Wellington Cup shaping as 'ladies first' affair

Press, 29 January 1988, Page 22

Wellington Cup shaping as 'ladies firs t' affair

By

J. J. BOYLE

The unshakeable appeal of the Wellington Cup, to be run tomorrow, takes on an extra dimension this time around.

All against historical trends it is shaping up as a “ladies first” affair, with opinions fairly evenly divided between Empire Rose and Dari’s Fun. Empire Rose, it is felt, was entrenched as a firm early favourite, for the Wellington Racing Club’s feature, until about a week ago. Then along came Daria’s Fun to win the weight-for-age Trentham Stakes in style that compelled attention. Two days later Empire Rose made her bow this time around at Trentham with a distant second in a 2200 m handicap. As a form-book entry it was not the greatest of Wellington Cup trials, but with stayers like Empire Rose a stop-go middle distance affair does not supply the only yardstick. Empire Rose seems to find another oxygen tank when she steps up to 3200 metres, and perhaps the only question mark might concern the inroads those three earlier strenuous races at the distance this season might have made into her store of vitality. Those runs produced a second in the Melbourne Cup, an authoritative victory in the New Zealand Cup, and a distant sixteenth in the Auckland Cup, a performance that confirmed her connections’ fears that she- had freshened too much for her own good after missing a lead-up race in the Jarden Plate. If Empire Rose or one of the other females wins tomorrow a 28-year gap will be closed in Wellington Cup records. Jalna, another chestnut from the Waikato, was the last mare to win the race. She recorded her win from a position near the tail of the handicap. But Empire Rose seeks a top weight’s victory, and Daria’s Fun, that other talented five-year-old female, is next in the handicap. Where two in the upper section of the handicap also dominate discussions, as much as Empire Rose and Daria’s Fun have done, it can be a rewarding exercise to look to a stayer with form close to, or at the tail of, the handicap to play the role of giant killer. A good case can be made for Banderol as the one to fill the bill. Banderol lacks the sharp edge of brilliance of his dam, Regal Band, and his record is studded with late arrivals to fill minor berths. One such performance landed him in second place behind Goshking over 2200 m on the first day of the meeting. Characteristically, he settled at the tail of the field, and he did not have all the luck going when Lance O’Sullivan was looking for racing room in the straight. In the circumstances his placing was meritorious. Banderol will be running for the powerful O’Sullivan stable along with last season’s One Thousand Guineas winner Cure, the Trentham Stakes fourth last Saturday. Cure is capable of staying in closer touch with the pace in her races, but Banderol might have the stronger finish at 3200 m, provided of course he dodges backwash from tiring rivals as he

mounts his charge. Coshking will probably be left with the pacemaking again, and with 48kg he is in the best possible situation to expose any stamina flaws amongst those above him in the handicap. Wingatui’s Double Lang looms the strongest of the South Island hopes. His Auckland Cup sixth was not at all a bad run, and in his only handicap test since he was third in Empire Rose’s Marton Cup. A product of the family that came up with Prawns, a dead-heating first with Almora in the 1951 Wellington Cup, Double Lang had his lead-race last Saturday in the weight-for-age Trentham Stakes and finished fifth of 10. A Courier Bay in such devastating form hardly allows the luxury of a second thought about the outcome of the $lOO,OOO Jarden Mile, second leg of tomorrow’s T.A.B. double. The Taranaki flyer is a master of weight, but great , weight-carrying prowess is not demanded of him here. His 57.5 kg is half a kilo below the weight he carried when he slaughtered his Wrightson rivals last week. Such a weight would almost invite the impression that Courier Bay is embarking on fresh fields with the step up to 1600 m, but he is a winner at the distance, and has strengthened impressively since he triumphed at the metric mile in the Wellington Stakes two years ago.

Golden King, another chestnut, and the only three-year-old in the field, is one of the more exciting of the young athletes to have emerged in the Central Districts this season, and his clash with Courier Bay will excite the widest interest. Golden King is winner of his last five races, and six altogether. For his toughest test yet he has 51kg or one kilo below weight-for-age. On the face of it he does not come into the handicap at all advantageously, placed against Courier Bay, which has won 13 races and also has Ikg less than scale weight. Infinite Secret and Snabben, the next best to Tri Belle in the Flag Inns Trophy at Ellerslie, couid spearhead the challenge for northern stables. Snabben followed up his Ellerslie third by winning the Anniversary Handicap on the first day at Trentham under 53.5 kg, two kilos more than he has tomorrow. Infinite Secret has 53kg, the weight he also carried when he ran Tri Belle to a length in the rich metric mile at Ellerslie. Riccarton’s Camallino Star also tilted at Flag Inns Trophy honours, but the demands made on her from a wide barrier were a little more than she could manage. She has fared better in that regard this time, and showed she had thrived since Ellerslie when fifth in the Wrightson Handicap last week. Of those below 50kg, Tricavaboy should go closest if his performance matches his fourth in the corresponding race at Ellerslie.

