Johnson to ride Na Botto in Cup

Press, 11 October 1988, Page 32

Johnson to ride Na Botto in Cup

Special correspondent Auckland

Takanini’s Peter Johnson will ride Na Botto in the Melbourne Cup. He confirmed the engagement with Na Botto’s trainer, Peter Hollinshead, soon after the Sandman Stakes at the Auckland Racing Club’s meeting at Ellerslie on Saturday. Without a ride in the Warren Sandman Stakes after Shannon Lad was scratched, Johnson was able to get a good view of Na Botto’s race and the horse’s run impressed him.

He told Hollinshead, within minutes, that he was prepared to ride Na Botto both in the Cup and three days previously, in the weight-for-age L. K. S. Mackinnon Stakes. Na Botto finished third in the N.Z. Derby last season, earning $40,000 for the placing which qualifies him for the Melbourne Cup and, he is beginning to look quite a chance, in the big race too, with only 51kg to carry.

He finished second behind Horlicks oh Saturday but carried more weight than her and fought generously, right to the finish post, ending up only a length and a quarter behind the talented mare.

Horlicks had been a fair way from the pace then wide when making ground from the 700 metres. The plan had been, trainer Dave O’Sullivan, said, for Horlicks to be kept up closer in the

running but this was prevented by her being slow out of the gates. Rider, Lance O’Sullivan, took her out to the centre of the track to try and get the best track conditions which by then had become testing indeed. The way Horlicks ran out the 2000 metres confirmed Dave O’Sullivan’s belief that she might have been a bit underdone the previous time, when Serestrina nosed her out at Avondale. The mare, which has fashioned a fine record, won both her other two races this season before Saturday and will be flown to Melbourne tonight in top form for the W. S. Cox Plate, in which she will be required to run a bit further — 2040 metres — and in the best possible field. Also on the plane will be Bonecrusher which with Poetic Prince, will be expected to give New Zealand such a strong hand in the Cox Plate, a sAustl.s million weight-for-age at Moonee Valley on October 22. Both Bonecrusher and Horlicks will continue their preparations at Epsom, which boats such excellent training facilities, and proximity to an excellent beach. It was disappointing that Banderol did not get closer than seventh in Saturday’s race. Weight-for-age does not suit him but his trainers, Dave and Paul O’Sullivan, expected something better. Banderol dropped far away from the leaders through the first 1200

metres and, though rider Jim Collett tried him vigorously enough, he was unable to make any ground in the home straight. Banderol is in the Melbourne Cup still, with 55.5 kg an equal third topweight, but whether he will make the trip is not yet certain. He will be on trial again next Saturday, in the 2400 metre Mitchelson Cup. “And another run like that one,” Dave O’Sullivan said on Saturday, “could see him staying home.” Open Terrain gave a further indication of his being a four-year-old out of the ordinary when he completed the T.A.B. double with Horlicks by taking the 1400 metres Auckland Motors Sprint.

Open Terrain had to make a fair amount of ground in the last 300 metres on Pont Neuf, which took a break by staying close to the inside around the home turn, and he did so in great style. He was out by a length and a half at the finish and Pont Neuf took second place just as clearly from Norfolk Joy. Open Terrain is one of two good gallopers now raced by the veteran Whakatane owner, Leicester Spring, and thus carrying the colours made famous by Rising Fast during the early 19505. Rural Prince, a Guineas prospect for next Saturday is the other, both horses being trained by Graeme Sanders at Te Awamutu.