Alba’s Reign to make amends

Press, 11 October 1985, Page 20

Alba’s Reign to make amends

Special correspondent Auckland

Alba’s Reign is expected to make amends at Cambridge tonight for his shock defeat on the first night of the Te Awamutu Trotting Club’s meeting. He has drawn awkwardly in the D.B. Draught Stakes but it is unlikely he will fare any worse in the running than he did last Friday in the first North Island

heat of the Fay, Richwhite Sires Stakes Series. In that race, over a mile, he was parked out nearly the whole way and then lost by only half a length to Xray, which had enjoyed the trail. Considering the fast time, 2min, it was a splendid performance.

Alba’s Reign drew No. 11 in the 2200 m D.B. Draught Stakes but scratchings have, enabled him to move up into the front row. He will start from no worse than No. 7. He is fairly wide and three of his main rivals have drawn inside him. But it will be bad luck, indeed, if he winds up parked out again and the longer journey will be in his favour.

Two starts back, Alba’s Reign broke the Cambridge track record for 2600 m. He clipped seven-tenths of a' second off the old mark when he returned 3min 20s. X-ray must have a good chance again — he seemingly does not know how to go a bad race — and another bold showing will be expected from Kylie’s Hero, which fought on gamely for third last week after making the pace. That Fella, fourth in the Fay, Richwhite heat, should also acquit himself well. But the main threat to Alba’s Reign looks to be Clarius, which will be driven by Peter Wolfenden. Clarius finished only seventh in a C2 race at Alexandra Park on October 3 but he had absolutely no luck in the running and finished up covering a large amount of extra ground. It was hardly surprising that he fadfJjj over the final

.stages. In the only other race this season, Clarius had Alba’s Reign all out to beat him by a long neck over 2200 m at Alexandra Park on September 14.

He had the trail that night and, from No. 1 (Gorky Park has been scratched) he could well secure the same position Again. Considerable interest is being taken in the bid by Direct Kiwi in the second leg, the NZIG Autogas Pace, to notch the win he needs to qualify for the $225,000 Toyota New Zealand Cup at Addington Raceway. Off 80m, he certainly has a job ahead of him. The race, admittedly, has a front of only C2 and Direct Kiwi has shown himself to be quite brilliant from a standing start.