Distance could test Kingdom Bay

Press, 26 December 1984, Page 20

Distance could test Kingdom Bay

Special correspondent Auckland . The ability or otherwise of Kingdom Bay to last the distance has become a major talking point in connection with the New Zealand Derby at the Auckland Racing Club’s meeting at Ellerslie today. Opinion seems to be about equally divided. Outstanding as far as 1600 m, whether racing right-handed, left-handed or whatever the footing, Kingdom Bay has yet to be tried over more distance. Whatever the outcome of this attempt, this time, at 2400 m, he can be expected to put on a great show. Up to 1600 m, Kingdom Bay has shown himself an impressive, thoroughly game finisher. He has, besides, a relaxed way of going that suggests he could manage more ground in comfort. And he seems quite incapable of running other than very well. His lack for a test like the one today could be breeding, because his lines are more those of a sprinter. A chestnut colt, by Otehi Bay from Golden Praise, Kingdom Bay has won seven of his 10 races as a three-year-old, three of them Guineas events at Trentham, Hastings and Riccarton and the latest a handicap 1600 m, at Te Awamutu just last Saturday. His record is that of a fine galloper. If he wins again today he will secure his place with the best three-year-olds of recent years. It might be easier for Kingdom Bay, harder on the slower starters like Globetrotter, if the pace is moderate for the first 1600 m or so at any rate. Globetrotter, an Otaki colt and next home after Jolly Jake and Twelve Gauge in the 2000 m Avondale Guineas, looks a real stayer. His prospects are likely to be so much better if there is speed on from the outset. The way Globetrotter came home at Avondale, from near last on the home turn, was greatly impressive. He ran on strongly, as well, the time before in the 1600 m Bayer Classic at Levin. Globetrotter has had nine races as a three-year-old. As a two-year-old he had just a couple. Longer distances, quite clearly, are what he has needed. Globetrotter is by a former champion stayer, Balmerino, which won the Derby at Ellerslie in 1975. His rider, Maurice Campbell, was regularly on Balmerino and his trainer, Clem Bowry, included in many notable achievements as a jockey the winning of Ellerslie’s Derby, on Gibraltar in 1957. Next to Kingdom Bay and Globetrotter the Derby horses which have been getting most attention are Twelve Gauge, Avana, Balrani and Jolly Jake, though for Jolly Jake to be in great favour there would need to be further softening of the track. The rain-affected going for the Avondale Guineas helped Jolly Jake and the running of the race went against Twelve Gauge. With so little between them at the finish the preference, this time, and allowing that the going does not change, must be for Twelve Gauge. One of two grey horses in the Derby field — the other is Governor’s Bay — Twelve Gauge is prepared by Wally McEwan, of Levin, and, if only on that account, rates the most serious consideration. McEwan is one of racing’s most astute old hands who knows what it takes to win the big ones at Ellerslie. He already has a Derby there to his credit, with Fury’s Order in 1973, an Auckland Cup with Tesla in 1955 and an Easter, with Nordic Star in 1973.

It was disappointing that Avana did no better than sixth in the Avondale Guineas though it must be said she finished close to the money. When racing so well through the spring and early sumnftr she looked as though the longer distances

