Saumur’s rider confident

Press, 2 June 1989, Page 33

Saumur’s rider confident

PA Wellington Saumur, a Hastings jumper, is on target for the $lOO,OOO Tanalith Northern Hurdles at Ellerslie tomorrow as far as his rider, John McGifford, is concerned. The Palm Beach eight-year-old was only third in the $4500 Tasman Liquor Hurdles at Tauherenikau last Saturday but McGifford was well pleased with Saumur’s effort. “It was a real staying run. He had only a few behind him coming to the turn,” McGifford said.

Saumur had also made ground well when fifth at Foxton at his previous start and McGifford believes the two runs augur well for the 4190 metres of the Northern for which the horse has been specifically prepared by trainer John Stenning.

“I don’t think John really expected to pick one up with him before the Northern although I thought he might have been hard to beat on Saturday with the field the way it was.” Four scratchings depleted the field to one of very mediocre strength but at the post Saumur was only a length and a quarter and a nose from the winner. Under a hard ride from McGifford, Saumur ranged up quickly towards the leaders in the final 400 m and was still running on strongly at the finish. Saumur was second to Vincere in the 1987 Tanalith Northern and that gives McGifford added reason to look forward to tomaVrow.