Prince Kumai strong demand

Press, 15 September 1989, Page 32

Prince Kumai strong demand

By

DAVID McCARTHY

The locally-trained Prince Kumai is sure to be in strong demand for the Arthur Barnett Cup Trial at the Otago Racing Club’s meeting tomorrow and if his path to victory is to be blocked, the most likely obstacle is the Ashburtontrained Nicinda. Nicinda is part of a strong team of five Dawn and Peter Williams trek south, all of which have at least some claims to victory, but Nicinda may be the one to capture most attention. Like Prince Kumai, his ultimate sights are set further afield, at the Melbourne Cup, and tomorrow’s race is a crucial test of that programme. When weights for the cup were declared, Prince Kumai was rather luxuriously placed as fifty-sixth in the “pecking order,” while Nicinda languished in 257th position. After first declaration, Prince Kumai is equal nineteenth, virtually assuring him of a place in the final field, but Nicinda is still outside the first 100 would-be acceptors. Tomorrow’s race is vital because, due to some enlightened programming from the 0.R.C., the first four home will qualify for the cup on distance. Cup rules prevent any horse from being a final acceptor unless placed in the first four over a distance of 2300 m or more. This clause has proven a stumbling block in the past and Prince Kumai had to go north to the Mitchelson Cup (2400 m at Ellerslie last year to overcome it. No doubt the O.R.C. move has Brian Anderton’s full backing and the Williams stable is grateful for the chance to make the distance qualification test close to home. While Prince Kumai is the one to beat, Peter Williams feels Nicinda is a real threat in receipt of 6kg. The fact that he battled to beat Manicure by half a head in C 3 last time out at Ashburton may persuade many he has little hope of beating Prince Kumai in an open handicap, but Williams does not subscribe to that theory. “I was pleased with his run at Ashburton. I didn’t expect any more than he produced,” Williams said. “He never does more than he has to and once he headed the other horse he did just enough to hold on. I think he could test Prince Kumai at the weights if everything goes his way. He sticks real well.” Prince Kumai must still take top billing. With 57kg he is not harshly treated and he is proven over the ground. Prince Kumai was beaten a neck and a long head in the Mitchelson last year in his first right-handed race. He resumed this term with a bold sprint at Riccarton and was the unlucky runner over 1600 m at Ashburton. He will improve further with this race (the Mitchelson last year was his fifth run on a new campaign), but he should still have the class to win. His stablemates, Southern Sapphire and Gem Again, failed to fire at Ashburton (the latter at a sprint distance),

although both must rate place chances at least on their best form. The other dangerous lightweight, however, could be Crown Imperial. Crown Imperial has not raced for six weeks and that is against him. But he has yet to be further back than fourth since being tried at 2000 m and beyond. Noble Pal looks to be running into form after two starts on this campaign. There has been confidence in the past among his connections when he has lined up at a middle distance and he has class on his day. Open If Prince Kumai dominates the Arthur Barnett, the second leg, the Clarins Handicap, is much more open. It marks the resumption of last year’s Southern Filly of the Year, Fly Baby, which should sprint boldly fresh; the versatile Free Call; two light-weighted speedsters in Red Apollo and Fondessa and Young Noble, so impressive for the Anderton stable here three weeks ago. Upset claims could also be made for Bridget Beaufort, which goes boldly fresh and Miss Madonna, one of the best southern stayers of last season, should also attract interest.

