Baker, Busuttin steal show at Tauherenikau

Press, 11 October 1988, Page 31

Baker, Busuttin steal show at Tauherenikau

PA Wellington The spring meeting at Tauherenikau last Saturday turned into a benefit for Central Districts trainers, Murray Baker and Paddy Busuttin. Gallopers prepared by the duo won four of the nine races on the Masterton Racing Club’s programme, including the feature Lowland Stakes (1400 m and Masterton Cup (2000 m Baker’s fine filly, Kate’s Myth, scored a resounding win in the Lowland, drubbing those she just held at bay in the Gold Trail Stakes (1200 m at Hastings last month.

The back-to-back wins give her a healthy lead in the Wrightson “Filly of the Year” Series, and assure her favouritism for the next two events — the Desert Gold Stakes at Trentham this coming Sat-

urday, and the 1000 Guineas at Riccarton next month.

Saturday’s effort satisfied Baker that Kate’s Myth, beaten once in eight starts for earnings of more than $200,000, would be untroubled by the extra 200 metres of both the Desert Gold and Guineas.

It also gave him more confidence about her propects over longer trips later in the series. Baker’s other starter on Saturday, the lightly-tried The Phantom, further underlined his classic potential with a clear-cut win over more experienced rivals in a C 4 mile. The Hawke’s Bay Guineas runner-up will line up on Saturday week in the Wellington Guineas with the 2000 Guineas at Riccarton a possibility. Gallipoli, with his brilli-

ant win in the Cup, rekindled Busuttin’s hopes of a New Zealand Cup win. He had set the horse for the race last year, but his efforts were undermined by an undiagnosable back problem. The Palatable gelding, which despite missing a fortnight’s work still managed fourth in the Riccarton feature, has this season shown no signs of the complaint. He will have two further starts over ground before the Cup. Busuttin mentioned the Auckland Cup as a longrange possibility for Red Chiffon in the wake of her resolute win in a C 3 mile. The New Zealand and Great Northern Oaks placegetter has filled out noticeably since last season and has shown improvement with each of her three starts this term.