Beau Zam definite starter

Press, 1 April 1989, Page 17

Beau Zam definite starter

NZPA-AAP Sydney The champion galloper Beau Zam will run in the sAust2oo,ooo weight-for-age All-Aged Stakes (1600 m despite the condition of the track at Randwick today.

The track was rated slow yesterday afternoon after more than 150 mm of rain had fallen since the Australian Jockey Club’s autumn carnival started last Saturday.

“There was 60mm of rain overnight and another 25mm this morning,” said the Randwick track manager, Dick Robert, yesterday.

“If there is more rain overnight it will be heavy.”

But Bart Cummings’ stable manager, Anthony Cummings, said Beau Zam will start even if the track is heavy.

Bookmakers have Beau Zam, the first horse in Australia or New Zealand to break the $2 million mark, 2-1 favourite despite his failure in the sAust2so,ooo Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000 m on a wet track at Randwick last Monday.

“Beau Zam looked a bit burly in the mounting yard before the Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the race turned out to be a lot further on paper because of the slow track,” said Cummings. "He had suffered a few

problems, including putting a nail through his hoof, and would have been underdone for the Tancred Stakes." Beau Zam was a lastminute withdrawal from the Tancred because of his injured hoof, and missed a few days training because of the injury. "Beau Zam is coming back in distance here, and more than anything it will be a stepping stone to the St Leger,” said Anthony Cummings. The SAustloo,ooo A.J.C. St Leger Stakes (2800 m will be run at Randwick on April 8. Anthony Cummings warned Beau Zam could be short of his best, and

rated the Jack Denhamtrained Flotilla, which is second favourite at 9-4, the main danger.

“Flotilla likes it wet and is a good miler,” said Cummings.

“He has beaten Beau Zam before, and is the logical one to beat.” Flotilla beat Beau Zam by a long neck in the A.J.C. Chipping Norton Stakes (1600 m at Warwick Farm when they last clashed on February 18.

Flotilla also left Beau Zam in his wake when he won the weight-for-age Warwick Stakes (1400 m in race record time last August, with Beau Zam three and three-quarter lengths away fifth.