High-class line-up in Challenge Stakes

Press, 21 April 1979, Page 20

High-class line-up in Challenge Stakes

Special correspondent Wellington The presence of La Met will put the seal on what should be a perfect day at Hastings today. The magnificent galloping machine from New Plymouth will be just one of a classy line-up in the Hawke's Bay Challenge Stakes, the second leg of the double. For La Mer it will be her first race since coming back from a second Australian trip that, like the first, brought little joy.

Now she returns to race at Hastings Over 1400 m. At weight-for-age she could easilywin first up for she still

I has that sprint that brought | her to a brilliant last start win in this country’s richest weight-for-age race, the Air New Zealand Stakes. La Mer, though, will have to show all her class to win the Stakes, especially when pitted against the likes of Silver Liner. Winner of the Stakes last year, Silver Liner has taken a little longer to find top form this time. However, she was running on for fourth over 1200 m at Feilding and she could easily improve on that effort. Royal Fencer, which won at Feilding and Coober’s Queen, second there, also have to be respected. Royal Fencer has won two of his

last three, dead-heated in the Racing Writers’ Cup at Tauranga and then a powerful win in the Feilding Stakes last week. The three-year-old rates a big chance. So does the gallant filly CoOber’s Queen, She was second to Royal Fencer, fourth the time before in the Wakefield after a shocking run and then a winner at Trentham in the North Island Challenge Stakes over Grey Way. Those efforts! make her a big chance, to say the least. The talent does not end! there. Fraxy, Grey Way, Vice Regal, Orchidra, Lady Belle and Disraeli are dll extremely capable.