Shannon v. Tristram again

Press, 9 June 1986, Page 31

Shannon v. Tristram again

PA Sydney The $225,000 Castlemaine Stakes at Eagle Farm, Brisbane, today, is being billed as one of the clashes of the Australian racing year. The New Zealand two-year-old star Shannon has a rematch with the New Zealandbred Victorian, Tristram. The pair met last week in the Q.T.C. Sire’s Produce Stakes, and although Shannon won by half a neck, the race solved nothing for either camp. Tristram came through the middle of the field and received a check just as he was about to burst clear. His jockey, Gary Willetts, claimed he would otherwise have won by four lengths. Shannon’s trainer, Bruce Marsh, said that video replays show Shannon, which raced with Tristram at the back of the pack for much of the race, was behind the Vic-

torian horse by up to five lengths in the straight before he “let the brakes go” and flew to the line. The 1600 m of the Castlemaine will test both

horses, while also in the picture is the other New Zealand youngster, One Guinea, which impressed by pouncing on the lead 200 m from home in the Stakes and looked a good chance until swamped for fourth near the post. The trainer, Roger Lang, believes One Guinea was too edgy in his first Australian outing and will be more settled in the Castlemaine. Other runners in the race are Myocard, which if he wins will give the jockey, Jimmy Cassidy, a record sAust3 million in stakes for the season, while Christopher and Myocard’s stablemate, Atatari, are the other main hopes. The seasoned campaigner, Rose and Thistle, heads a New Zealand attack on the $205,000 Brisbane Cup, looking for his first major victory in four trips.

The seven-year-old entire will go to stud next season and his trainer, Errol Skelton, believes he has a good chance of finally taking one of Aus-

tralia’s major staying features. After failing to get the New Zealand jockey, Jimmy Cassidy, Skelton has signed up the man Cassidy is set to take the Sydney jockeys’ premiership from, Mick Dittman, for the 3200 m race, and coming in with just 50.5 kg, Rose and Thistle is nicely set to acquit himself well on the big Brisbane circuit. Backing Rose and Thistle in the New Zealand assault on the cup are Marlon and Atrapar. Marlon turned on a top debut this campaign when second in the Crest International, but has failed to produce the goods since. To get into the cup he had to pass a special inspection gallop on Saturday morning, when he raced with new padded shoes on his front hooves. Atrapar is the dark horse of the race.

The sprinter which ran fourth in the Elders Handicap last year is back as a stayer and having his first attempt at the marathon two-miler.