Sir Reilly keeps improving

Press, 5 December 1988, Page 38

Sir Reilly keeps improving

NZPA-AAP Melbourne The former Tasmanian, Sir Reilly, confirmed his ranking as one of the most improved horses in the country with yet another brilliant performance to take out the A. G. Hunter Memorial at Moonee Valley on Saturday night. Sir Reilly’s victory in the sAust2s,ooo event guaranteed him inclusion in next week’s SAustl 50,000 Australian Pacing Championship, also to be run at Moonee Valley.

Sir Reilly added the Hunter Memorial to his success in the Italian Cup last week and now joins stablemate, Our Maestro, in the Australian Pacing Championship. Others to have accepted invitations for the grand circuit event are: Happy Sunrise (Queensland), Thorate (Tasmania), Robber John (South Australia), Rowleyalla (New South Wales), Morgan James (Western Australia) and Luxury Liner (New Zealand). The final vacancy in the nine-horse field will

be decided by the Harness Racing Board Handicapping panel after tonight’s Max Trueur Memorial at Bankstown. Sir Reilly clinched his berth with a typically bold front running display, which has become his trademark. The six-year-old was beaten to the lead by Batik Print, a 25-1 chance, but his reinsman, Vin Knight, wasted little time in switching Sir Reilly to the outside and in search of the lead. Although Sir Reilly found the front, he was soon pressured by veteran

performer Quite Famous, a winner of last week’s Geelong Cup and with the two ’going full bore, the first 1580 m of the 2380 m trip was cut out in a sensational lmin 57.4 s on a rain sodden track. But Sir Reilly resisted all challengers and at the 400 m mark, speared away from his rivals. Although tiring, Sir Reilly, backed from 5-4 to 4-5 favourite, still had 8m at the post from Another Bart, 4-1, with a half head to Quite Famous, 4-1, third.