Roydon Glen Cup fancy tonight

Press, 8 February 1986, Page 28

Roydon Glen Cup fancy tonight

Special correspondent Auckland Armallght’s race record looks under serious threat, such is the quality of the field in tonight’s $250,000 Auckland Trotting Cup at the Auckland Trotting Ciub’s meeting at Alexandra Park.

The Max Harvey-spon-sored race has attracted undoubtedly the best lineup for years. All the best New Zealand pacers are engaged, as well as Quite Famous from Australia. Some of them have been in tremendous form. Indeed, Malaz, Placid Victor and Spanker On have all set records recently and Quite Famous showed breathtaking speed in his final workout on Thursday.

Armalight went 3:20.7 when she scored her memorable seven length win in the 2700 m mobile start event three years ago.

The widely held opinion that new figures are likely to be set is based on the assumption that tthere will be a torrid battle for the lead — especially as most of the main contenders have drawn frontrow positions. An exception is Spanker On, which, unless there is an unexpected scratching, will start from the inside position --in the second line. .

Spanker On has won his last three races, each time giving outstanding displays of front running. It is unlikely that his trainer-driver, Peter Wolfenden, will be able to adopt these tactics tonight but Spanker On could wind up well placed. He is right behind

Direct Kiwi, which is no slouch from a mobile start and whose driver, John Langdon, is sure to make the best use of his No. 1 draw.

Direct Kiwi was only just pipped by Spanker On in the Chardon Handicap on the first night of the Auckland Trotting Club meeting last Friday and the likes of Roydon Glen and Placid Victor, both noted front runners, may have to work pretty hard to head him off if their respective drivers want the lead.

Placid Victor, the country’s top four-year-old, was rather disappointing in the 2200 m handicap, in which he finished seventh. He had little in his favour in the running after starting from the extreme outside and in any case he will be suited by the longer distance. In the last couple of months, Placid Victor has broken the Cambridge 2600 m record from a standing start, the Alexandra Park 2700 m record from a standing start, and the T.N.T. New Zealand Messenger race record. The Messenger is run over 2700 m from a mobile start.

Each time, his driver, Maurice McKendry, got him' to the front as quickly as possible. Roydon Glen’s best form has also been shown when the son of Smooth Fella and Roydon Dream has been able to dictate the terms. No notice need be taken of Roydon Glen’s failure to do better than fourth on the first night of the current A.T.C. meet-

ing when he gave all his opponents a start of 10m. He did extremely well to finish that close after a horse had shot across his path just after the start and cost him a big stretch of ground. In his previous race, he went 2:29.3 for 2000 m at Addington on January 22. Roydon Glen, which will be the favourite, won the Cup last year. If he triumphs again, he will become the eighth dual winner in the race’s 95-year history. The last one to achieve the feat was Delightful Lady (1980 and 1981).

The only Australian horse to contest the race in recent years was Gammalite. He scored a gritty victory in 1982. Quite Famous, also from Victoria, has made a big impression since he arrived early in the week. He obviously is a high class pacer and, although drawn a little wide (No. 7), he is confidently expected by his connections to give a good account of himself.

Borana will have a big following. He was a close and fast-finishing third in the Chardon Handicap and three starts back, in his previous appearance at Alexandra Park on December 30, he was only a fifth of a second outside the track record when he won the Benson and Hedges Flying Mile in 1:58.4.

Borana will be trying to pull off the difficult New Zealand Cup-Auckland Cup double in the same season. The last horse to do so was Sole Command in the 1977-78 season.