Paleface Bubble’s age group has done best

Press, 14 March 1987, Page 30

Paleface Bubble’s age group has done best

By

G. K. YULE

Paleface Bubble could well start favourite in the $350,000 Grand Final to the Lion Brown InterDominion Championship series at Addington Raceway this evening. Certainly he will be one of the four most heavilysupported of the 13 runners in the Metropolitan Trotting Club’s feature race, with Luxury Liner, Master Mood and Skipper Dale certain to be the best-backed among the eight New Zealand horses which will be trying to stop an eighth successive victory for Australia.

Paleface Bubble is a six-year-old, an age group which has provided eight of the last 20 Grand Final winners. Preux Chevalier, Gammalite, Rhett’s Law, Markovina, Carclew, Stella Frost, Bold David and First Lee were all six when they earned their places on the InterDominion roll of honour.

With two wins and a second in the heats, Paleface Bubble has impressed the critical Addington crowds with his tradesmanlike performances.

Not only that, but he has thrived throughout

the keenly fought heats and in the last week his progress has satisfied his young trainer-driver, Michael Ilsley, who is hoping that he can receive a run close to the pace and an opening early in the run home.

Lord Louie and Skipper Dale are the same age as Paleface Bubble. Skipper Dale had two spectacular heat victories, recording the world record time of 3min 13.62 s for the 2600 m distance of tonight’s final when he raced away from his rivals on March 4.

Five-year-olds, which have won six of the last 20 Grand Finals, will have

four representatives, including Master Mood and Luxury Liner, two of the main New Zealand hopes. Rolls Hanover and Metal Mickey are the same age.

Village Kid, Young Quinn, Hondo Grattan, Welcome Advice, Richmond Lass and Binshaw were all five when they were successful.

Lightning Blue, Prince of Princes, Alpine Fella and Michele Bromac are four-year-olds, and all are quite capable of adding interest to the finish. This age group has produced San Simeon, Stanley Rio and Hondo Grattan to win

Grand Finals in recent years.

Sunset Candios, at seven, is the age at which Rondel, Koala King and Gammalite recorded Grand Final victories.

Our Mana, at eight, is the veteran of the field. James Scott, in Perth in 1962, is the only eight-year-old ever to have won a Grand Final, suggesting that the odds are right against a victory for Our Mana. However, he is the type quite capable of figuring in the finish and he adds to the form puzzle for those looking for a place-getter at reasonable odds.