Sounds Like Fun wins Waikato Cup

Press, 22 November 1988, Page 41

Sounds Like Fun wins Waikato Cup

Special correspondent Auckland Using Kia Maia as a precedent, the connections of Sounds Like Fun can look to the Auckland Cup with increased optimism after her win in the Waikato Cup on Saturday. At five years of age Kia Maia won the 1974 Waikato Cup and, 39 days later, the Auckland Cup — an achievement unique for a mare. Sounds Like Fun, also five, became on Saturday

the first mare to win the Te Rapa race, sponsored by Waikato Times, since Kia Maia; naturally, she is now among the most discussed candidates for the bigger, DB-backed race. Kia Maia had two further starts before New Year’s Day, finishing second to Happy Union in the Avondale Cup and second to Hi Bing in the weight-for-age Clifford Plate on the second day of the A.R.C. carnival. She won the big cup

carrying 56kg and after being last with 600 metres to go. Jim Gibbs, the trainer of Sounds Like Fun, was not certain yesterday of her programme between now and January 2, acknowledging that the Clifford Plate no longer existed. He had a choice of the Counties Cup (December 3), Avondale Cup (December 14) and either the Jaguar Cup or King’s . Plate at Ellerslie on Box-

ing Day. ‘Tye got to look seriously at Avondale,”' he said. “But that’s three and a half weeks away and she’s doing so well she’d want another one before then. “As for Boxing Day, well, the Jaguar Plate’s 2400 metres and the King’s Plate, 1600, so I’ll just have to play that by ear. She’s a good, honest mare — she’ll tell me.” Gibbs said he would have to be especially

mindful of how the handicapper rated Sounds Like Fun. Sounds Like Fun carried 53.5 kg on Saturday but, according to the handicapper, Dean Nowell, Empire Rose’s presence caused a scaling down. Otherwise, Sounds Like Fun would probably have had 55kg. Ridden by Michael Coleman, Sounds Like Fun scored by only a head from Argonaut Style