troublesome from his place in the handicap. 14 8221 Coshking 16 P. Taylor 48.0 Carried over 3kg more when he led throughout over 2200 m on first day of meeting. Likely pacemaker again. 15 0400 Blazing Voodoo 7 ... J. Oakeshott 47.5 Has done nothing of any account since his third in Empire Rose’s New Zealand Cup. 16 7113 Nymphe Noirs 5 . . . K. Clapperton 47.5 Only half a length behind Empire Rose (second) when placed over 2200 m on Monday. Strong finisher. Race 7 T 4.15 STARS TRAVEL INTERNATIONAL

Emergency: Count Sian. Scratched: Lady Zephyr, Oriental Tribute, Reverse Charge, Zariba, Oh Kitty. Race 8 D, T, TF 4.55 JARDEN MILE $100,000; 1600 m 1 1121 Courier Bay 1 D. Walsh 57.5 Bolted away with the 1200 m Wrightson Handicap last week and if he gets firm footing again should make the step up to the metric mile in style. 2 1403 Crimesta 19 G. Phillips 54.0 Last-start third over 1400 m at Awapuni was good run. Luckless in running in Flag Inns Trophy at Ellerslie the time before. 3 1522 Infinite Secret 11 G. Cooksleys3.o Strong finisher for second to Tri Belle in Flag Inns Trophy at Ellerslie. Second the time before was at weight-for-age at Te Rapa. 4 2304 Kesha 6 R. Elliot 53.0 Weak finisher in corresponding race at Ellerslie but last-start fourth over 1400 m at Awapuni was more encouraging. 5 7011 Lady Aloof 15 P. Ayres 52.5 Successful favourite at last two starts in Central Districts, once at this distance, but this is harder. 6 3496 Pell Mell 16 52.0 Fair run over 1200 m against Courier Bay and company on first day of Wellington meeting. 7 7331 Snabben 17 G. Childs 51.5 Right in form for this after third behind Tri Belle at Ellerslie and win in Anniversary at Trentham last Saturday. 8 5175 Camallino Star 8 C. Johnson 51.0 This closer to her best distance than the 1200 m of the Wrightson Handicap last week. Still ran well, and would not surprise if she improved on that fifth. 9 1111 Golden King 10 51.0 Young speedster assembling impressive sequence. Earned a start here after easy Wellington Stakes win at same distance last week.

10 4113 Deerstalker 18 G. Davison 50.5 Came from last to finish little more than half length from Camallino Star at this distance in Timaru Cup. 11 8779 Jonny Alone 12 50.5 Won this race at long odds last year. Has not been "firing" this time around, and several others preferred. 12 1259 Phareef 4 50.5 Has done latest racing over middle distances, and has some improvement to find for this sharp test for speed. 13 4816 Lagerfeld 3 L. Cassidy 50.0 Did not measure up in weaker metric mile field last Saturday. Win two starts back was over 1400 m at Awapuni. 14 5022 Star Pride 2 L. O’Sullivan 49.5 Well beaten by Westgate at Awapuni on December 28 and found Lady Aloof too good on same course on January 13. 15 6148 Tricavaboy 5 T. Allan 49.5 Never got into the act after drifting early on first day. Was more impressive in finishing fourth after checkered run at Ellerslie the time before. 16 2700 Hot Ice 13 49.0 Form has slumped in recent starts. 17 1112 Sheer Luck 9 K. Clapperton 49.0 New to this distance, but showed sharp speed over shorter trips in lower grades. 18 6133 Mountain Ash 14 48.0 Put up solid resistance after pacemaking before being pegged back to third on first day of Wellington meeting. 19 9164 Margarella 20 47.0 Came from well back for fourth over this distance last week. 20 6162 Rabanne 7 R. Hannam 47.0 Only nosed out by Snabben last week. Emergencies: Sheer Luck, Nargarella.