of the Derby then Oaks would suit her well. Balrani, another by Balmerino, has come through the intermediate grades with a string of wins and is going for his fifth in a row. His successes have come over 1400 m, then three times, over 1600 m. There is much in his breeding and style of racing to suggest he will run 2400 m just as capably. SELECTIONS 11.35: Bukra, Stepson, Exporter. 12.15: Vedo Bay, Eastern Joy, Diament Noir. 12.55: Bold Edition, Bo Urdonnais, Single Law. 1.35: Cologne, Travel Light, Novashasa. 2.15: Pass a Glance, Catalonia, Balmereve. 3.5: Secret Ace, Shagolvin, Reingard. 3.50: Globetrotter, Kingdom Bay, Twelve Gauge. 4.30: High Regards, Natural, Red Sekao. 5.10: Ringtrue, Ohly Love, Shifnal Prince. Jetbet: 3 Race 1 11.35 PONSONBY HIGHWEIGHT $4500; 2200 m 1 4402 Exporter 3 65.0 C. Wood 2 87 Arzante 14 64.0 L. Cavanagh 3 3006 Came and Conquered 6 64.0 P. Tims 4 5221 Stepson 1 62.0 P. Hillis 7 3022 Ashvilla 20 60.5 8 6633 Bravington 13 60.5 9 74 Bukra 7 60.5 B. McDonald 10 10 La Froth 17 60.5 T. Autridge 11 818 Le Foe 18 60.5 S. Stacey 12 6028 Nimble Sprite 19 60.5 P. Membery 13 4668 Scotch Wall 11 60.5 14 08 Sea Harrier 12 60.5 15 9000 Sovereign’s Crest 15 60.5 16 084 Turere Lane 2 60.5’ 17 6279 Special Decree 16 60.5 D. Miller 18 70 Jersey Lil 4 60.0 19 0 Vinny 5 60.0 K. Thornley 20 7276 Market Value 9 60.0 Emergencies: Vinny, Market Value. Scratched: Apple Jack, Amyntala. Race 2 12.15 CRUSOE HANDICAP $5000; 1200 m 1 109 Xmas Eve 9 57.0 P. Johnson 2 0096 Silverello 17 56.5 3 5604 Quibble 16 56.0 4 Vedo Bay 12 56.0 5 0657 Holeproof 20 55.5 S. Treweek 6 777 Eastern Joy 8 55.0 L. O’Sullivan 7 00 Chime 14 . 54.5 8 3 Hey Presto 3 54.5 N. Hain 9 Lady Aythorpe 13 54.5 D. Healey 10 1064 Apollyon 19 54.0 11 806 Chuckka Khan 6 54.0 P. Tims 12 8 Birkdale 15 53.5 13 02 Birdgeman 5 53.5 14 C’Mon Kiwi 2 53.5 15 5701 Shifnal’s Mate 11 53.5 16 6010 Weather Vane 10 53.5 E. Harrison 17 00 Bold Danielle 7 53.5 18 0 Bright Spark 18 53.0 19 Red Rhythm 4 53.0 20 0040 Diament Noir 1 52.5 Emergencies: Bold Danielle, Bright Spark, Red Rhythm, Diament Noir. Race 3 12.55 BREEDERS’ PLATE $4800; 1100 m 2 0491 Bold Edition 11 55.0 P. Johnson 3 1 Bintang Syah 12 54.0 4 10 Single Law 1 53.5 S. Simon 5 505 Bon Sang 9 52.5 D. Southworth 6 3 Bo Urdonnais 5 52.5 P. Tims 7 Night Venture 4 52.0 9 Red Tango 3 52.0 10 5 Baracus 7 51.5 11 73 Tan 6 51.5 D. Peake 12 7474 Leonurus 8 51.0 Scratched: Oasis Onassis, Optimistic. Race 4 1.35 THE GOODWOOD $4800; 1100 m 1 11 Orangeade 11 55.5 L. O’Sullivan 2 1105 Cologne 2 54.5 P. Johnson 3 101 Novashasa 4 54.0 D Peake 4 1 La Blanche 10 53.0 S. Autridge 5 13 Nostalia 17 53.0 6 1 Travel Light 9 53.0 W. Robinson 7 8170 Double Dream 16 52.0 8 2 Gold Kiss 12 51.5 D. Southworth 9 3 American Belle 7 51.0 D. Healey 10 Avon’s Glee 5 51.0 G. Cooksley 11 Classy Lady 18 **51.0 13 52 Inavalley 1 51.0

15 9 Classic Ace 13 50.5 17 8696 Storm Girl 14 50.5 18 5750 Biddy’s Star 8 50.0 Emergency: Classy Lady. Scratched: Drallam, Ritzy Girl, Mystere.

Race 5 2.15 T.A.B. TREBLE ROBINSON HANDICAP $5000; 1600 m 1 80 March Hero 11 57.0 2 1933 Quick Choice 16 57.0 P.JTims 3 0044 Syalbi Princess 20 56.0 N. Hain 4 2100 Copper Mellay 7 55.5 5 5196 Loizell 8 55.5 R. Vance 6 4017 Natee 13 55.5 7 32 Our Amethyst 1 55.5 J. Hayes 8 6701 Belle Tango 21 55.0 R. Dye 9 1620 Count Avaray 9 55.0 10 1552 Solveig 2 55.0 P. Johnson 11 00 Catalonia 18 54.5 G. Cooksley 12 482 Mighty Lew 4 54.5 D. Healey 13 2412 Pass A Glance 14 54.5 E. Harrison 14 01 Shasanoquet 15 54.5 15 1841 Shine Brightly 10 54.5 W. Robinson 16 31 Aurotor 17 54.0 S. Autridge 17 1031 Balmereve 19 54.0 G. Cooksley 18 4276 Epergne 12 54.0 19 7205 Superior Heir 22 54.0 20 5507 Dave’s Tern 5 54.0 21 0076 Kitty O’Shea 3 54.0 22 01 Tolson D’or 6 53.5 Emergencies: Superior Heir, Dave’s Tern, Kitty O’Shea, Toison D’or.

