Luxury Liner ready

Press, 18 March 1988, Page 27

Luxury Liner ready

[Sydney INTER DOMINION Championships J

From JEFF SCOTT in Sydney Luxury Liner, as fit as hands can make him, remains on the fourth line of favouritism for the sAust4oo,ooo Foster’s Inter-Dominion Pacing Grand Final at Harold Park this evening. Sydney bookmakers were quoting the sole New Zealand representative at a steady 8-1 winning chance, along with Karalta Gift, yesterday. This season’s Auckland Cup winner looked relaxed and settled after a light workout at Koala Lodge yesterday morning. All he needs now is luck and plenty of it. Luxury Liner’s awkward draw on the inside of the second row could win him the race, providing the pace is unrelenting throughout. This seems his only hope. The Mercedes gelding produced brilliant finishes to win the Air New Zealand Free-For-All at Addington in November and run second to Bag Limit in last month’s Winfield Cup when the pace was hectic on both occasions. The world record holder for 3200 m (stand), will be buried on the inner, except for some miracle, during the first half of this evening’s race. He is sure to be running on when the others are tiring but the likes of Village Kid and Bag Limit just do not stop.

Therefore it is hard to go past the two archrivals, which remain joint 5-2 favourites in Sydney. Village Kid, the runnerup to Preux Chevalier in the 1985 Melbourne InterDominion Grand Final, was supreme at Brisbane a year later but missed last year’s final in Christchurch.

The champion New Zealand-bred but West Australia-trained pacer wound up this year’s preparation by bathing kneedeep at Seven Mile beach yesterday for 30 minutes, then was swum for a minute by trainer Bill Horn.

“We do this with him every time the day before he races,” said Horn of the upstanding bay.

There is little between Village Kid and Bag Limit; however the record book shows the score 6-3 in Bag Limit’s a favour from nine battles to date.

This evening from barrier six, Bag Limit will have to cover extra ground from the outset. Village Kid has it in his favour that he can race economically from the second row in the early stages and this could be the difference between the pair. The great pacers had Harold Park racegoers on their toes last Friday as they reeled off back-to-back quarters in 28.8 s during a middle 800 m of their last mile — remarkable sectionals on such a tight,' turning circuit. The powerful Knight stable have had InterDominion finalists for the last eight years, but have yet to win a final. Bag Limit and Our Maestro are both winning chances and the joint forces may be enough to finally snap the jinx.

Bag Limit, the drive of Vin Knight, is likely to ultimately end up parked or be given the lead by his j stablemate, the probable early pacemaker. Karalta Gift, Jay Bee’s Fella and Palimar are also capable of getting some of it with runs to suit, such is the open nature of the field.

One thing is almost certain, Bag Limit's Harold Park track record over 2700 m (mobile) of 3:23.8 looks like being erased by 10.50 p.m. this evening. Sydney odds for the final are: 5-2 Bag Limit, Village Kid, 6-1 Our Maestro, 8-1 Karalta Gift, Luxury Liner, 12-1 Jay Bee’s Fella, Rufus Young Blood, 16-1 Palimar, 20-1 Tiff’s Mystery, 50-1 Robber John. Just as there isn’t much between Village Kid and Bag Limit, the same can be said for the four-year-olds, Our Maestro, and Rufus Young Blood, which will also have their share of supporters. Karalta Gift, Jay Bee’s Fella and Palimar are

also capable of getting some of it with runs to suit, such is the open nature of the field. One thing is almost certain, Bag Limit's Harold Park track record over 2700 m (mobile) of 3:23.8 looks like being erased by 10.50 p.m. this evening. :! Sydney odds for the final are: 5-2 Bag Limit, /Village Kid, 6-1 Our Maestro, 8-1 Karalta Gift, Lux--1 ury Liner, 12-1 Jay Bee’s i Fella, Rufus Young Blood, j'l6-1 Palimar, 20-1 Tiffs Mystery, 50-1 Robber John.

Selections for the InterDominion Grand Final are: Jeff Scott: Village Kid, Bag I Limit, Luxury Liner. Tony Clifford (“N.Z. Herald”), Bag Limit, Village Kid, Luxury Liner.

David Morrow (ABC Television, Sydney), Rufus Young Blood, Bag Limit, Village Kid. Neale Donnelley (“The Sun,” Melbourne), Bag Limit, Our Maestro, Village Kid. Rod White ; (“Daily News,” Perth), Village Kid, Our Maestro, Jay Bee’s Fella. John Linguard (“Daily Sun,” Brisbane), Bag Limit, Our Maestro,!Village Kid. Warwick Parr (“Trotguide,” Sydney), Bag Limit, Karaita Gift, Our Maestro. Michael Cowley (“Sydney Morning) Herald"), Village Kid, Bag Limit, Our Maestro.!

New Zealand’s Gaelic Skipper, unlucky not to earn enough points for a Grand Final start with two fourths and a third in the heats; should gain a deserved win in the Consolation this evening.