Race 6 D, TF 3.30 FOSTER’S WELLINGTON CUP $300,000; 3200 m 1 4012 Empire Rose 8 T. Allan 55.5 Powerful stayer with obvious claims to favouritism after win in New Zealand Cup and second in Melbourne Cup in spring. Soundly beaten over middle distance on Monday but that race did not place any premium on stamina. 2 4121 Daria's Fun 4 G. Stewart 53.0 Brilliant finisher for win in Trentham Stakes, showing she had thrived since her Auckland Cup second on January 1. 3 8179 Sie Zeus 1 p. Ayres 52.5 Form has slumped since Manawatu Cup win. Weak finisher over 2200 m on this course last Monday. 4 6635 Double Lang 9 D. Walsh 51.5 Distant fifth behind Daria’s Fun in Trentham Stakes. Fair run for sixth in- Auckland Cup the time before. Genuine, and not the worst. 5 3040 Threesome 11 G. Cooksleysl.s Expensive failure in Auckland Cup at her last start. Mixes her form, but would not surprise if she figured in finish. 6 0863 Dungarvan 12 M. Coleman 51.5 Useful third over 2200 m on first day of meeting keeps her on the list of fancies. 7 0007 Lu 3 D. Skelton 51.0 Veteran stayer whose form has slumped since spring. 8 0524 Cure 2 B. Hibberd 50.5 One-paced run when fourth in weight-for-age Trentham Stakes, 2400 m. Shapes as if the longer trip here will be no inconvenience. 9 3210 Frosty Heir 13 50.5 Invercargill Cup winner, but a failure at weight-for-age last week. 10 0997 Gallipoli 14 G. Phillips 50.5 Lacks the recent form to bring him into strongest consideration for this, but was creditable fourth in New Zealand Cup. 11 1125 Hypatia 10 C. Johnson 50.0 Runner-up in Invercargill Cup two starts back. Fair effort over 2200 m on first day at Trentham. 12 1198 Regal Advocate 15 L. Croppso.o One of the beaten lot over 2200 m on second day of meeting, and also failed at that distance at Awapuni the time before. 13 2322 Banderol 6 L. O’Sullivan 49.5 Came from last for second to Coshking over 2200 m on first day of Wellington meeting. Just beaten at Avondale the time before. Takes time to wind up in his races, but could be

Jetbet: 4 Race 1 12.10 WALLACEVILLE HIGHWEIGHT $10,000; 2400m 1 0400 Blazing Voodoo 4 . 65.5 2 1006 Buster O’Reiley 12 . F. Pratt 63.0 3 2403 Aly Bahritas 14 . . . . . . . E. Lamb 62.5 4 0502 Mr Kits 5 G. Lord 62.5 5 0633 Ima Tiger 17 .... . . . .S. Jenkins 61.0 7 0031 Umteen’s Lass 2 . . 61.0 8 6492 Grenfell 1 60.5 9 7453 Maigret 6 . . . S. Dennett 60.5 10 5027 Evergreen Bay 11 . . . T. O'Donnell 59.5 11 5155 Kaiwaiwai 16 ... . 59.5 12 603 Silver Bullet 18. . . . . J. McGifford 59.5 13 0990 Hilda Ryrie 10. . . . 59.0 14 6475 Honest Pleasure 3 . . P. Kauri 59.0 15 0530 La Zam 8 59.0 16 6509 Mitsuko 7 59.0 17 0009 Perlita 15 M. Lord 59.0 18 4904 Sundi Kiss 9 . . . R. Burton 59.0 Scratched: Pauline Marie. Race 2 12.50 FITZHERBERT HANDICAP $10,000; two-year-olds; 1200m 1 51 Beijing 12 . M. Campbell 54.5 2 412 Khanate 4 54.5 3 214 Cidermite 10 54.0 4 31 Debe’s Lady 6 . . . . . . . N. Harris 53.5 5 104 Solarbreeze 1 . . G. Phillips 53.5 6 3 Picea 5 . . R. Hannam51.5 7 02 Sheer Spirit 11 ... . . .T. Kennedy 51.5 8 Amusement 3 51.0 9 5353 Over Lap 2 51.0 10 36 Replevin 13 51.0 ■ 11 29 Sizzles 8 51.0 12 2723 The Queen 14 . . B. Hibberd 51.0 13 0 Poppa' Flight 9. . . . 50.5 14 944 Itsgo 7 50.0 Race 3 1.30 TELFORDS HANDICAP $10,000; 1400m 1 3321 Rocky Way 8 57.0 2 6121 Icolette 11 . . G. Phillips 55.0 3 3552 Fly Half 6 53.0 4 313 Musskadoro 15 . . . . 53.0 5 . I Cherry Hills 17 ... . . . . B. Griffin 52.5 6 3792 Hazy City 13 . . . .R. Elliot 52.5 7 3880 Hire Purchase 16. . . . . .M. Wildey52.5 8 81 Ingeborg 4 . M. Campbell 52.5 9 031 Straight and True 1 . . . . . M. Lord 52.5 10 5059 Doodwell 14 . . . D. Walsh 52.0 11 8100 Stronghold 5 . . B. Hibberd 52.0 12 07 Valda Ann 2 . . . J. Walker 51.5 13 22 Bandoo Lu 10. ... . 51.0 14 207 In the Valley 3 . . . . 51.0