Jetbet: 9 Race 1 11.40 BLOKES’ MENSWEAR HURDLES $7000; open; no allowances; 2900 m. 1 311-7 BeauGe»te4 65.5 A Cowan 2 37-75 Don Pedro 11 62 H Pateman 3 922-3 Beau Bandy 12 61 D Shaw 44 -712 F Matta Choice 8 61 C Johnson 5 1-625 Riwai 5 61 A Mavor 6 -3515 Davan 9 60 S Anderton 7 0-259 Aussie's Pal 3 59 J Biddulph 8 350-0 Becher 2 59 J Hazlett 9 89-65 Full Crown 1 59 S Hutchinson 10 Point The Way 7 59 Scratched 11 -6-15 Sereb'lo 59 P Gerard 12 400-3 Wee Bee 6 59 A Hawthorne Race 2 12.20 HOLEPROOF MAIDEN $4500; 1200 m. 1 3 Allodium 14 - 55 P Richards 2 330-6 Ben Quick 5 55 S Cook (a) 3 Cafe Capers 11 55 T Kennedy 4 70--8 Carrington Peak 2 55 D Anderton (1.5) 5 06 Cortauld King 12 55 G Davison 6 8409- Dougaltan’s Choice 13 55 7 55-4 Great Story 1 55 C Johnson 8 High Step 10 55 S Kirk (4.5) 9 090-6 Jes Mai 8 55 P Falvey 10 Melody Fox 9 55 R Bruce 11 4- Nolinda6 66 R Saxton 12 5 Princess Ace 7 55 C O’Brien (2.5) 13 Regalann 3 55 R McAra 14 7496- Wilberforce 4 55 A Bennett (4.5) 15 0- Willow Downs 15 55 S Allen Race 3 12.55 PREMIER SOFTFOODS MAIDEN $4500; 1200 m. 1 055-2 Another Miss 2 55 G Davison 2 Bi Light 7 55 P Richards 3 00-8 Cameron 1 55 4 600-4 Class Above 11 55 T Kennedy 5 Daybreak Dancer 6 55 C Johnson 6 8-05 Forrest Piper 10 55 A Bennett (4.5) 7 6-2 Gnomesville 14 55 S Allen 8 Indian Ridge 5 55 9 0- Lord Bart 3 55 C O'Brien (2.5) 10 9-00- Mink Deville 9 55 R Bruce 11 5 Paltesse4 55 R Saxton 12 002-0 Raucous 8 55 M P Brown (3) 13 Sea Mist 12 55 S McCann 14 Travel Time 13 55 D Anderton (1.5) Race 4 1.35 TAMAHINE MAIDEN $4500; 1600 m. 1 490-0 Beau Desert 6 55 J Collis (2.5) 2 0706- Blushing Red 20 55 3 0-406 Dapperman 4 55 A Bennett (4.5)

4 Dusky Amazon 7 55 Scratched 5 0-535 Gypsy Tap 11 55 R Bruce 6 323-4 Hechter 12 55 7 64-0 Hoodwink 3 55 R McAra 8 022-0 Isla Blue 10 55 R Saxton 9 0-078 Ivor Mission 22 55 10 50-49 Legion Of Honour 15 55 11 20-05 Lochalsh 13 55 12 900-7 Odds Against 16 55 13 -2964 Playing Around 21 55 C Johnson 14 5- Port Chalmers 8 55 15 Raineval 9 55 P Richards 16 360-7 Tawfey Boy 19 55 J Dowling 17 0-6 Tina Turner 5 55 G Davison 18 6496- Watson 2 55 19 0 Countess Liz 18 55 20 7-0 Jolly Jug 17 55 P Falvey 21 6900- Odd Fellowl 55 22 79-8 Colonial Gold 14 55 Emergencies: Jolly Jug, Oddfellow, Colonial Gold. Race 5 D 2.10 ARTHUR BARNETT MELBOURNE CUP TRIAL $10,000; cl; no allowances; 2300 m. 1 10-24 Prince Kumai 12 57 P Richards 2 0265- Joe Ninety 11 56 S Cook (a) 3 1396- My Wee Man 5 55.5 D Anderton (a) 4 67-95 Noble Pal 4 55 J Collis (a) 5 18-30 SeveB 55 C Johnson 6 0-500 Narrative 13 54.5 R J McCann 7 61-77 Wee Jimmy 3 52 L Cook (a) 8 2411- Crown Imperial 2 51.5 G Davison 9 800-9 Dalmatic 7 51 R Saxton 10 79-49 Gem Again 1 51 R McAra 11 6-661 Nicinda 9 51 R Bruce 12 7-498 Rakau Tender 6 51 S McCann 13 6-000 Southern Sapphire 10 51 T Kennedy Race 6 D 2.45 CLARINS HANDICAP $10,000; Cl; 1200 m. 1 353-6 Decree Nisi 13 55.5 2 0140- Miss Madonna 6 55 J Bright (4.5) 3 1709- Basha Feleka 7 54.5 A Campbell (4.5) 4 21-31 Free Call 3 54.5 R Saxton 5 4044- Fly Baby 4 52.5 R Bruce 6 445-1 Young Noble 5 51.5 S Kirk (4.5) 7 640-6 Honest Bell 11 51 MP Brown (3) 8 87-52 Red Apollo 1 50.5 9 0-073 Berber 2 50 J Collis (2.5) 10 1030- Bridget Beaufort 12 50 D Anderton (1.5) 11 756-3 Fondessa 9 50 R McAra 12 0-878 Gay Ellery 10 50 T Stephens (3) 13 8550- Rakahooka Looks 8 50 S Ramsay (4.5) Race 7 3.20 FISHER AND PAYKEL PANASONIC MAIDEN $4500; 1200 m. 1 7337- Araby 6 55 T Kennedy 2 0 Bonny Sky 4 55 R Bruce 3 0-5 Carressa 14 55