Race 6 3.05 T.A.B. DOUBLE QUEEN ELIZABETH HANDICAP $37,000; 2400 m 1 Rose and Thistle 21 54.0 2 1600 Bellerophon 17 53.5 3 0464 Greatness 19 53.0 E. Harrison 4 3018 Mr Duthie 22 53.0 P. Tims 5 3410 Rebel Royale 8 53.0 J. Walker 6 5112 Reingard 1 53.0 R. McCann 7 0 Secured Deposit 11 53.0 N. Hain 8 5103 Double Trouble 3 52.5 W. Robinson 9 9520 Gun For Fun 4 52.5 G. Clutterbuck 10 1106 Otakiri Maid 13 52.5 13 1223 Secret Ace 12 ' 52.0 P. Johnson 14 0024 Unequalled 20 52.0 16 2430 Rushcutter 5 51.5 R. Dye 17 2144 Teranora 10 51.5 D Peake 18 1135 Gay Tripper 14 50.0 G. Cooksley 20 2262 Shagolvin 16 49.0 21 0213 Harpoon 18 48.5 22 1037 Kotare Chief 9 48.5 Scratched: Delarenne, Kapelle Lady, Belfe, Duanette’s Girl.

Race 7 3.50 TAB. TREBLE T.A.B. TRIFECTA NEW ZEALAND DERBY $200,000; three-year-olds; 2400 m 1 1111 Balrani 6 55.5 . T. Wheeler 2 2415 Beau De Zure 4 55.5 G. Grylls 3 4231 Cup Tie 14 55.5 J. Hayes 4 2228 Dusky Legend 18 55.5 P. Johnson 5 0 Elitist 3 55.5 6 3303 Final Advance 9 55.5 E. Harrison 7 1553 Globetrotter 1 55.5 M. Campbell 8 4210 Governor’s Bay 10 55.5 S. Autridge 9 0000 Herbie’s Dream 12 55.5 R. Dye 10 0101 Jolly Jake 19 55.5 C. McNab 11 1311 Kingdom Bay 16 55.5 ' N. Harris 12 3286 King Randell 15 55.5 B. McDonald 13 4120 Prince Pisces 5 55.5 D. Healey 14 9501 Raceace 13 55.5 P. Tims 15 0 Robyn’s Anchor 7 55.5 16 6412 South of Belmont 11 55.5 G. Phillips 17 0 Sucaryl Boy 2 55.5 18 2172 Twelve Gauge 20 55.5 J. Walker 19 2237 Avana 17 53.0 W. Robinson 20 032 Jug Of Punch 8 53.0 N. Hain Emergencies: Elitist, Robyn’s Anchor. Race 8 4.30 TAB. DOUBLE WRIGHTSON HANDICAP $10,000; 1200 m 1 0 Brenlaine 8 54.0 W. Robinson 2 8070 Ebony Belle 13 53.0 P. Johnson 3 2809 Hint 6 53.0 D. Peake 4 1 All Sirrah 15 52.0 T. Lomas 5 6225 Divine Poem 16 52.0 G. Phillips 6 2057 High Regards 5 52.0 L. O’Sullivan 7 0576 Kiwi Alley 9 51.5 D. Healey

8 30 Reggae 10 51.5 S. Treweek 9 578 Romantic Bay 14 51.5 G. Cooksley 11 2249 Anittac 11 51.0 S. Simon 12 2 Ardee One 7 51.0 G. Grylls 13 5909 Flying Dream 1 51.0 14 3 Natural 3 51.0 B. York 15 1 Nugget Bah 2 51.0 R. Dye 16 38 Red Sekao 4 51.0 Scratched: Taim. Race 9 5.10 T. TREBLE MCWILLIAMS HANDICAP $8000; 1600 m 1 1610 Shifnai Prince 4 58.0 D Peake 2 7318 Ringtrue 3 54.5 R. Vance 3 1579 All Belles 1 53.5 4 1215 Wyndham 9 52.0 P. Johnson 5 4201 Vincette 2 51.0 D. Healey 6 040 Grand Slide 8 50.5 8 91 Only Love 12 50.5 G. Cooksley 9 2150 Philco 10 50.5 W. Robinson 10 8965 Ruvain 11 50.5 11 000 Unique Wonder 7 50.5 12 143 Hurricane Higgins 6 50.0 J. Hayes Scratched: Marchimar.