First Class.
Geoff Woodruff’s Tellina could get back to winning ways on Sunday
The R250 000 Gr3 London News Stakes has attracted a decent quality field over the Turffontein 1800m standside on Sunday. The great London News died in 2009 at the age of 17 after contracting cancer, but his memory lives on in the annals of SA turf history.
It will be a race of mixed emotion for his former trainer Alec Laird, who saddles the SA Derby dead heater Royal Bencher on Sunday. Royal Bencher may not have the current form or be in the same league as London News, but Laird will be keen to have an opportunity to get his hands on the trophy.
Great Horse
London News was a great racehorse. The son of Bush Telegraph won 11 races including five Grade 1s, notably the 1996 Durban July and the following year’s Queen’s Plate and J & B Met,but it was his win in the 1997 Queen Elizabeth II Cup in Hong Kong that marked him apart.
He smashed the 2000m track record at Sha Tin and in the process became one of the comparatively few South African-bred horses to win at the top level on the international stage at that time.
London News was then transferred from Alec Laird to Barry Hills.
He ran at Royal Ascot and finished third to Bosra Sham in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes but disappointed behind Alhaarth when sent to The Curragh for the International Stakes.
Back To Laird
He rejoined Laird on his return to South Africa where he won the Drill Hall Stakes before being retired to stud. He was twice horse of the year.
Laird said: “London News was a very professional horse to train. He was well-mannered and did the job. On occasion he wouldn’t do his best on the gallops – he would save himself for the racecourse.
“He was a good traveller. He fulfilled my initial dream by wining the Durban July and then went beyond that by winning in Hong Kong. “
London News stood at the Cheveley Stud of the late Wilfred Koster who bred him and was champion first-season sire.
Quality Field
A field of twelve line up on Sunday, with Geoff Woodruff and Weiho Marwing appearing to hold the upper hand.
Marwing sends out the topweight Wylie Hall. The son of Redoute’s Choice won the SA Derby last year and returns here after a break following the Summer Cup, where he ran on for a 4,25 length sixth behind Yorker.
Woodruff, who will be aiming for a big day at Kenilworth on Saturday has an obviously big say with both Tellina and the recently consistent Killua Castle big runners.
Tellina ran third in the Summer Cup and meets Wylie Hall on 5kgs worse terms than in the Summer Cup, where he finished three lengths to the good.
King Of The Castle
It may be significant that Glen Hatt travels to Gauteng Cape Town to partner the son of Silvano.
Robbie Fradd rides the recently smartly improved Australian bred gelding Killua Castle, who has been finishing his races off well. He is a versatile sort who goes well on the sand and the turf.
Improved as a 4yo, Killua Castle looks far better than a three time winner and will appreciate a solid pace.
Piere Strydom rides the 2013 Victory Moon Stakes winner Tiger’s Retreat for Sean Tarry.
The son of Tiger Ridge ran a poor race in the Summer Cup, and now needs to show character and bounce back from that below par effort.
The rest do not inspire too much confidence, but an upset is not beyond the realms of possibility.