4 -9252 Coniston Water 12 55 5 0- De Sarajevo 10 55 J Dowling 6 0 Flight Jewel 8 55 7 Half Of Plenty 2 55 C O’Brien (2.5) 8 Inflammable 13 55 9 KapaiKohas 55 D Anderton (1.5) 10 0 MinzionLass7 55 P Falvey 11 0 Mister Scorpio 3 55 R McAra 12 40-73 Perry Range 9 55 A Campbell (4.5) 13 0048- Quick Jug 15 55 G Davison 14 759- Surf’s Up 11 55 R Saxton 15 5-2 Walk Tall 1 55 P Richards Race 8 T 3.55 R.C.R. CRYSTAL IMPROVERS $5000; 1 win; 1200 m. 1 0-210 All Ginger 13 55 2 90-1 Babur 12 55 P Richards 3 9135- Deuce Flight 4 55 R Saxton 4 846-0 Double Reason 9 55 C O'Brien (2.5) 5 230-6 Gem Brite 8 55 6 908-1 HotDiggidy7 55 R McAra 7 09-69 Master Casey 11 55 D Anderton (1.5) 8 550-1 Opel Lass 2 55 T Kennedy 9 08-18 Perfectus 15 55 R Bruce 10 0-23 Pet Richall 6 55 G Davison 11 8100- Rantalla 10 55 12 -058- Tasty Morsel 3 55 A Bennett (4.5) 13 3210- Tympanum 1 55 S Kirk (4.5) 14 275-1 Whitford Fun 5 55 S Clark (4.5) 15 889-1 Wish 14 55 C Johnson Race 9 T 4.30 BENDON CUP ,$7000; C 3; 1400 m. 1 1512-Wessex 8 57 C Johnson 2 1290- Traffic Dancer 7 56.5 P Richards 3 0-332 Imperial Audi 10 55 G Davison 4 414-2 InvitaneU 54.5 5 Super Jack 1 54.5 Scratched 6 560-7 Three Guys 2 54.5 T Kennedy 7 0-312 ThatsUs6 53 8 6502- Rainbow Warrior 4 52.5 P Falvey 9 040-8 Silver Imp 9 52.5 S Allen 10 60-72 Pieces Of Silver 5 52 R Bruce 11 100-9 Spycatcher 3 52 D Anderton (1.5) Race 10 T 5.05 CLOUD NINE HANDICAP $7000; C 3; 2200 m. 1 9-416 Nanu 5 57 S McCann 2 12-50 Auburn Rose 4 56.5 R McAra 3 311-3 Family Honour 1 55.5 R Bruce 4 7-342 Luskin Lady 2 55.5 P Richards 5 42-58 Tolerate 11 55.5 C Johnson 6 021-8 Kilcarnie’s Boy 9 55 C O’Brien (2.5) 7 98-P6 Robert McKenzie 10 55 G Davison 8 69-04 Lord Buckhurst 7 54.5 S Allen 9 40-03 Countessa Vanessa 3 53.5 T Stephens (3) 10 10-00 Railbird 6 52.5 R Saxton 11 57-06 Trail Flyer 8 52.5