be among those competing for two places in the $lOO,OOO final, which will be run one week later.