Class versus sheer pace in feature

Press, 6 October 1989, Page 43

Class versus sheer pace in feature

By

DAVID McCARTHY

The class of Infinite Secret versus the sheer pace of Vain Sovereign could be the final key to the outcome of the Timaru Herald Stakes at the Phar Lap Raceway today.

The debut from the Pitman stable of Honour Bright, the form of Biko and Matamua and the early speed of Stand Down and Red Apollo holds the promise of an eventful race, but rain in the last few days has altered the picture somewhat.

Infinite Secret is also making his southern debut. He is averse to soft tracks and is unlikely to go to the post if the track is any worse than easy. It was unlikely to be worse than that yesterday. Vain Sovereign has handled easy tracks, but is that much better on firmer ones, while Honour Bright is proven in softer conditions, but must give the Campbell entry 2.5 kg, no easy feat at the 1200 m distance.

Local predictions in Timaru yesterday had the track as easy and no sign of further rain. The surface may even be better than that. The conditions of the Timaru Herald Stakes are quite complicated and it may be significant that no three-year-olds have accepted. Four-year-olds and up carry a minimum of 54kg, so Vain Sovereign is just o.skg above that rating. The maximum handicap is 58kg. Under weight-for-age conditions, four-year-olds would carry 57kg and older horses 58kg, so Vain Sovereign has some advantage under the limited scale. He was beaten but not disgraced by Monarch Prince in tricky conditions last Saturday. He resumed on a winning note for the season at Levin on August 12, winning over 1100 m by nearly four lengths in 1:04.3. He failed to pay a dividend only twice in ten starts last season finishing fifth under difficulties in an intermediate race at Feilding at his third start and filled the same position on an easy track in a C2 event at Wellington last December. If the track does not trip him, he looks hard to beat at the weights. Infinite Secret had a brilliant record fresh earlier in his distinguished career, twice going under 1.10 for the 1200 m in winning in that condition. He took two races to come up last season before winning the Kings Plate (1600 m at Ellerslie.

His more recent form is moderate, but can be put down to soft tracks. He has been working in grand style. Honour Bright is an obvious prospect, while Biko, also better on firm going but capable on easy footing, looks the best of the others.

St James is a class above most of his rivals in the first leg, the Port of Timaru Cup, but the 2100 m is probably further than he prefers to go and, even with the skills of Grant Cooksley to aid him, he is possibly not the “past the post” proposition he may look on paper. St James mastered the 2000 m of the Ashburton Cup at least partly because Cooksley was able to dictate the terms, tactics he may repeat if the big horse does not settle early which he is loath to do over middle distances.

The danger at the weights is Ambrosia Pal, which is coming to hand nicely.

Southern Sapphire, in blinkers, could pose a lightweight threat of an upset, while veteran Chance For Gold has come up readily in the past and may be further forward than expected.

Race 6 D 2.30 PORT OF TIMARU CUP $10,000; Cl; no allowances; 2100 m. 1 30313 St James 1 57.5 G Cooksley Bold third over 1400 m last Friday followed all-the-way-win in Ashburton Cup (2000 m Stamina tested here, especially at this weight, but class should tell. 2 427-7 Chance For Gold 9 54.5 J Dowling Resumed at Riccarton and useful seventh there. Comes up quickly and at this weight could be the upset factor. 3 8454- Charlie’s Pal 7 53 R Fraser (a) Has not raced since last March. Useful blowout at the trials last Sunday. Could place. 4 4610- Noble Lyric 10 52.5 R Saxton First run since July 29 when he failed at Oamaru. Goes well here, but take on trust. 5 Ngawißay3 51.5 Scratched 6 87-53 Ambrosia Pal 6 51 H Malcolm Big late charge for third over 1600 m, C2, at Riccarton last Friday. Coming to peak and big danger for the topweight. 7 -4161 Nanu4 50.5 S McCann Solid win under big weight (57kg) in C 3 company at Wingatul, September 16. Place chance here. 8 00-3 Comparables 50 K Kenyon (a) Bold race in similar class at Riccarton last Friday and likes this track. Cannot be counted out. 9 6050- Leveldeen2 50 R Jones Has not raced since July 29. Did not come up as expected last campaign, but has the ability to test this field. 10 -0005 Southern Sapphire 8 50 RMcAra Useful run in Melbourne Cup Trial (2300 m at Wingatui September 16. Could be running on better than most here.

