Camelot looks set to join elite group of pacers

Press, 9 November 1984, Page 35

Camelot looks set to join elite group of pacers

By

G. K. YULE

Camelot looks favourably enough placed in the draw to join eight other pacing greats with more than one success in the Benson and Hedges New Zealand Free-for-all when he contests the country’s premier sprint at the Addington raceway today.

Author Dillon, Harold Logan, Caduceus, Lordship and Robalan all won the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s sprint on three occasions, while Acron, Johnny Globe and Cardigan Bay were successful twice.

Camelot followed up his second to Steel Jaw in the 1983 New Zealand Cup with a victory by a long head over Hands Down in the Benson and Hedges, rating Imin 58.5 s for the mobile 2000 m. His time for the full

distance of 2min 27.2 s was well outside Armalight’s national record of 2min 23.55, but it was still the fourth fastest in the history of the race.

Camelot is an even better horse this year and he looks capable of lowering his time last year given favourable conditions.

Form displayed in the cup is usually regarded as the best guide to chances in the sprint. Our Mana and Dillon Dale, the closest to

Camelot in the Cup finish, could again provide the son of Timely Knight with most opposition. Dillon Dale, at times not too reliable, has been more fortunate than Our Mana as far as the barrier draw is concerned. He is at No. 4, while Our Mana will have to overcome a second-line position. Dillon Dale is an extremely slick pacer and if he gets his act together, he should add to an already fine record.

Our Mana is regarded by many as a top sprint exponent. The draw is against him, but his Cup placing entitles him to a high placing among the leading contenders. Enterprise is a talented sprinter and his Cup Day involvement in the smash should be overlooked. He looked to be travelling smoothly at the time of the incident. Hands Down and Gammalite are much better placed on the front line in

this field than they were on Tuesday. They might not be quite as sharp as they were earlier in their careers, but they are great horses’well capable of prominent runs especially Gammalite, which should be improved as a result of Tuesday’s race.

The first leg. the Robbie Burns Pace, has attracted some speedy up-and coming pacers. Timely Play, Soxygen and Dear Sir could be the pick of them.