Big Skipper disappointing at Randwick

Press, 16 April 1979, Page 14

Big Skipper disappointing at Randwick

NZPA Sydney. Big Skipper is a doubtful starter for next Saturday’s $156,000 Sydney Cup (3200 m after his disappointing run for ninth in the 520.000 Chairman’s Handicap 12600 m) at Randwick on Saturday. The race was a setback for New Zealand prospects ,in the cup, with the mare. Kindled, fading on her run to finish sixth and Tamboura and Bermadez producing fairly ordinary per-; formances in running fifth and seventh respectively. The Wingatui trainer, Arthur Did ham, was a disappointed man as he led Big Skipper out of his stall at the end of the day. “He didn’t like the early pace ana they stepped all over him,” he said.

The race was won by the.four-year-old mare. Lady Dignatis, by a length and a half from Mr Bluebeard, with the Queenslander, Rhalif, third. Big Skipper, ridden by the trainer’s jockey son “Midge’’ Didham, went out the 5 to 2 favourite, but ruined his prospects by pulling strongly over the first 4UOm. Didham had to use all his strength to contain the four-year-old Mellay entire. But once Big Skipper settled down he was able to move him up behind the pacemaker Boogie Woogie, to be perfectly placed on the turn. Big Skipper led briefly, but was then challenged on the inside by Kindled, which had been handy throughout, before the eventual place-getters came through to swamp them both in the run to the post. Arthur Didham said aafter the race that he would wait and see before deciding whether or not to commit Big Skipper for the cup. Kindled’s Awapuni trainer, Garth Ivil, admitted he had been disappointed with Kindled’s finish, but said he would go ahead with his plans to run her in the cup. “Being balloted out of the Tancred Stakes the previous week has upset her preparation,” he said “Today’s run was only her third from a long spell and she will benefit a great deal from it.” Ivil admitted that Kindled was of unknown quality over the 3200 metres of the cup, but he said he thought she should run it out. He has plans for a Brisbane campaign after the cup. From a Sydney Cup point of view, the Auckland Cup winner, Tamboura had the best trial of the New Zealand horses. He had top-weight of 56kg, a kilogram more than he has in the cup. and gained grounds in the straight to finish fifth. His trainer. Brian Cameron, said the gelding needed the run after missing some workouts earlier in the week because of some old trouble with his near fore leg. Two other New Zealand hopes for the cup Happy Union and March Legend, will contest the, weight-for-age Queen Elizabeth; Stakes (2000 m a( Randwick today.

the run bv Ladv Dignitas was a top-class trial lor the Sydney Cup She came from the middle of the field at the half-way mark to outstay Mr Bluebeard, which is not in the cup Rhalif, another to pull hard during the running, will be a threat in the cup if he can be settled down early. DONCASTER WIN

New Zeaiand-breds won both featured races, with Belmura Lad taking out the $lOO,OOO Doncaster Handicap (1600 m and Zephvr Zip (Zephyr Bay—Corso) the $50,000 A.J.C. Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400 m fo r two-year-olds. Belmura Lad, passed in for $7OO as a yearling in New Zealand, took his earnings to nearly $200,000 with his convincing two length and a half win over Joyita. The 2 to 1 favourite Manikato dead-heated with Marioleo for third.

Trained by J. B. Cummings until his suspension last week, Belmura Lad’s previous major success was in the 1977 A.J.C. Derby (2400 m The rider of the New Zealandbred Joyita. Malcolm Johnston, lodged a protest alleging interference bv Belmura Lad. but the stewards decided that, although some interference had occurred it did not affect the result. Belmura Lad ridden by Peter Cook and saddled for the meeting bv Mai Barnes, produced a strong finishing run from the middle of the field to win in a course record of Imin 33.75ec. : As expected. Manikato set the 'early pace but was unable under.

his heavy weight to produce the extra effort needed in the straight and after battling on gamelv was pegged back by Joyita and then Belmura Lad inside the final 250 m. Zephyr Zip fought on gamely to win the Sires’ Produce Stakes by half a neck from the Victorian filly Lowan Star with Sweet Habit third. Zephyr Zip failed to qualify for the previous week’s Golden Slipper Stakes (1200 m The colt’s trainer. Eric Kirwan, will now take Zephyr Zip back to Brisbane and prepare him for the Q-T.C. Sires’ Produce at Eagle Farm on June 9. Kirwan said he had bought Zephyr Zip for $lO,OOO at tlie Trentham sales. "He was the cheapest Zephyr bay yearling sold.” he said. He predicted that the colt would perform well up to a mile as his dam was bv the noted sire of stayers. Battle Waggon.