Race 8 D, T 3.45 THE TIMARU HERALD STAKES $15,000; Cl; limited handicap; 1200 m. 1 3228 Honour Bright 2 57 G Cooksley First start since March. Sure to sprint boldly fresh and high class at best. Respect. 2 8007- Infinite Secret 3 56 G Davison First race since 1600 m outing at Awapuni in June. Fine record fresh-up this distance. Win chance. 3 12-71 Biko 10 55.5 C Johnson Smart win at Orari against easier field. Capable on his day and upset chance. 4 21-12 Vain Sovereign 5 54.5 M Campbell Brilliant sprinter sure to be favourite. Prefers firm footing. The one to beat. 5 7908-Adios King 11 54 D Anderton (a) First start since June and should need it. 6 01-39 Disintegrate 12 54 R McAra Useful form in lower grades in Central Districts and second up last start. Consider if track heavy. 7 242-3 Matamua 7 54 R McCann Good run fresh up at Orari. Not badly in here and could get some of it. 8 08-14 Miss Vogue 8 54 S McCann Hard to have at this place in the weight 9 026-6 Palatable Prince 4 54 P Richards Not the force he was, but always worth a second glance at this distance and could place. 10 -5232 Red Apollo 14 54 R Bruce Game and consistent mare overdue to win one, but not well weighted. Place chance. 11 03848 Red Sovereign 9 54 R Saxton Not fancied to win. Rough place chance of 12 06-42 Stand Down 1 54 L Didham Fast and useful this distance. Went better tried in blinkers last start. Place show. 13 Strike Oil 6 54 Scratched

Jetbet: 5 Race 1 11.40 DORE BROS WELTER $5000: C4 welter; no allowances; 1600m 1 5000- Avlonter 13 63 2 12F12 Matt’s Choice 5 62 N Ridley 3 240-9 Cool Touch 9 61.5 R Bruce 4 -2870 Trudeau 10 61 B Pelling 5 0-726 Pieces Of Silver 4 60.5 T Kennedy 6 688-0 Anchorbar 11 60 G Davison 7 3-150 Umpqua 2 60 R Saxton 8 42138 Gay Voyager 14 59.5 S McCann 9 300-0 Guide Book 12 59. 5 H Malcolm 10 780-0 Belle Sea 7 59 G Cooksley < 11 -6990 Master Casey 8 59 H Pateman 12 Miss Malabar 3 59 Scratched 13 9 Natural Lad 6 59 C Pemberton 14 000-5 TheRullah 1 59 C O’Brien (a) Race 2 12.15 GLENITI TAVERN MAIDEN $4200; 1200m 1 860-Al Riyadh 11 55 D Wadley 2 307-6 Allegiances 55 P Richards 3 6-220 Benwin 16 55 R Saxton 4 0-876 Cameron 12 55 L Didham 5 2-344 Canaletto8 55 T Kennedy 6 0700- Danielle’s Girl 6 55 G Cooksley 7 Eighteen Twelve 14 55 Scratched 8 48 Indian Ridge 7 55 P Falvey 9 480-3 Ladenza 1 55 D Anderton (1.5) 10 4083- Mellors 5 55 R Bruce 11 940 Miletus 9 55 R Fraser(3) 12 3268- Prospero 2 55 M P Brown (3) 13 5095- Sun Dance 10 55 K Kenyon (2.5) 14 0-953 Swanilda4 55 . G Davison 15 Letz Keep Playing 15 55 16 Ptero 13 55 Emergency: Ptero. Race 3 12.50 TIMARU PRINT MAIDEN $4200; 1200m 1 34-2 Amanda Hall 1 55 MP Brown (3) 2 6-884 Astoria 10 55 C Walter (3) 3 8- Cautya 14 55 P Richards 4 4046- Diarmaro9 55 R Bruce 5 Fountain Lass 13 55 P Falvey 6 980-3 Jacerangi 15 55 G Davison 7 097- Kettledrums 55 S McCann 8 9- King's Hand 16 55 D Wadley 9 49-9 Marching On 6 55 G Cooksley 10 80-07 Mighty Song 2 55 R Fraser(3) 11 0080- Princely Row 7 55 J Dowling 12 568- San Julia 11 55 R Jones 13 -570 Vows Maid 4 55 D Anderton (1.5) 14 8-080 Wattie’s Wonder 3 55 R Saxton 15 0-0 De Sarajevo 12 55 A Hawthorne (4.5) 16 09-00 Dougallan’s Choice 5 55 Emergencies: De Sarajevo, Dougallen's Choice. Race 4 1.20 HALL AND DUNCAN MAIDEN $4200; 1200m 1 3252- Associate 14 55 P Falvey 2 3 Bi Light 6 55 P Richards 3 Daybreak Dancer 7 55 Scratched 4 3 Gold Barr 8 55 J Dowling 5 4-524 Gracious Prince 5 55 R J McCann 6 66-2 Interpol 4 55 R Bruce 7 Madam Beaufort 9 55 H Malcolm 8 5-9 Pringle Street 3 55 R Jones 9 9-79 Royal Tribute 10 55 D Anderton (1.5) 10 Sea Mist 12 55 Scratched 11 700-5 Straight Dash 1 55 G Davison 12 Truly Forever 15 55 Scratched 13 8-600 Turf Echo 11 55 D Wadley 14 Vincent Terranova 13 55 Scratched 15 Letz Keep Playing 16 55 16 Ptero 2 55 G Cooksley Races ' 1.55 MARY MOUNTIER MAIDEN $4200; 2200m 1 0-0 Balmoral Castle 12 55 RJones 2 -0233 Bijou Leigh 17 55 P Falvey 3 -09-2 Captain Bart 1 55 R Saxton 4 -0704 Corrival3 55 G Davison 5 00 Countess Liz 15 55 M Campbell 6 0-9 Harbour Lady 5 55 G Cooksley 7 07838 Ivor Mission 14 55 S McCann 8 Lochalsh 19 55 H Malcolm 9 700-5 Miss Bandoo 10 55 K Kenyon (2.5) 10 0-9 Polonaise 9 55 R J McCann 11 7-97F Proud Guard 8 55 D Wadley 12 0 Raineval 2 55 S Kirk (4.5) 13 0-0-2 Riverain 4 55 P Richards 14 34607 Slinky Lady 16 55 R Bruce 15 066-6 Tri Lyric 7 55 C O’Brien (2.5) 16 496-0 Watson 13 55 T Kennedy 17 79-8 Colonial Gold 11 55 18 0000- Current Value 18 55 19 06700 Trail Flyer 6 55 Emergencies: Colonial Gold, Current Value, Trail Flyer.

