Centurion to miss Sires’ Stakes

Press, 6 April 1989, Page 32

Centurion to miss Sires’ Stakes

PA Auckland The star juvenile, Centurion, will miss the $160,000 Sires’ Produce Stakes at Awapuni on Saturday because he is not ready for the distance.

The colt looked a leading prospect for Awapuni’s feature juvenile race after easily winning The Futurity over 880 metres at Ellerslie on March 25. Centurion beat his rivals by five lengths in a canter but the win proved his downfall.

Martin Dunlop, the colt’s co-trainer, said Centurion did not have a hard race at Ellerslie and would not be seasoned enough to tackle the country’s leading juveniles over 1400 metres on Saturday. “He has been racing over half a mile and a 1400 metre race would be too tough.” However, he will still have a runner in Awapuni’s rich stakes race as the smart youngster, Midnight Raider, will represent the stable on Saturday. Midnight Raider made a big impression when he won his second start on his home track at Pukekohe in December.

Then he ran a slashing second to the talented Ray’s Hope at Paeroa on March 18 in his first run back after a spell, blowing out over the last 100 metres.

He will strip a much fitter horse on Saturday and he has drawn well at seven, with leading northern hopes Cordero, Super Fiesta, Super Dancer and Honest Injun outside him. The in-form jockey, David Peake, will ride Midnight Raider on Saturday.