Avondale Cup could be on Noble Note’s programme

Press, 20 September 1985, Page 23

Avondale Cup could be on Noble Note’s programme

By

J. J. BOYLE

Noble Note will be pointed for the Canterbury Gold Cup and then the $150,000 Avondale Gold Cup if he performs well in the Geraldine Cup on Monday. To judge from his two gallops at Riccarton this week the six-year-old is close to recapturing his best

form of earlier seasons from the John Bourne stable.

He was again paired with his stablemate and Geraldine Cup rival, Donizetti, on a firm and fast No. 1 grass yesterday, and took the honours of a good gallop.

Although they were moving at a casual pace early

they completed 1200 m in 1:18.8, the last 800 m in an impressive 46.2.

Noble Note had the outside running, but won the gallop by a neck. Earlier Shady News sprinted very keenly in the hands of her race rider Alan Tait, reeling off 800 m in 46.65, and the last 600 m in 34.25.

She has thrived in her preparation for the second leg of the Geraldine T.A.B. double.

The Waimate Cup winner, Tiger Bow, did his solo piece on the chip track, coming through his last 600 m in 40s. Earlier Angel’s Pal returned 36.5 s for 600 m on that track. Wat O Sue, a last-start winner at Ashburton being tried for more ground at the Geraldine meeting, hurried in from the 800 m in 48.25.

Chapel Guard, one of her rivals in the Woodbury Handicap, was paired with Macho Man yesterday to run 800 m in 48.65.

Chapel Guard usually runs out shorter races strongly and might take beating over 2000 m at Orari.

De Vito and Dresden Blue, stablemates of Chapel Guard and Macho Man, came up with 48.4 s for their 800 m. Durack led Stoned by two lengths finishing 800 m in 495. Far Rise and The Thief followed in 49.25, Cranford and Fine Fare in 47.65, Mr Magoo and Snowdrift in 47.75, and Playback in 49.65.