The Sydney Morning Herald from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia • Page 39

SPORT Thursday, April 7, 1994 39 The Sydney Morning Herald JAp) TTJI If IX 7 A i -wlTV 'l The Sydney Kings are banking on speed in this year's NBL season, but heather smith feels that speed may not be enough. quarter-finals is a real advantage for us. Alan Black. SUMMARY: Only team in the league to remain unchanged. Black gets the best out of his players and no doubt they are looking to go a step further in the finals series this year.

MELBOURNE TIGERS starting five Ricky Grace. Trevor Torrance. Scott Fisher. James Crawford. Andrew Vlahov to have another good rear, but how successful we are will depend on our bench making a far greater contribution than they did last year." Adrian Hurley.

SUMMARY: The Wildcats will always be, a class side with the Fisher-Grace-Vlahov-Crawford quartet, and the addition of impressive rookies. Trahair and Bruton. has only boosted their chances. SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE MAGIC Darren Lucas. Shane Bright.

Sam Mackinnon. David Gra all earned him the League's Most Valuable Player award last year. Adelaide, coached this year by American Mike Dunlap, is an extremely well-balanced side with everything necessary to win tight matches. Experience in Mark Davis, Phil Smyth and Mike McKay blends effortlessly with youth in Matt Scalzi, Brett Maher and up-and-coming forward Chris Blakemore. The Wildcats are in the enviable position of having at least four game-breakers, in Ricky Grace, Scott Fisher, Andrew Vlahov and James Crawford.

Last year, Perth fell at the last hurdle, losing to Melbourne Tigers in the grand final series. But in the meantime, the club has picked up two rookies, CJ Bruton and Aaron Trahair, who threaten to take the League by storm. Already the teenagers are mature and well-rounded enough to play substantial minutes for the Wildcats. This is a huge relief for coach Adrian Hurley, who, with only a seven-player rotation, spent 1993 on a knife-edge. The Wildcats are the Herald's pick for the minor premiership this year, closely followed by the Super Sixers.

Brisbane, with the ageless Leroy Loggins, Sibley, imports Dave Colbert and Andre Moore, and solid guard Shane Heal again appeal as a top-four prospect. The Bullets finished fourth last year but were surprisingly eliminated in the quarter-finals. They can do better than that with their combined strength, mobility and scoring options. South East Melbourne are likely improvers during the season and are tipped to round out the top four. The Magic have once again lost centre John Dorge to injury until mid-season, but they have a promising line-up, which includes impressive youngsters in Sam McKinnon and Rupert Sapwell.

I -I i fly aO ft. II long way from top form and such queries may dissipate if they get on a winning roll. Leon Trimmingham, the import forward chosen by Sydney coach Bob Turner, is seen by some as a controversial choice. He has an incredible leap, good rebounding ability and some exciting moves around the basket, but at 202cm and 91kg, he's no animal. The Kings argue that centre Dean Uthoff (208cm, 119kg) and forward Mark Dalton (199cm, 118kg) add bulk, but neither is suited to a running game and are unlikely to be playing for long periods during a match.

Another factor which may be significant is the age of some key players. Uthoff is 35, Damian Keogh 32, Tim Morrissey 30 and Mark Dalton 29. What the Kings do have is a talented swing forward in Mario Donaldson, a new recruit in lanky forward Neil Turner, and a young prospect from the Australian Institute of Sport, Brad Williams, to add to their 1993 core of players. Turner is not about to speculate where on the ladder he thinks the Kings might finish this year, but he's sure of one thing his team will neither look nor perform anything like it did last year. At this stage it seems Perth and Adelaide are vying for top-of-the-table finishes.

Both sides are impressive on paper and in results so far. They stand out as title contenders because they have the magic ingredients match-winners. The Super Sixers' have guard Robert Rose, whose ability to do it Warrick Giddey, Ray Gordon. Andrew Gaze, Andrew Walter. 'Chris Anstey, Lanard Copeland (I).

David Simmons (I). Stephen Whitehead. Mark Bradtke. LAST YEAR: 3rd SMH PREDICTS: 5th WHAT THE COACH SAYS: "Unfortunately, we've lost Robert Sibley and you don't pull players like that out of a hat. It's very questionable whether we can do it win the title again.

