Admiral Soanai popular choice for Auckland

Press, 14 May 1986, Page 42

Admiral Soanai popular choice for Auckland

Special correspondent Auckland Admiral Soanai looks sure to be a firm favourite in the last lead-up race at Alexandra Park this evening to the $lOO,OOO Rowe Cup there on Saturday evening. On the front mark in the Impact Windows Handicap Trot, he received starts of up to 20m from horses he decisively beat off level terms in the John Andrew Ford Mobile Trot on the first evening of the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting last Saturday.

He was narrowly beaten by Tussle in that race after forcing a strong pace. Tussle’s time of 2:47.6 was a national record for 2200 m from a mobile start.

Admiral Soanai is probably a better stayer than sprinter. He easily won the 3200 m Dominion Handicap at Addington last November so there is no question of his being troubled by this evening’s distance of 2700 m. The track last week was very hard and the gelding’s trainer, Jim McGill, and driver, Brian Gleeson, were concerned that it could have caused Admiral Soanai to suffer a recurrence of hoof trouble. However, McGill said yesterday that Admiral Soanai had come through the race without any adverse effects. “No problems,” he said. “I am especially glad because he needs racing and I want him to have another race before the Rowe Cup.” The course manager at Alexandra Park, Mr Ron Kane, admitted yesterday the track on the first night was harder than he would have liked. He said the surface was “rolled tight” because rain had been forecast. "But the rain never came.”

The track will have its usual “top” tonight.

Admiral Soanai’s toughest opposition looks like coming from Mairo Sultan, Indette and the Christchurch four-year-old, Wedgewood.

There is bound to be good support, too, for Captain Carthew and Jenner. At his best, the Australian visitor, True Roman, would also have a good chance.

Springfield Countess makes strong appeal in the Simorane Gerrard Mobile Pace, the second leg of the T.A.B. double.

She did well to finish second to Gaelic Skipper on the first night and this followed a close second to Potkova in a flying mile

at Alexandra Park on April 18. Gaelic Skipper and Potkova are among her opponents again with both, obviously, entitled to strong consideration. So are Quiet Touch and Xray.

Keen Interest is being taken in the last qualifying heat of the Cigna Insurance Sires’ Stakes Series, the $125,000 final will be run at Alexandra Park on Saturday week. As well as some of the best northern two-year-

olds, the field in the fifth heat Includes Coma Berenices, from Yaldhurst, Stormy Fella (Dunedin) and Speedy Cheval (Rangiora). Six of the 10 starters complete the front line at the start.