15 9979 Key Sian 12 . . D. Skelton 50.0 16 90 Molly Fox 9 50.0 17 0 Son of Mara 7 50.0 Race 4 TF 2.10 NEW ZEALAND OAKS $200,000; three-year-old fillies; 2400m 1 8193 Amalass 13 . . N. Harris 55.0 2 3743 Candide 12 . . R. Ellioit 55.0 3 8274 Carilia 2 . .J. Walker55.0 4 4351 Crystal Jayjay 6 . . . . 55.0 5 1621 Fuji 3 L. O’Sullivan 55.0 6 6102 Karioi Princess 9. . , , 55.0 7 7132 Logistical 15 M. Campbell 55.0 8 1033 Red Chiffon 11 . G. Phillips 55.0 9 3481 Romantic Lover 4 . . . .G. Cooksley 55.0 10 3242 Savana City 1 M. Coleman 55.0 11 3776 Serestrina 5 . C. Johnson 55.0 12 5510 Spyglass 14 . D. Johnson 55.0 13 3511 Ultra Sound 10 . G. Davison 55.0 14 9035 Walkaway 7 55.0 15 7214 Zamaliza 8 . . G. Childs 55.0 Race 5 2.50 CITY HANDICAP $10,000; 2200m I 9228 Lady Blandford 8. . . . . C. Johnson 57.5 2 2821 Golden Sealord 7. . . . . . D. Walsh 56.0 3 2510 Amynstar 6 .T. Kennedy 54.5 4 8724 Winter Cheer 9 M. Campbell 54.0 5 7110 Hemmel 2 53.5 6 5075 Pauline Marie 3 .G. Cooksley 52.0 8 6509 Mitsuko 1 . R. Hannan 50.0 9 5906 Neralee’s Star 5 ... . 50.0 Scratched: Taiyo.

$15,000: 1600m 1 3612 Garter Star 1 . . . . 3 5714 Triab 17 . . W. Stevenson 57.5 56.0. 4 5211 Bashful Lad 19 . . . . . . .L. Cassidy 55.5 5 4473 General Joe 18 . . . G. Elliot 55.0 6 62 Be My Music 11 . . . . . . P. Taylor 54.5 8 1411 Vamos a Beber 22. . . . . g. Davison 54.5 9 1229 Dancers Rythym 8 . . . . C. Johnson 53.5 10 2329 Princess Cheval 9 . . 53.0 11 6127 Silver Ribot 12 ... . : . . . 53.0 12 0303 Thats for Sure 16 . . 53.0 13 2315 Lady Bronte 13 ... . 52.5 14 0305 Marangai 21 52.5 15 1544 Sindabay 7 . .G. Cooksley 52.5 17 0384 Tramore 6 . . B. Hibberd 51.5 19 8060 Ben Jess 5 . M. Coleman 51.0 20 40 De Beers 3 50.5 22 599 Count Sian 10 . . . . 50;0 23 0037 Kingscrest 4 50.0 24 0565 Naisbie 2 . . D. Skelton 50.0

Race 9 T 5.35 PINEHAVEN HANDICAP $10,000; 2000m 1 711 Lord Lisbon 3. . . . ... G. Phillips 54.5 2 2826 Canescent 7. . . . N. Harris 53.0 3 073 Apello 15 52.5 4 0400 Brierley 1 D. Walsh 52.5 5 0061 After Noon 13. . . P. Taylor 52.0 6 0 Call Me Mister 14 . . K. Clapperton 52.0 7 8221 Coconut Ice 19 . . P. Mercer 52.0 8 6321 Darkie San 2 . . . 52.0 9 0714 Lavendero 11 . . . L. Cropp 52.0 10 3467 Traffic Dancer 5 . 52.0 11 2661 Variously 9 . . . . G. Childs 52.0 12 2733 Yorkshire Rose 21 52.0 13 7910 Jealous Dancer 20 . . . . T. Moseley 51.5 14 0516 Jugged 12 . . . .T. Kennedy 51.5 15 0010 Regal Drum 17 . . . . . . D. Skelton 51.5 16 0674 Augabehy 6 . . . . . . . M. Coleman 51.0 17 2189 Canterbury Star 8 51.0 18 5370 Scholar’s Habit 18 51.0 19 8096 Black Phantom 10 50.5 20 0000 Diahard 22 50.5 21 9027 Hot Number 16 . . 50.5 22 0037 Kingscrest 4. . . . 50.5 Emergencies: Scholar's Habit, Augabehy, Diahard, Black Phantom, Hot Number, Kingscrest.