Double Century brilliant in Cup

Press, 23 April 1979, Page 18

Double Century brilliant in Cup

NZPA Sydney A muln-pronged attack on the 1979 Sydney Cup by New Zealand horses failed at Randwick on Saturday when a roughly run race was brilliantly won by the three-year-old colt, Double Century.

Double Century (Century — Hullo Love) hit the lead on the turn and shot away from what was regarded as one of the strongest Cup fields ever assembled to win the 3200 m race by seven lengths in 3mm 20.85.

The win avenged last Monday’s loss, on protest to Dulcify, in the $200,000 A.J.C. Derby (2400 m and was a popular one with the Randwick' crowd.

Double Century eased in the betting to start the 7 to

1 joint second favourite with Our Big Gamble. The Aus-tralian-bred Lady Dignitas (Dignitas — Clime) ran second and the 4 to 1 favourite, the former New Zealand gelding and Melbourne Cup holder, Arwon was third, a further length away.

Two other New Zealand horses Happy Union (fourth) and Kindled (fifth) featured in the photograph with Arwon to determine third place. Of the other New Zealand runners Our Big Gamble ran eighth, Bermadez ninth, Northfleet thirteenth, My Prancer sixteenth and Big Skipper twenty-first. There were 22 runners following the scratching ot Barbero.

Happy Union spoiled his prospects by pulling early. His jockey, Peter Johnson, said Happy Union was clipping the heels of horses in front of him until the field sprinted from the 800 m and that he had done well to finish fourth. Kindled was well back for most of the journey, but came home well from sixteenth on the turn. Her trainer, Garth Ivil, said the mare had been “knocked all over the place,” but echoed the thoughts of all the trainers of beaten horses when he added: “We couldn’t have done better than second.”

Our Big Gamble was always handy, but was among a few horses inconvenienced when Mick lyon moved Double Century outwards in a bid to secure run about 800 m from the finish. He stayed well, but lacked the necessary sprint at the finish. Bermadez was left in last position at the turn, and came home better than most.

Northfleet, ridden by Linda Jones, did not take up his customary pace-making role. “We planned it that way, but he obviously races better from the front,” the trainer, Alan Jones, said. My Prancer weakened after being right up with the lead with 800 m remaining. Big Skipper suffered more inconvenience than most — he was mentioned three times in the lengthy stewards’ report on the race — and was never a threat.

Arwon’s jockey, Harry White, said after the race: “1 felt like I’d been in the ring with Cassius Clay — I don’t think there was a horse in the race I didn’t touch.”

Some of the euphoria of victory was later taken from Mallyon when the stewards suspended him until May 12 for careless riding. In their report they said Double Century was shifted outwards quickly to force a run with about 800 m to go. In making the move, he collided with Miner’s Inn and caused inconvenience to Our Big Gamble. Mallyon, however, was warmly praised for his ride by many other people. Double Century moved quickly out at the start and overcame his wide barrier position to be well placed behind the pacemaker, Boogie Woogie, at the first turn and was never further back than fifth. Century ,has now become

■ Australia’s most sought-after I sire. He is by Better Bay (which sired Reckless) and his progeny to win other recent feature races have included Century Miss (Golden Slipper Stakes) and Valley of Georgia (A.J.C. Oaks). Result, with N.Z. T AB. favouritism and dividends:— SYDNEY CUP $156,000; 3200 m 8/9 DOUBLE CENTURY (15) 49 R. Mallyon 1 14/13 LADY DIGNITAS (17) 48.5 R. Quinton 2 2/3 ARWON (2) 56 H. White 3 Others in finishing order: 6/6 Happy Union, .7/8 Kindled, 20/20 Play The Game, 22/22 Areibaldo. 3/5 Our Big Gamble, 5/4 Bermadez. 12/12 Popular Demand, 9/7 Rhalif, 15/15 Free Enterprise, 4/2 Northfleet, 11/11 Blarney, Prince, 17/16 Lyracus, 1/1 My Prancer. 19/18 Boogie Woogie, 18/19 Play The Purple, 16/17 Felony. 21/21 Miner’s Inn, 10/10 Big Skipper, 13/14 Lefroy. 7 len, len. Time: 3:20.8. Win: $16.55. Places: $5.75, $9.35, $2.45. Quinella: .135.80.