Oak Vue for N.Z. Cup

Press, 10 November 1986, Page 33

Oak Vue for N.Z. Cup

PA Auckland Oak Vue is a definite starter in next Saturday’s New Zealand Cup following his decisive victory at the Auckland Racing Club’s meeting at Ellerslie on Saturday.

Oak Vue will leave for Christchurch on Thursday and will be ridden by Grant Cooksley, who will replace Saturday’s successful jockey, Greg Childs. The - trainer, Ralph Manning, disclosed his plans for Riccarton, and an attempt on the big race next Saturday as he welcomed Oak Vue back from his win in the 2200 m Lion Brown Handicap. Racing just behind midfield, Oak Vue began to close on the pacemaker, Lord Amber, with 600 m to go.

Bounty Hawk swept to the lead but was almost as quickly under pressure. Oak Vue sustained his run, taking the lead and going to the post two and a half lengths clear. Announce ran on past Daria’s Fun to take second place. Out of Sight and Mr Chicken George were . alongside, fourth and fifth.

Manning turned to training after increased weight curtailed his career as a jockey and can feel justifiably proud at the way Oak Vue has regained his former zeal. Less than a year ago Oak Vue pulled up lame after running fourth in the Taupo Cup. The horse was galloped on during the race and the injury he suffered to a tendon prevented his racing again for almost nine months until he came back for a sprint at Tauranga. Oak Vue finished sixth in that one and has since had five starts for a second, then wins in each of his last two outings. A strapping bay, he is raced by his breeder, Mrs Shirley Wyllie, a former

Wellingtonian who moved north with her husband seven or eight years ago to settle on the outskirts of Hamilton. Oak Vue, by Oakville, was the first horse bred by Mrs Wyllie from St Tropez, a mare by Entrepeneur, the latest being a colt by Allgrit, foaled on Guy Fawke’s day. As well as winning so well on Saturday, Oak Vue turned in an exceptionally good time for the 2200 m, 2:14.24 — only a fifth of a second outside the track record.