Our Maestro installed as Treuer favourite

Press, 5 December 1988, Page 38

Our Maestro installed as Treuer favourite

NZPA-AAP ... . Sydney Our Maestro, the undisputed king of Australian harness racing, wHI put his title on the line against a star studded line-up in the sAustl2o,ooo M. H. Treuer Memorial (2540 m at Bankstown, Sydney, tonight.

Fresh from his hollow victory in last month’s Miracle Mile, the Victoriantrained star is rated a 5-4 chance by the leading Sydney bookmaker, Tony Gorman, to continue his unbeaten run in Group One races in Australia this year. Already, Our Maestro has won four Group One events since January, including the Inter-Dominion in March, and victory in tonight’s provincial classic will see the stallion surpass the West Australian pacer, Village Kid’s record. Ironically, Our Maestro will be attempting to emulate the deeds of Village Kid which completed the Miracle MileTreuer double last year.

The reinsman, Vin Knight, wary of making any rash predictions because of the quality of this year’s field, said Our Maestro would face one of his biggest tests.

“He has come along in fine style since his Miracle Mile win but I think the Treuer will be a lot harder to win,

simply because he has to come from the back row against one of the best fields I have seen this season.”

Knight said Our Maestro, the winner of 28 races from 38 starts, had recovered well from a slight laceration sustained during his Miracle Mile triumph. “He has responded well and there’ll be no doubts about his fitness.” Our Maestro and the top New Zealand pacer, Luxury Liner, dominate early betting on the Treuer, with Luxury Liner holding his place as a solid 5-2 second elect.

Barry Purdon, trainer of the million dollar Kiwi pacer, believes his seven-year-old has the ideal opportunity to reverse his Miracle Mile defeat.

“Realistically, a mile doesn’t suit Luxury Liner. Therefore, I considered his effort to finish second was fantastic. This race gives us a great chance to peg one back,” Purdon said. Luxury Liner has found Our Maestro

to be his big race nemesis during two Australian visits. . The Kiwi finished fourth behind Our Maestro in the Inter-Dominion and was forced .to play second fiddle in the Miracle" Mile. However, Luxury Liner boasts a win over Our Maestro in world record time in last month’s New Zealand Cup, giving Purdon reason to feel confident that he can upset the favourite. New South Wales’ best hopes of victory appear to rest with the Brian Hancock-trained Thorate, which will need to overcome an awkward barrier draw to win. “Thorate has progressed well since his third in the Miracle Mile and,, 1 am expecting him to run well again, Hancock said. , . The premier Sydney trainer driver, David Aiken, will have two runners in the race and has elected to drive the brilliant five-year-old, Gay Adam, in

preference to the stablemate, Wipe The World.

Darren Binskin will partner Wipe The World which will start from barrier three.

The latest market is: 5-4 Our Maestro, 5-2 Luxury Liner, 8 Thorate, 10 Kyalla Fling, 12 Rowleyalla, 15 Gay Adam, 16 Nikalong Shadow, 20 Speedy Cheval, 25 Wipe The World, 50 Blue Grass Special.

Jetbet: 14 Race 1 TF 11.40 TREVER MEMORIAL FINAL $Austl20,000; mobile; 2540m 1 442 Blue Grass Special V. Frost It 2 313 Nikalong Shadow . . . . . B. Hewitt It 3 233 Wipe the World . . It 4 732 Gay Adam D. Aiken it 5 214 Kyalla Fling M. Ilsley it 6 334 Speedy Cheval . . . P. Ryder it 7 263 Thorate . . . B. Hancock it 8 351 Rowleyalla K. Rivett it 9 241 Our Maestro . . . . V. Knight It 10 122 Luxury Liner . . . .A. Herlilty It