The 2700 m distance this evening will suit and he should get a good run through behind probable pacemaker, My John Paul. <

Jetbet: 10 ! ' 9.35 FOSTER’S INTER-DOMINION PACING CHAMPIONSHIP CONSOLATION sAust2s,ooo; 2700 m; 1 456 My John Paul : !A. Herlihy It 2 743 Corfu it. Domauf It 3 355 Thorata B. Hancock It 4 364 Kyalla Fling M. Usey It 5 337 Our Stretto i.B. Hancock It 6 245 Spare Beau 1. G. Morgan It 7 443 Gaelic Skipper D. Butcher It 8 556 Hyperetat .. . .R. Hancock It 9 176 Whirley Dream :. L. Justice It 10 653 Speed Partner .M. Frost It TF 10.45 I (NZT) FOSTER'S INTER-DOMINION CHAMPIONSHIP GRAND FINAL sAust4oo,ooo; all classes; mobile; 2700 m 1 3333 Tiff’s Myatery 1. ...1 . . D. Aitken It Strong finish, 13m from winner Bag Limit, last Friday. Consistent but expected to be a notch below the best here. Trainer: D. Aitken, Bankstown. (65 starts, 28 wins, 21 placings, $121,112). Breeding: 8h Tiff N Time—Garema Girl. Colours: Yellow, dark blue striped sleeves. 2 1421 Our Maestro 2 J. Binskin It Probable early pacemaker. Outsprinted rivals in easy 7rri win last Friday (2350 m Stays well too, rating 1:58.9 for 2500 m in Perth last month. Trainer: R. V. Knight,'Kilmore. (28-20-3, $148,124). Breeding: 4h Gaines Minbar—Dreamy Melody. Colours: Yellow, red maltese cross. 3 9531 Karalta Gift 3 L . D. Binskin It Ran clear for 8m win in near-record 2:00.2 rate for 2350 m last Friday. Fourth in 1986 final. Respect. Trainer: D. J. Binskin, Sydney. (66-29-17, $270,09.0). Breeding: 6h Armbro Unitas—Barton Lass. Colours: Black, red sash I and sleeves. 4 1911 Palimar 4 I. . . M. Usley It Dual-heat winner over mile in 1:57.8, and 2350 m last Friday in 2:1.3 rate. Out and out stayer likely to be close-up at finish. Trainer: C. W. Joss, West Australia. (34-18-9, $161,569).

Breeding: 5h Mint Condition—Asmodeus. Colours: Red, white checks and armbands. 5 3522 Robber John 5 V. Frost It Surprised by chasing home Bag Limit and Palimar in two . heats of the series. The outsider of the field from this draw. Trainer: v. W. Frost, Sydney. (73-25-25, $98,046). Breeding: 7g Courvoisier—Sheffield’s ; Daughter. Colours: White, black stars. 6 1211 Bag Limit 6 .V. Knight It Outstanding heat winner last Friday in record 1:59.7 rate for 2350 m, beating Village Kid by 4m. Must go close but starts from the outside of the front. Trainer: R. Knight, Kilmore. (63-32-20, $788,309). Breeding: 6g Tarport Skipper—Royal Blend. Colours: Yellow, red maltese cross. ! ! 7 2142 Luxury Linar 7 A. Herlihy It J Astouned Australians by running last 800 m in 55.6 s to finish second to Bag Limit in Winfield Cup last month. Sound form in heats and sure to be running on at finish. Trainers: R. C. and B. Purdon, Clevedon. (76-27-24, $822,099). Breeding: 6g Mercedes—Miranda Belle. Colours: Silver grey, blue spots, grey cap. . 8 3712 Rufus Young Blood 8 I. Lee It Tough customer which tracks out probable early leader, Our Maestro. Third to Bag 'Limit, Luxury Liner, in Winfield Cup last month and up to this company; Trainer: I. R. Lee, Victoria (50-21-17. $356,632). Breeding: 4g Sprinkler—Alma Nandinac. Colours: White, purple triangle. ■ ! 9 9114 Jay Bea's Fella 9. G. Harper It Dual-heat winner in 2:1.5 rate for 1960 m and mile in 1:57.6 over Village Kid. Can only afford to make one run at leaders according to reinsman. Trainer: G. D. Harper, West Australia (30-18-8, $337,188). Breeding: 5g Son of Afella— Key Miss. Colours: Purple; pink checks. I, 10 4122 Village Kid 10. .... . .A. C. Lewis It Has rated better than 2:00 in his three heat runs without enjoying much luck. Champion trying to repeat 1986 final; win but not easy from draw. Trainer: W. J. Hom, West Australia.

(85-63-19, $1,570,298). Breeding: 7g Gramatari— Totara Valley: Colours: Blue, gold sash, striped sleeves. ''!)'> i The race will be telecast on Television One.