We're a similar team now to 1992. A good team, but with weaknesses in the front line." Lindsay Gaze. SUMMARY: Will the Tigers have a hangover after their euphoric first NBL title in 1 993? Not with Lindsay Gaze at the helm. Problem could be in the frontline, but the Andrew Gaze factor never seems to lose impetus. NEWCASTLE FALCONS Paul Kuiper, Shawn Dennis.

Michael Johnson, 'Derek i Rucker (I), 'Tonny Jensen. sTfaJcon5Ss Grant Kruger. Martin J- McLean, 'Matthew Alexander. 'Michael Grant. Terry Dozier (I).

'Paul Simpson. LAST YEAR: 5th SMH PREDICTS: 8th WHAT THE COACH SAYS: "We feel very good about ourselves we have very good balance of experience and some good young players. Derek Rucker is a former MVP in this league and is a fine player. He's hungry to re-eastablish himself here." Tom Wisman. SUMMARY: It's a couple of years since Rucker played in the NBL but there's no doubt he has match-winning ability.

Retaining defensive giant Dozier was important. NORTH MELBOURNE GIANTS Mark Leader, Larry Sengs tock, Ryan Knights, 'Darryl McDonald (I). 'John Stelzer. 'Matthew Shanahan, Rod Johnson. Darryl Pearce, Pat Reidy, Paul Maley (I).

Paul Rees. LAST YEAR: 8th SMH PREDICTS: 9th WHAT THE COACH SAYS: "The Giants have a very good mix of experience and excellent young players like Pat Reidy and Rod Johnson. Darryl McDonald looks like he's going to be a fine acquisition for us. He's a great team player, and that's what we're about. Brett Brown.

SUMMARY: The Giants plan to play an up-tempo style of game this year, boosted by speedy import guard McDonald, who is apparently a master of the steal. A solid line-up with a talented coach in Brown. PERTH WILDCATS Eric Watterson, James Crawford. Chris Carroll. Martin PVtTH tvrtiir ix auanni.

irevor lorrance, BiULUJ Aaron Trahair. Ricky Grace (I). Andrew Vlahov. Scott Fisher (I), Jamie Baker, 'Calvin Bruton jnr. LAST YEAR: 1st SMH PREDICTS: 1st WHAT THE COACH SAYS: "I expect our fiMhn jb'' mm Do speed and mobility make up for less bulk and strength? The Sydney Kings will surely know by the end of the 1994 National Basketball League season.

The Kings have sacrificed their reputation as the biggest team in the League for greater athleticism this year, in the belief that a quick running game is the key to success. On Saturday against South East Melbourne Magic, in the first round of the NBL season, the Kings' strategy will face its first true test. The Kings are in recovery mode after an appalling 1993 season in which they won only 11 games from 26, lost nine of 1 3 games on the road, and endured a mid-year walk-out by import Ken McClary. Despite the club's post-season clean-out, the return of team principles, hard training and positive attitudes, a dramatic improvement in- Sydney's results won't come as a matter of course. The parity of the League is such that the Kings, like every other team, will have to put in a minimum 100 per cent effort to defeat even the last-placed team.

In the pre-season the Kings played 10 trial matches, winning four and losing six. It was a reasonable performance given the number of changes which have occurred in the team in a relatively short space of time. Against some sides, in particular Perth (during the McDonald's Classic) and Adelaide, the Kings were distinctly out-muscled, raising fears that they lacked a genuine power forward. However, the Kings are still a ADELAIDE SUPER SIXERS Chris Blakemore, Brett Maher. Phil Smyth.

Scott Ninnis. Mike McKay. Brett Wheeler, Tim Brenton, Rob-ert Rose (I), Matt Scalzi, Mark Davis (I), 'Andrew Sval-denis, Nathan Hawkes. LAST YEAR: 7th SMH PREDICTS: 2nd WHAT THE COACH SAYS: "We definitely have a good group but the question is staying healthy. We haven't had a full team practice yet.

Our strength is our depth we can rotate nine or 1 0. Plus there's balance of scoring." -Mike Dunlap. SUMMARY: A very solid outfit further improved by snaring of prize US import Rose, last year's Most Valuable Player. A moderately-sized team but one with considerable depth. Boasts great young Australian talent in Blakemore, Ninnis and Maher.

