The Thief for N.Z. St Leger

Press, 27 February 1986, Page 32

The Thief for N.Z. St Leger

PA Wellington The Riccarton filly The Thief has been confirmed as a definite starter in next week’s final classic race for the season, the $75,000 Barclays N.Z. St Leger. The Thief and her stablemate, Canterbury Belle, are expected at Trentham early next week. Canterbury Belle has as her main objective the DB 1600, a $65,000 weight-for-age event.

Their trainer, Dave Kerr, still at Takinini, confirmed that both gallopers had come through last Saturday’s racing satisfactorily. Canterbury Belle was fifth in Bonecrusher’s Air New Zealand Stakes and intentions now seem to be to confine her to 1600 m races. After her run in the Royal Stakes, The Thief had a cut on a hind leg, but the wound has proved to be superficial

and Kerr said yesterday that there were no aftereffects. r. The Thief was fourth to the line, but was promoted one : place when Empire Rose was disqualified from second. The Thief 1 was badly checked about 150 m from the finish. . A filly by Brigand, The Thief has won three of her eight races, and been placed three times. Last January she won the Pinehaven at Trentham, a lesser class event over 2000 m. The St Leger, to be run on Saturday week over 2800 m, has been won in recent times by Sir Vigilant, Imaprince and Secured Deposit, but:fillies have also been successfull. The ill-fated Velvet Dream won in 1982, Judena won in 1880, Lumley Lass in 1977. The most recent South Islander to win was the Wingatui filly, Tui’s Lass, in 1979.