Courier Bay fancied

Press, 31 May 1986, Page 30

Courier Bay fancied

NZPA staff correspondent Sydney The punters are sticking with New Zealand sprinter Courier Bay despite his last-start failure, inside barrier draw, and the fact that it rained in Brisbane on Thursday night. The classy gelding is 72 favourite for the $lOO,OOO Ansett Cup over 1200 m at Eagle Farm today, but as well as the $66,000 first prize money, his reputation and his favouritism for the rich Elders Handicap next week are also at stake.

The Ansett Cup will be a virtual first heat of the Elders with all 18 runners

also first acceptors for the $250,000 feature next week. All four feature races on the card are curtain-raisers for winter carnival highlights next weekend.

Courier Bay dominates all the discussion about today’s meeting, with the main question being whether he will redeem himself after beating only one home when hot favourite in the Queensland Guineas three weeks ago.

The trainer, Geoff White, and jockey, David Walsh, could only find the greasy track to blame

when Courier Bay finished second-last in the Guineas, and the. trainer is anxiously waiting to see what the surface will be like before the race today.

However White told reporters in Brisbane that regardless of the condition of the track, he will start the Diplomatic Agent gelding as part of his preparation for the Elders.

Lined up against the New Zealander are some of the classiest sprinters in Australia, headed in the weights by the summer specialist At Sea, which has won 10 races from 15 and carries 57.5 kg from barrier No 5, the former New Zealander, King Phoenix, Daybreak Lover which won the White Lightning in sensational form last time out in his first race following a season of serving 69 mares at stud, Playful Princess, High Signal, Castanillia, and Raffellini. In what could be a mixed , blessing for Courier Bay, many of his big dangers like, Daybreak Lover, are starting from out wide in the barriers. Mr Shannon will be out

to prove he is the best two-year-old of winter when he meets fellow Kiwi, One Guinea, and yhe Australian stars Tristram, Christopher and Fair Sir in the $60,360 QTC Sire’s Produce over 1400 m. The New Zealander is 2-1 favourite to repeat the form he displayed in the VIP Coaches Handicap over 1400 m a fortnight ago which gave him his third win from four starts, and a win today would write off his Australian debut ninth in the 1350 m Channel Seven Classic on a soft Doomben track on May 5. For sheer weight of numbers, the $50,000 P.J. O’Shea Stakes over 2400 m will carry the most interest with Aivator, Atrapar, Exocet, Marlon and Mr Duthie from New Zealand taking on nine locals headed by the race favourite, a former New Zealander Foxseal. The other feature is the $75,000 Grand Prix over 2200 m, a final preparation for Great Saturday’s Queensland Derby hopefuls, and a feature will be the clash- between the crack colt Handy Proverb, and the former New Zealand filly,Travel Light.