BRISBANE BULLETS David Colbert (I), Rodger Smith, Shane Froling, Shane in i i Heal, Luke Gribble, Leroy' ffq If HT Loggins, Blair Smith, Andre Moore (I), 'Robert Sibley, Ben Castle, Dirk Lommerse. LAST YEAR: 4th SMH PREDICTS: 3rd WHAT THE COACH SAYS: "We learned from Golden pi ham, 'Rupert Sapwell. 'Mike Kelly. Andrew Parkinsor Bruce Bolden (I). John Dorge.

Tony Ronaldson, Leign Wadeson. LAST YEAR: 2nd SMH PREDICTS: 4th WHAT THE COACH SAYS: "We wanted to make changes because we plateaued last year but we've kept a core there to keep us near the top four. We're going to run the ball this year and try and run the opposition around in circles in defence." Brian Goorjian. SUMMARY: Bolden keeps kicking on and Ronaidson is a big improver, altho jgh loss of Dorge is a blow. Youngsters McKinnon and Sapwell are very good.

New import is an unknown and has to fill a gap left by Rose. SYDNEY KINGS Dean Uthoff. Mark Dalton. si 'Brad Williams. John Blake, r-r 'Mario Donaldson (I).

Greg hIncs 'Jodie Austin. James Carr. 'Leon Trimmingham (I). 'Neil Turner. Tim Morrissey.

LAST YEAR 11th SMH PREDICTS: 7th WHAT THE COACH SAYS: "Our No 1 goal is to get back a team attitude and intensity. We have the talent and if we get the attitude right, we'll win games. We've made quite a few changes; it going to take time to reach our peak." Bob Turner. SUMMARY: A fresh start for the Kings, who bombed in 1993. Import Mario Donaidson Strengthens backcourt.

Trimmingham' is a worker and Neil Turner is a youthful alternative to the veteran Uthoff. Level of enthusiasm and dedication will go a long wav to determining where Sydney finishes. TOWNSVILLE SUNS 'Brendan Le Gassick, 'Cameron Dickinson, David Blades. Steven Boyd. Jason Cameron.

Darren Smith. Brian Andrews. Graham Kubank. Keiron Mitchell. Lucas Agrums, Ricky Jones (I), 'Jeff Warren i LAST YEAR: 14th SMH PREDICTS: 13th WHAT THE COACH SAYS: "This is our first legitimate year, from a coaching point of view.

Our preparation has been far better and there are greater expectations within the club. I don't see any reason why we can't make the final eight." Mark Bragg. SUMMARY: A developing club in its second year in NBL. Lacks depth and experience but second-year import Jones is a steadier. New American Warren has scoring, rebounding and defending capabilities.

'New recruit Import out of the industry, confidence has returned. Last night it the turn of Widden Stud to make its presence felt, providing the three-quarter sister to dual Gtoup 1 winner March Hare, which brought the session's top price of $370,000. Inglis acted as agent for the buyer of the filly, while the session also saw Sheikh Hamdan asure Australasian breeders that he would retain a strong Australian base when his bloodstock manager Angus Gold secured the three-quarter brother to the, former outstanding galloper Military Plume for $320,000. Sheik Rashid also returned to the venue where he collected Golden Slipper winner Bint Mar-scay in 1992, purchasing a Bletch-ingly colt from the American mare Snow Harbor, the yearling a full brother to Jack Denham's highly promising two-year-old this season. Vindicate.

The second session continued this year's trend where fillies were proving more popular than; the colts, averaging $74,566 compared to the males $68,504. MARTIN TALTY HOBART DEVILS 'Mark Nash, 'Marco Van Buuren, 'Ross McKinnon, the only Australian player with experience. Average player age is a mere 21. ILLAWARRA HAWKS Chuck Harmison, Craig DEVILS GEELONG SUPERCATS Everette Stephens (I). Justin Cass, Vince Hinchen.

'Jason Joynes, Ray Borner, Adrian Branch (I), David Spurling. Cecil Exum, 'Simon Kerle, 'Jared Eyles, 'Steve Lunardon. LAST YEAR: 12th SMH PREDICTS: 11th WHAT THE COACH SAYS: "We had two weaknesses that really glared in 1993 and they were a point guard and a back-up centre. We've got both of those now in Everette Stephens and Jason Joynes." Jim Calvin. SUMMARY: Interesting recruiting from Calvin makes for an intriguing side.

Stephens is all class and Joynes is apparently a much-improved player after several years in the US. A likely improver. Yearling sales recall heyday Rookie back on board and ready for the Oaks last year's play-offs that we needed strength and Rob Sibley is helping us a lot there. The players have all been on a weights program and are much stronger all-round." Bruce Palmer. SUMMARY: Moore, in his fifth season at Brisbane, is starting to look like a piece of the furniture but that doesn't lessen the team's quality.

