The Age from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia • Page 22

22 THE AGE, Friday 3 May 1991 Sport Age Staying on the rails is a sure way to have a winning day the 'Bool 1 BRENDAN MOLONEY they got off early. After that most people dozed until tbe train pulled into Spencer Street at 9 pm. It was a good way to go to the races, and excellent value. Fourteen hours elapsed between boarding yesterday morning and alighting last night Transport to one of the state's farthest-flung tracks, unlimited chicken and champagne for breakfast and a day at a race meeting that has been conducted for 119 years all this and the guy In the next seat actually waking up when we got back worked out at $4 an hour. So I went.

It was cold and wet when the train pulled out of Spencer Street Station ahead of the commuters at 7 am. If the crowd was going to turn ugly, it would have to do it when the two gun-toting policemen and the railway security guard were not looking. And it would be a remarkable transformation on the part of the passengers, who seemed to be evenly divided between pensioners having a day out and young clerks taking a sickle. The threat died completely in the club car where the chicken arid champagne were served. There were two good things about the club can one, smoking is not banned; and two, the young clerks stood up and gave their seats to old ladies.

The Great Western flowed freely all the way to Warrnambool but none of the pensioners wanted to start a fight and the worst thing the boys did was to start a card game with no money on the table. Instead of waiting for a brawl to erupt, the three-and-a-half-hour trip passed in pleasant reverie as wise another three minutes after that The outcome of the Diabetes Australia Grand Annual was a dream result for the sponsors. Last year's winner, 11-year-old Commission Red, won by a handsome margin and his trainer, 78-year-old Jim Houlahan, told the crowd that he was a diabetic. Returning to the big smoke was dull for the most part. A bevy of drunken girls tried to liven things up by screaming, shouting and making passes at any males who walked by them to the bar, but the towns Geelong, Winchelsea, Colac, Camperdown and Terang slowed us down and the countless miles of beautiful, old Western District stone fences flew by.

It was travelling back in time. There have been horse races in Warrnambool since 1847 and the Grand Annual dates back to 1872. Apart from the history, it holds the distinction of having 33 fences In its 5S00 metres, more than any other race In the world, including the English Grand National at Aintree. 2 Nr. i Z' Maetlepiece romp raises EaMg hopes Gup if of major win "Whatever you do, doo't take the race train to Warrnambool," warned colleagues who elected to drive down to the Grand Annual Steeplechase yesterday.

"It is certainly no place for a lady," said one. "It's OK if you don't want your front teeth," added another. "Chicken and champagne breakfast and admission to the course for $56," said the VLine advertisement in 'The Age' last Saturday. Surely it could not be that bad. In the words of Kenny Rogers, if you know when to walk away and Fraser it safe Australian Davis Cup captain Neale Fraser took no risks yesterday, naming Richard Fromberg and Wally Masur as the singles players for Australia's Davis Cup quarter-final against France, which begins today.

But France's non-playing skipper, Yannick Noah, sprang a surprise with the selection of talented youngster Fabrice Santoro as his No. 2 singles player at the expense of Henri Leconte. Santoro, ranked 66th in the world, has been in fine clay form, while Leconte has been troubled by a knee injury. Two weeks ago, even France's debutant Davis Cup player, Cedric Pioline, defeated Leconte on his favorite surface. Mark Kratzmann and Todd Woodbridge were named as Australia's doubles pairing, after the withdrawal of Pat Cash with a knee injury.

Masur, at 27 the oldest member of the team, will open play today on the red clay court In the southern French town of Nimes against French No. 1 Guy Forget, currently ranked fifth in the world. Clay-court specialist Fromberg will then take on Santoro. The quarter-final is being staged in an old Roman amphitheatre occasionally used for bull-flgltting. Fromberg said yesterday that Davis Southern rallies to victory By MICHELLE BROWN New Southern import Chad Tucker led the way to a much-needed victory for the Saints over Illawarra at the Glasshouse last night, 122-116.

