Riverina Charm Laxon’s Oaks tip

Press, 3 November 1988, Page 41

Riverina Charm Laxon’s Oaks tip

NZPA-AAP Wellington The Melbourne Cup winning trainer, Laurie Laxon, handed out a tip for the classy Sydney filly, Riverina Charm, before heading home to New Zealand yesterday. Laxon’s mare Empire Rose is the toast of Melbourne after her tremendous Cup victory and the ace to New Zealand trainer’s judgment was vindicated by her

triumph. Today the Sydneytrained pair of Riverina Charm and Research dominate betting on the fillies’ classic, the $350,000 V.R.C. Oaks (2500 m at Flemington. “I used to train Riverina Charm ... she’s brilliant,” said Laxon. “Robert Sangster partowns Riverina Charm and he decided to send her over to Brian Mayfield-

Smith in Sydney for the Australian fillies’ races. “I gave her one start and it was only 880 m. She came from last to first in a furlong to win pulling up by two lengths.” Riverina Charm, which is by Empire Rose’s sire, Sir Tristram, has had four starts for Mayfield-Smith and is unbeaten in two Victorian outings. She claimed V.R.C. Oaks favouritism with her

sensational wins at Flemington in the Edward Manifold Stakes (1600 m on October 1 and The Thousand Guineas (1600 m at Caulfield on October 12 when she beat Research. Since then Research demonstrated her quality by carrying 57kg to victory in the Wakeful Stakes (2000 m at Flemington. Early markets have Riverina Charm evens

favourite with Research 74. Next in the betting are Soliloquy and Salisopra at 10-1.

Clarrie Conners, the trainer of Research, is delighted with her condition.

“She’s going very well,” Conners said. Research worked a bit hard yesterday but Pat Trotter, who rode her, was delighted. He says she feels even better than last week.”