Major addition is return of rejuvenated Sibley, while Loggins is irrepressible. GOLD COAST ROLLERS Mike Mitchell (I), 'Peter Har- vey, Rob Croker, 'Alex Mor- gan-Lowe, Frank Norton, peacock, Darryn Le Gassick. Matthew Reece, 'Tony De Ambrosis, 'Barry Goodwin, Peter Hill, Andrew Goodwin, John Szigeti, Andre La Fleur (I). LAST YEAR: 10th SMH PREDICTS: 12th WHAT THE COACH SAYS: "Last year was a comeback year for Mike Mitchell after his arm injury and now it's like he was never injured. We've still got a very young side, but it's gaining in experience.

Peter Harvey is a legitimate back-up for Andre La Fleur." Dave Claxton. SUMMARY: Typically youthful Rollers side. Ex-King De Ambrosis is looking for more court time, while energetic guard Harvey. jubilee RACDNG MAX PRESNELL "I crept through the bush, then practically crawled on my stomach to cross the track to get into the flat so that I could see Bobby race," Hickey then said. Hickey placed the wreath himself after his Army days and not even the AJC knew whence it came.

In 1984 he was deeply grieved by the manner in which the AJC was treating Phar Lap's headstone, which had originally been in California, but by then was at Randwick, "I have complained several limes to the AJC but nobody took any notice. I have watched people tread on the headstone and damage it many times," Hickey told Lillye. So again the Phar Lap champion took a hand. "He has placed the burial stone secretly on a beautiful marble base that formerly was plain brickwork and concrete, and lettered the inscription 'a noble horse' in gold," reatest love story formerly of Newcastle, adds zing. Mitchell and La Fleur need no introduction.

CANBERRA CANNONS 'Jason Reese (I), Lachlan Armfield, Michael Barlow, 'ffWl Simon Cottrell, Jamie Pearl-ttfri Xi" man, Cameron Barnes, Fred Herzog (I), Matt Witkowski. Adam Kendrick, Justin Withers, 'Lane Withers, 'David Close. LAST YEAR: 9th SMH PREDICTS: 10th WHAT THE COACH SAYS: "There's no doubt we're a much better balanced side than last year, when we lacked muscle in the paint. Reese gives us that and having Justin Withers back also helps." Barry Barnes. SUMMARY: Hard-working centre Reese is back after a year at North Melbourne and Close adds perimeter strength.

A fit Withers is vital. Team has no big names but will be well drilled by Barnes. for the Lillye was told by an AJC official, who went to see the condition of the stone after it had been leaked that changes had been made. Yesterday the wreath arrived by florist arrangement. No sign of Hickey.

"I believe he has moved to Western Australia," said Lillye, who was there at Randwick. Just a couple of points Phar Lap was known as "Bobby" to his strapper Tommy Woodcock and Hickey. He actually died on April 5, 1932, Calif ornian time. "But it was April 6 when we got the terrible news," Hickey told Bert. "I was at Fort Street School when the rumour started.

I began to run and did not stop until I reached The Rocks where we lived. "It was a long run down Grosvenor Street. I passed a newspaper poster on the way. The big type said 'He's dead'. Nothing else.

I kept running. At first I refused to believe that my big, beautiful Bobby was dead." Not really. Not while Noel Hickey is around to remind us about him. Jason White, 'Paul Crombie, Anthony Stewart, 'Calvin Tal-ford (I), 'Darren Perry. 'Lamont Middleton (I), Bruce Blair, Nigel Dunn, 'Darren Smith.

LAST YEAR: 13th SMH PREDICTS: 14th WHAT THE COACH SAYS: "We're lucky we've got a team at all. We're young and enthusiastic, although we're not really big. We've got to play smart and aggressive and that's why Darren Perry helps us in that regard." Bill Tomlinson. SUMMARY: A tough year is looming for this club, which only just managed to avoid going under in the off-season. Imports are an unknown quantity and Perry (ex Magic) is CRAIG YOUNG he'll make the most of it.

