Wolfenden keen to contest N.Z. Cup

Press, 24 September 1987, Page 42

Wolfenden keen to contest N.Z. Cup

; Special correspondent Auckland - Peter Wolfenden has only been represented ’ once in a New Zealand * Cup by a runner from his own stable — and that was 24 years ago. The champion Cardigan Bay, trained and driven . by Wolfenden, scored an epic win in the 1963 New Zealand Cup, beating the bonny mare, Robin Dundee, driven by Robert Cameron, by two and a half lengths. 1 It was a fine perform- ‘ ance by Cardigan Bay and 1 Wolfenden. They started from 54 yards and were near last with a round to go. Wolfenden trained Cardigan Bay at Epsom, but these days prepares a team at Drury, about

30km from Alexandra Park. This year Wolfenden is very keen to trek south to Addington for the $300,000 Toyota New Zealand Cup with Levendi, a son of the New Zealandbred stallion, Spike Darling. Since 1963 Wolfenden has driven a further three pacers to victory in New Zealand Cups — Gary Dillon in 1965, James in 1970 and Sole Command in 1977. Levendi, owned by Mr Stavros Kolovos, has been driven virtually throughout his career by Wolfenden’s son, Glen. It seems likely young Wolfenden will drive Levendi at Addington and, if so, will be his first drive in a New Zealand Cup. Levendi flew home late

for second to Haybumer at Alexandra Park last Saturday night, an effort which clinched the trip south. He scored impressively on the first night of the meeting a week earlier. “After he won his last race Dad decided he would take Levendi down to Addington,” said Glen Wolfenden, on Sunday. “This will give Stavros Kolovos the thrill of his life-time, just to have a horse in the race. He went down last year to have a look and he’s a real trotting enthusiast” Levendi has a best winning time of 4:10.1 for 3200 metres from a standing start, set at Alexandra Park as a C 8 horse last May.