Preux Chevalier will win ‘by a street’—Aust expert

Press, 12 November 1985, Page 50

Preux Chevalier will win ‘by a street’—Aust expert

By

G. K. YULE

“Preux Chevalier by a street,” was predicted as the outcome of today’s Toyota New Zealand Cup at Addington Raceway by Richard Trembath, editor of the Melbournebased “National Trotting Weekly.”

“If he’s anywhere near his best you will really see something. He's in a class of his own among the pacers throughout the whole of Australia and I don’t think there would be a horse in New Zealand capable of getting near him, everything else in the race being equal,” said Trembath. “You New Zealanders thought Steel Jaw was a pretty good horse when he won the Cup two years ago. Well, Preux Chavalier would carry him and still win I feel,” he added. Trembath went on to say that before Preux Chevalier came on the scene Popular Alm was the best horse he had ever seen.

“It would be a toss-up if I had to pick between them. If they raced over 2400 m and ‘Poppy’ led I doubt whether Preux Chevalier

could have picked him up and I think that if Preux Chevalier led the Victorian would have the brilliance to catch him,” he said. “In my opinion Popular Alm would have been the winner over a mile, but over 3200 m Preux Chevalier would have been a clear-cut first,” he said. While he does not hold out high hopes of eating the speedster from Perth in the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s feature today, Camelot’s trainerdriver, Robin Butt, said yesterday: “I think my horse is as well if not better than when he ran second to Steel Jaws two years ago, and I feel his condition is superior to 12 months ago, when he won the race.” Butt saw Preux Chavelier win the Inter-Dominion Championship series at

Moonee Valley early in the year and regards him as a super horse. ’‘He can sit in the open, go to the front and then keep grinding on at such a speed that you’d think only bad luck could beat him,” he said.

“My fellow is an out-and-out stayer and I’m just hoping that the pace is a true one all the way. If I can get fairly handy to the leaders at the 800 m Camelot will be running on I’m sure no matter how hard they go,” said Butt. Camelot will start from 10m, a market which is not worrying Butt unduly. “He’s usually a shade slow to get up speed and I’m expecting that he will settle among the last few. He’s set a tough task, but he’s as well as I can get him and I’ll be surprised if he’s all that

far away at the finish,” he said.

Butt jogged Camelot yesterday morning and then worked him free-legged over several rounds at an easy pace. The son of Timely Knight revelled in his task and was kicking his heels up as soon as he was put out in his paddock. Roydon Glen’s trainerdriver, Fred Fletcher, is completely satisfied with his horse’s progress since he raced at the trials last Thursday. “He’s the best he’s, ever been and I don’t think I could get him any better,” said Fletcher. “He needed the sharp run he had last Thursday,” he added. Roydon Glen was worked over 3200 m in about 4min 30s on Sunday and jogged on the other days since Thursday. Fletcher has been

working on the problem of Roydon Glen hanging out on the bends and hopes to have it overcome by today. He regards Preux Chevalier as the horse to beat. "He looks pretty smart and has the record and bank account to back it up,” he said.