"They'll know he's back when I'm finished with him." By his 18th birthday, Evans had out-ridden his three kilogram claim in Melbourne and Hawkes brought him to Sydney when the trainer took the helm at Crown Lodge early last year. Prior to the Rosehill mishap, Evans was keenly sought in Sydney and was proving a bonus for owners and trainers, despite not being able to claim. Hawkes has high regard for Evans and the trainer is keen to launch the youngster straight back into the autumn carnival atmosphere. "I'm 95 per cent sure he'll ride Booked in the Oaks on Saturday," Hawkes said. Judging by her good second last Saturday behind highly-rated Oaks contender Seto Flowerian, Booked is not without a chance in the Group 1 $450,000 classic.

Evans has five rides at Wyong today. Meanwhile, at Randwick yes- HAWKS Adams. Matt Flinn, Butch Hays (I), Chris Steele. Dene McDonald. Marc Brandon.

Melvin Thomas (I), Mike Corkeron, Guy Brandon. Steven Vos. LAST YEAR: 6th SMH PREDICTS: 6th WHAT THE COACH SAYS: "A lot of our players last year were very young; we felt these people would make the step up this year. Chris Steele and Dene McDonald are two who we would be looking to score regularly for us. We're aiming for top four; hosting two games at the Snakepit in the terday, Glen Boss rode his 100th winner on all tracks since arriving in Sydney seven months ago.

The victory on Thrasher, backed from 15-2 into 11-2 favourite, also earned Boss a reprimand from AJC stewards. Paul Falvev, who rode the fourth-placed' Rhythm Review, lodged a protest against the third horse, Parramatta Road. But video footage showed Fal-vey had lodged his objection against the wrong horse. It was Boss who had allowed his mount to shift in. In dismissing the objection, stewards fined Falvey $200 for lodging a frivolous protest.

Had Falvey protested against Thrasher he would have had no chance of gaining the race but he certainly would not have been fined. Boss was immediately summoned and told his performance "wasn't good "We don't want to halt your winning run but you went about as far as you could go," chief stipe John Schreck told Boss. The jockey agreed. William Inglis Son last night enjoyed a touch of the boom days when high finance syndicates ruled, returning astonishing figures at the second session of their Australian Easter Yearling Sale at Newmarket While the million-dollar yearlings were missing, the average last night crept towards the enormity of the pre-recession boom times when the 77 lots sold at an average of $82,344. Last night's average lifted the overall figure at the end of the two days to $71,025, proving once again that the Easter Sale is the premier auction in Australasia and that confidence has certainly returned to the bloodstock industry in both Australia and New Zealand.

Corresponding figures released for the first two days last year were $48,980, with a second-day average of $57,216. The figures released so far this year are the highest since 1989, though that year's returns were helped by the influx of syndicates set up primarily for tax concession purposes. With the high financiers now A tradition that started in 1944 was maintained on the Phar Lap memorial at Randwick yesterday. The floral tribute read "Fondest memories, Bobby, Phar Lap, Died 6432, no other Back in 1982 colleague Bert Lillye unearthed one of the great mysteries of the Australian turf. Who was Phar Lap's greatest admirer? Lillye discovered that a wreath was first sent on Doncaster Day, 1944, when a private from the 213 Battalion in New Guinea sent a pound to the Sunday Telegraph sporting editor and requested him to send roses, frangipani and autumn leaves with the red, black and white ribbon, the colours Phar Lap carried to Randwick.

It was hung outside Randwick racecourse. This was continued over the next few years by friends while the Phar Lap fan was still in the Army and even on April 6, 1946, the tribute was left at Rosehill when the Doncaster was switched there. Lillye said the man responsible is Noel Hickey whom he met in 1982 when Hickey was 62. Top-class apprentice Michael Evans kickstarts his career at Wyong today while Randwick's big Sydney CupA JC Oaks meeting on Saturday awaits. Last November, the former Melbourne youngster was involved in a scary incident hen riding flighty two-year-old Cannibal King at Rosehill.

Cannibal King took a giant sidestep approaching the 200m and somehow Evans managed to stay on board although he was minus a couple of stirrup irons. Cooling down a short time later, it was evident that Evans had done some damage as he limped around the jockeys' room. But not even the 19-year-old could have imagined he would have been out for so long. Muscle damage to his back was the diagnosis, which required extensive physiotherapy. Trainer John Hawkes said Evans was now fit and ready.

"He has been riding trackwork for about three weeks and is keener than ever to get back into it," Hawkes said yesterday. "He is a top-class jockey for one so young and I have no doubt.