Race 7 3.10 PROBUS CLUB STAYERS $6000; C3; 2100m 1 -6421 Manicure3 57 R Jones 2 8-713 MrAmuri2 56.5 S McCann 3 6-323 Stormy Weather 5 56.5 G Davison 4 The Railman 8 56 Scratched 5 740-7 Another Day 6 55.5 C O’Brien (2.5) 6 9-561 Super Strike 4 55 G Cooksley 7 21-80 Kilcarnie’s Boy 7 54 R Saxton 8 35128 Yaden Tag9 53.5 R Bruce 9 68-76 Karaka Queen 1 53 P Richards

Race 9 T 4.20 REGAL VAIN SPRINT $5000: C4; 1200m 1 1799- Beaufort Dee 12 • 55 L Didham 2 -300-Benway 11 55 J Dowling 3 47-72 He’s Blushing 8 55 G Davison 4 0015- Imperatrix2 55 G Cooksley 5 281-2 Kuriwao6 55 D Anderton (1.5) 6 1556- La Baraka 9 55 R Bruce 7 528-0 Lady Evergreen 13 55 R Jones , 8 5160- Noble King 1 55 M Campbell 9 8-187 Perfectus 7 55 R Fraser(3) 10 7570- Shunta Bunta 3 55 B Quayle (3) 11 000-0 Star Of Venus 4 55 T Kennedy 12 63-39 TeKopiBay5 55 R Saxton 13 1022- Woodsreef 10 55 P Richards Race 10 T 4.55 BEN ARCA HANDICAP $6000; C3; 1200m 1 21148 Oban Lad 9 56 R Saxton 2 244-0 Extra Plush 4 55.5 MP Brown (3) 3 1100- Triana 17 55.5 G Davison 4 807-0 Fury 5 55 R J McCann 5 50-04 Ash Valley 7 54.5 6 55680 Count Nicolai 2 54.5 7 1130-Long Romance 13 54.5 D Anderton (1.5) 8 70-47 St Pierre 1 54.5 J Dowling 9 0-907 Wave ’N Go 10 54.5 P Richards 10 1052- Marty 12 54 G Cooksley 11 2319- Outlets 54 P Falvey 12 220-8 Yaldara 16 54 R Bruce 13 6-630 Schweppe Beat 11 53 B Quayle (3) 14 43-43 Silver Scholar 15 53 S McCann 15 159-6 Ambala Way 6 53 R Fraser(3) 16 0690- Irish Ace 14 52.5 R Jones 17 -7554 Lucky Lady 18 51.5 18 -8009 Eureka Lad 8 51.5 Emergencies: Lucky Lady, Eureka Lad.