The ghost of last week's debacle looked to be haunting Southern again last night before three successive field goals from Tucker early in the final quarter put the team back on track. The Saints squandered a 14-point lead in the third quarter as the Hawks' Justin Withers, Patric Fairs and Norman Taylor stepped on the accelerator. Taylor once again was Immovable in the key and his teammates shot from range to leave Southern stranded in defence. Illawarra outscored Southern 35-24 in that period, with only four Saints hitting the scoresheet. Illawarra started the final quarter in similar vein.

Southern was trailing by eight points before Tucker's hot hand changed the momentum. Tucker had struggled from the field until then. By half-time he had shot only 36 per cent from the floor, but was deadly from the foul line and, thankfully for the Saints, he ended up there quite often. Simon Kerle also showed composure at the foul line, landing seven of eight free throws to finish with 11 points for the final quarter. Saints coach Gary Fox took great satisfaction from the win, his team now posting a 4-2 win-loss record.

"I don't know if we are back at our top, but we're on the way." know when to run, the worst thing that could happen would be the guy in the next seat bludging a drink and then dying in his sleep after offering gratuitous advice about gambling. plays in he relished the role of underdog, and that he believed Australia could upset the clear favorite. The Tasmanian, 21, who is still Australia's highest-ranked singles player at 34, despite a recent layoff to recover from a virus, made his Davis Cup debut with impressive displays in last year's final against the United States in Florida. He led Andre Agassi two sets to one before succumbing in five on an indoor clay court in St Petersburg. In January he won both his singles as Australia whitewashed Belgium in Perth.

"I think the conditions will be similar to those we had against the US," said Fromberg. "We are not expected to win and, being the underdogs, there is no pressure." In 1990, Fromberg won two grand prix titles on clay at Bas-taad and Bologna and rose to a high of 24 in the rankings. When the Australian squad was announced last month, he was ranked 32 in the world. Fraser, who has been critical of the condition of the hastily-laid court, also believes the underdog status could work in Australia's favor. "Not many people at home expect us to win," he said.

rm The race itself is amazing, made gruelling for beast and man by the distance 2300 metres longer than the Melbourne Cup the fences and a big hill in the course that has to be mounted twice. Given the fact that we were still In Victoria, it was startling to see the 13-horse field start racing from right to left in front of the grandstand. The horses did another clockwise pass about three minutes later and then the eight still with riders came down the home straight counter-clock-' STUART HANNAOAN v. 1 Iff -v. if .1 A i v-v, tip-off last night.

The Saints won Picture JA80N CHILD8 father Franz, a former Hajduk star. 4 ft By ANDREW EDDY Such is Robbie Laing's confidence that Mantlepiece can win him a major cup this spring, he has all but abandoned plans for the Adelaide Cup after seeing the horse bolt away with the Warrnambool Cup yesterday. Lalng said Mantlepiece would run In Adelaide in the $60,000 West End Export Stakes (2400m) and would then be spelled. "I have no doubt he can win an Adelaide Cup, but he's a 501 chance to start We have our eyes on the spring, especially the Caul-field Cup, if he keeps improving at the same rate," he said. Lalng said he did not want to take the chance that Mantlepiece might not yet be seasoned enough for the 3200 metres of the Adelaide Cup, and thus might ruin his chances for the spring.

He said Mantlepiece would have to improve five lengths to be a Caulfield Cup chance, but he expected him to do so. "Last spring, be was winning in good- -quality fields but had light weights. Now be is carrying big weights each time and he's winning just as easily." Mantleplece's win equalled Dandy Andy's 2200 metres course record of two minutes 14.9 seconds and he won with at least as much authority, having four-and-a-quarter lengths to spare over Rough Seas (92) with Favoured Boy (101) a short half-head away third. The victory was also a triumph for rider Kevin Forrester, who notched his fifth country cup this season. He won the Kilmore Cup on the same horse, the Moe and Kyneton cups on Gypsy Invader and the Sale Oil City Cup on Perfect Answer.

