Alynda to go

Press, 27 February 1986, Page 32

Alynda to go

Special correspondent Cambridge

The good two-year-old filly, Alynda (Nassau — Betty Box), will leave by air for Sydney on Saturday. Her trainer, Alan Jones, said that Alynda will race either in the Bramble Stakes over 1200 m at Kembla or the Black Opal Stakes at the same distance at Canberra about 10 days after her arrival. The objective is for Alynda to win one of these races to qualify for the Golden Slipper Stakes at Rosehill on March 22.

Jones said that Alynda has trained on satisfactorily since running third in the Matamata Breeders’ Stakes.

No firm riding engagement has yet been made though he remarked that when he went to Australia he usually engaged a rider from there.

He is also considering a Sydney autumn trip for Azapal and the promising three-year ; old filly, Misty Topaz.

Azapal is to resume racing in the Jetbet Highweight at Avondale on Saturday, with Tim Wheeler having the mount.

After winning a hurdle race early in the season and a little later five successive races on the flat, Azapal failed twice at the Trentham meeting in January. He had been troubled by a deep-seated stone bruise in his near foreleg which has taken a long time to clear up.

Azapal showed he is improving by beating Governor’s Lady, Lunar Lad, Mr Duthie and seven others in a 1400 m trial at Cambridge on Tuesday and pulled up well. If he maintains his progress he could attempt the Sydney Cup on April 5.

Jones said he has the group one $175,000 A. J. C. Oaks on April 2 in mind for Misty Topaz, but qualified this by saying: “Where Royal Heights goes, we don’t”