Miagi Has Cup At His Mercy
Since it’s inception in 1980, the Chariman’s Cup has unearthed some talented stayers.
Sarah Bale, Swazi Flash and Miss Cruise are just three quality stayers which ‘found their staying legs’ in Cup heats.
Tonight at Wentworth Park, Maitland 565m record holder Miagi stared down National Distance Champion Flashing Floods in the third of three Cup heats and scored handsomely in a fast 42.51 secs.
After wresting the lead from Flashing Floods mid-race, he got away to score by 4-3/4 lengths from the Victorian star.
She safely held minor placegetter Jessica Nimbus for the Quinella position by another 3-1/2 panels.
Jessica Nimbus had been a conspicuous last in the early stages and her final 200m section must have been remarkable.
Earlier, Lalie secured the opening heat by a nose from a disappointing Red Dusk in a slow 43.33. Lalie led early on but Red Dusk found the rails mid-race to lead but seemed reluctant to forge clear. Before the home turn, the pair were locked in a pitched battle and Lalie prevailed in a deceptive finish. While the busting action was going on, Lyn’s Daisy, the $2.10 favourite, was making steady ground.
The post came all too quickly for Lyn’s Daisy, however, and was a half length away in third place.
The well performed Kibble Kruncha then overcame difficulties in a mixing affair to win the second heat by a nose from I Love Lucy while Victorian Kippy Kya – a placegetter in the National Distance final was another nose away in a steady 43.12.
Miagi then eased the judge’s workload in no uncertain manner.
The outing was only his second at the 720m trip and, after his racing career was threatened by a savage attack of a cattle dog in May, he is ready to fulfil his potential as the most exciting staying prospect in the land.
The son of Hallucinate, which, like his sire, spent his youth at Clergate in the care of Martin and Fiona Hallinan, has now won seven of 16 starts and the strike rate looks set to improve.
This Group 3 Cup is within grasp and the Sydney Cup at Wentworth Park follows later this month.
Thereafter, the Sir John Dillon Memorial at Sandown and the Hume Cup – both at Group 2 level – appear on the calendar.
Barring injury or another dalliance with a stray, Miagi will be the stayer by which others are measured for the remainder of 2007.
|