Another Phenomenon’s form will attract attention

Press, 25 June 1983, Page 19

Another Phenomenon’s form will attract attention

Special correspondent Auckland High hopes are held that Another Phenomenon will make up into a stayer next spring so his form over 2100 m, against Deb’s Mate, Cullimore and company at Tauranga today will be specially interesting.

The three horses are among a strong field of well-performed winter gallopers in the $30,000 Owens Trophy. And it seems likely that, for all the wide range of prospects, one of them will win. Conditions for the Owens Trophy, with a maximum

top weight of 59kg and minimum no less than 50kg, would seem to make the race for the better-per-formed runners, like Deb’s Mate and Cullimore, yet the outcome both last year and the year before, was hard to predict. Bridge Player was the eleventh favourite when he won, last year, Langeland the eighth when successful in 1981. Another Phenomenon will be trying for his fourth win on end when he competes for the Owens Trophy. He has yet to be successful further than 1600 m so his winning, over 2100, would represent a quite notable achievement. A four-year-old, by Decies, Another Phenomenon tried a couple of middle distances in intermediate company last spring and

finished fifth each time, over 2100 m at Tauranga and 2030 m at Matamata. Age seems to have been a help to him. His three wins, a third and a fourth have come in six starts since he returned to racing in March after a spell and it is quite possible he will improve further. Deb’s Mate and Cullimore, while looking nicely weighted with their 59kg (Deb’s Mate) and 58kg (Cullimore), are required to give Bkg and 7kg to Another Phenomenon, and that will not be easy for all their great ability on soft or heavy tracks. Cullimore, after being such a good winner up to 1600 m, turned in his best middle-distance run when he won the 2200 m Fay Richwhite Cornwall Handicap at Ellerslie during the Great Northern meeting.

Deb’s Mate was beaten narrowly last time into third over 2200 m at Rotorua, on May 28, promoted afterwards to second. But for being forced wide all the way he would have won. Since coming back for this present campaign, some three months ago. Deb’s Mate has had five starts for two wins, two seconds and a third placing. Now rising seven years old, he retains a turn of speed which should have him quickly prominent today even though he will be starting from about midfield. Bridge Player, judged by his third placing behind Cullimore and Our Charlie in the Cornwall, is in good shape again to try for a double in the Owens Trophy. Appendix and Janet’s Boy are others which make plenty of appeal.