Hilt lllawarra's Patric Fairs, left, and Saints' Greg Stokes contest the second-half 122116. Star sons aim to make NSL final fathers' day Clarke seeks clue on SA cup mount Mantleplece's prizemoney Is now within a breath of $200,000, something the nine members of the Nar Nar Goon syndicate did not dream of when they took up the lease on the horse. Mantlepiece Is owned by the Ahern family of Pakenbam, who kept him as a yearling after he was passed in at sale when only a $5000 bid was. offered. Runner-up Rough Seas will press on towards the $300,000 Group 1 West End Adelaide Cup (3200m) on 20 May, in which he has just 49 kilograms.

Mantlepiece was allocated 55.5 kilograms for the cup when weights were released after the running of the Warrnambool Cup. Jockey Harry White summed up the feelings of the large crowd yesterday after his desperate ride to win on Economy (118 favorite) in the Tattersalls Handicap (1400m). After local trainer Jim Cerent's death on Sunday, the crowd had been hoping for a win from the Cerchi stable over the three days, but had to wait until the 26th race of the carnival. "It would have been a real bugger to have got beaten," said White, a close friend of Cerchi. "I came here to win a race for Jim, and we did." White was emotional after the race and said that in the straight he had heard the crowd roar for Economy.

"I thought it was the Melbourne Cup. You only rarely ever hear a crowd during a race." Bill Cerchi, a son of Jim Cerchi and a trainer In his own right saddled up the horse yesterday. "That was a big relief," he said. Of Cerent's 14 children, II were present to greet Economy when he returned to scale. treated with 2.5 more, considering that success was one of four wins since those weights were declared.

He also finished second in the Caulfield Cup with 56 kilograms. Hayes said last night he was satisfied with the weights of his three cup hopes. Peter Hutchinson would ride Water Boatman and Darke would have his choice of the others. "We'll know more about Crusade King's chances after Saturday," Hayes said. Formerly trained In New South Wales, the gelding has raced once beyond 2000 metres, running second to Pabulum over 2400 metres at Randwick last November.

Hayes also will attempt a first-up win with King's High In the $201,150 SGIC Goodwood Handicap (1200m) on 18 May. King's High, who has 55 kilograms in the. Goodwood, galloped brilliantly-between races at Balaklava on Wednesday. contracts telecasts ing every precaution to get the wording of the contracts absolute- ly right" Johnson said. The race club executives and Country Racing Council officials met on Wednesday, and Johnson spoke yesterday with Channel 9's Lynton Taylor, who Is handling negotiations for Sky Channel.

Johnson said the clubs wanted' some additional changes to the wording of the contracts, which now had gone back to Sky Channel's solicitors. "I wouldn't like to guess when the telecasts are likely to begin, but once the contracts are signed, they can start straight said. The VRC also Is discussing, with Channel 10, the coverage of this year's Melbourne Cup carnival. It seems certain tbat Ten, which cut back its racing telecasts last year as a result of financial will retain the four-day carnival. I 0 I 4 Croatia's Andrew Marth with his They have their own language and games that determine their security, status and salary.

The Public Service. Are they the bunglers many think they are, or is that old image totally unfair? What do they actually do and who will survive the latest round of Government cuts. Don't miss the special feature in this week's Sunday Age. PLUS Children and sport -a special series. Sunday trading: what is going on? By TONY BOURKE Michael Clarke will have a clearer Idea of his Adelaide Cup mount after he rides promising stayer Crusade King in the Australian-American Association Handicap (2600m) at Remington tomorrow.

Clarke has the choice of Crusade King or stablemate Frontier Boy, a winner at Moonee Valley last Saturday, in the $300,000 West End Adelaide Cup (3200m) at Morphettvllle on 20 May. Crusade King, a four-year-old by Sir Tristram, has had four starts for three wins and a second since joining David Hayes' stable a few months ago. He has 51 kilograms In the Adelaide Cup compared with 55.5 kilograms In tomorrow's race. Frontier Boy has 52 kilograms In the Adelaide Cup. Hayes also has the topwelght Water Boatman, on 57 Water Boatman won the cup last year with 54.5 kilograms and certainly does not look badly Hitches in delay race By TONY BOURKE The Sky Channel coverage of the Monday and Friday race meetings in Victoria has been delayed again and the parties Involved are not prepared to predict just when the telecasts might begin.

