New owners have quick return

Press, 27 September 1988, Page 35

New owners have quick return

Special correspondent Auckland Peter Blanchard is considering a trip to the South Island in an attempt to qualify the fine pacer, Kylie’s Hero, for the $375,000 New Zealand Cup at Addington on November 8. Blanchard who is based at Pukekohe, purchased Kylie’s Hero on September 9 and just a few hours later the horse won at Alexandra Park. On Saturday evening again at Alexandra Park Kylie’s Hero had his first race for his new owners, the Kylie’s Hero Syndicate, and once again led the field home. Kylie’s Hero’s win in the Rarotongan Handicap Pace at the Auckland. Trotting Club’s meeting took him to C 9 and only one win stands between him and a New Zealand Cup start. A delighted Blanchard said after the win that he was seriously thinking about going south with Kylie’s Hero for the Banks Peninsula meeting at Motukarara on October 8. . The Banks Peninsula

club is promoting an open-class invitation race, the $20,000 Yaldhurst 20,000 Handicap and CB- - pacers are eligible. "We are definitely thinking about taking him down for that race and possibly the New World Cup ($26,000) at Forbury Park the following week,” he said. “Up here he’d only have one other chance to get that last win and that’s in a free-for-all where Luxury Liner will probably line up.” A clash with Luxury Liner at this stage of the season is not desirable as, without doubt, Kylie’s Hero’s successful driver on Saturday, Tony Herlihy, would have to drive the other horse. But Herlihy was keen to travel south to drive Kylie’s Hero should Blanchard’s proposed trip come about. “Yes, I’d definitely be on for the trip to drive him if Peter (Blanchard) wanted me to,” said Herlihy. Herlihy was impressed by Kylie’s Hero as he strode to a half-length win

from Gypsy Vance. The field of eight raced in ‘lndian file’ with Kylie’s Hero placed three back. Herlihy moved him forward sharply to challenge the leader, Reggie’s Mate, with 600 metres to run. “I knew they hadn’t done much up front until then, so I had to have a go then and there,” he said. “I also knew Gypsy Vance was on my back, but Kylie’s Hero was travelling so well I thought we’d be hard to pull back.” Kylie’s Hero reeled off his second-last 400 metres in 27.6 and led soon after straightening. His final 800 metres took a dashing 56. Gypsy Vance went another fine race, but could not quite peg back the winner. He ran his last 800 metres in 55.8. Elmer Gantry, after becoming pocketed at the 400 metres, ran on well when clear for third, a length and three-quarters back. His effort thoroughly satisfied partowner and trainer-driver Tony Milina.