The contracts were expected to be finalised this week, allowing the telecasts to begin almost immediately, but matters have still to be resolved. The VRC has been handling negotiations with Sky Channel on behalf of the three city race clubs and the Country Racing Council. VRC chief executive Rod Johnson said yesterday he had expected the Monday and Friday telecasts to begin at least "two or three weeks "It has become a very complex Issue Involving Sky Channel's long-term agreements with the race clubs, and both sides are tak Melbourne WTHE SUNDAY ACE' By LAURIE Horse racing Australian Hudson Famechon It Is In tbat a So It Is history since tbe between King's School J88I. At Olympic time-honored Marth and memories on Melbourne League Hans Manny midfielder defender and winger Hans Imposing awesome Wilhelmlna, and Hollandla IS years George Australia bis son, he Manny IH4 before Franz Marth, with Lions to 17S. Andrew father's father's father's Only week that SCHWAB bas the Hayes dynasty, football the Silvagni and lineage and boxing had Andre and bis son John.

successions such as these sport's traditions are crystallised. In Australian soccer, whose, spans more than a century first recorded match the Wanderers and The In Sydney on 14 August Park on Sunday, three names Petersen, Tsolakls will evoke of past glories as fans urge Croatia and South Melbourne Hellas In the National Soccer grand inaL Petersen, Franz Marth and Tsolakls will be in the grandstand watching their respective sons Mike Petersen of Hellas, Andrew Marth of Croatia Peter Tsolakls of Hellas. Petersen, S3, still has the physique that made him an left winger with Ringwood Hakoab, George Cross of Brisbane for almost from 1158. He was In the Cross team that won the 1N4 Cup final S-2 against APIA-Lelchhardt at Olympic Park and, like represented Australia. Tsolakls, SI, won two championships with Hellas between lttt and Joining Trlestina, and St, was a fiery centre-half Hajduk, Rlchmond-Alle-mania, and St Albans from l5t Marth has Inherited his vigor, Mike Petersen bis skill and Peter Tsolakls his lack of height Manny Tsolakls was sure this Hellas would win the grand final.

Franz Marth was adamant that Croatia was superior. Hans Petersen had his doubts about Hellas despite Its heroic 1-t victory over Adelaide City in the preliminary HnaL While conceding that Hellas Improved significantly In that match, he felt the team had let itself down too often through lack of consistency and discipline. All three agreed that soccer was not what it used to be because skill, flair and Imagination had been replaced by aggression, and most teams were preoccupied with defence. "Soccer is about movement, accurate passing, teamwork and above all, attack," Petersen said. "At Wilhelmlna, each of us knew what we were going to do before it happened, we scored heaps of goals and the crowds of that era were between 1MM and "Now, most teams are too scared to attack In numbers In case of leaving gaps at the back but the fact Is that you have to attack In numbers to score consistently and to provide entertainment.

As tor playing against a team that Just wants to defend, Polonla showed us how to overcome that in the early ltMs. After attacking for a while, Polonla would Just ease up, give you the ball and let you think you were getting the upper hand. Then they'd kill you." Tsolakls said Hellas would win because it had Paul Trimboli, whom he described as the best player In Australia. Croatia's left winger, Joe Caleta, was the biggest threat to Hellas, he added. Franz Marth expressed admiration for Hellas' Paul Wade "a horse, a fighter." The respective sons will be acutely aware of their fathers' presence in the grandstand.

"I always hear dad's voice booming during a game," Andrew Marth said. "It's been Uke tbat since he was taking me to matches when I was six years old. We cant afford to lose. I wouldn't live It down." Doug Aiton talks to WHO WILL SURVIVE THE CUTBACKS? Ray Martin. the Sunday Age IT ALL MAKE SENSE.