Wharfie Max Says On With The Show
Sun Herald
Sunday February 12, 1989
SHOW County is the sort of horse Max Wiggins dreamt about years ago when he was waterside worker No2638.
"I was loading freezers and always felt how good it would be to have an outstanding horse," Wiggins declared.
For Wiggins, the trainer, that dream has come true in Show County.
Starting 6-1on, Show County produced a rare exhibition of speed to win the Kindergarten Stakes (1,100m) at Warwick Farm yesterday.
Show County scored by 2 3/4 lengths from Paris Opera, ridden by Mick Dittman, and recorded 1min 3.6s for the 1,100m.
It was half a second faster than Star Watch ran in the same event 12 months previously before he went on to win the Slipper.
"I think they'll be chasing him home in the big one," rival trainer Max Lees said after yesterday's race.
Lees trained Luskin Star - one of the Slipper's most impressive winners.
"He can improve a lot on what he did today," Lees added.
Dittman, too, is now a Show County fan.
"Show County beat Paris Opera by 2 3/4 lengths and could have found at least another length," Dittman said.
"Paris Opera began like a gazelle but Show County just cruised past him and put five lengths between us in what appeared to be 50m," Dittman said.
"It was the most impressive win by a two-year-old this season."
Wiggins will now run Show County in the Skyline Stakes at Canterbury on February 25, followed by the Pago Pago Stakes at Rosehill on March 11.
"I can't say just how much improvement the colt has but he will certainly get better and fitter than he was today," Wiggins said.
The trainer, only a battler, was overjoyed with the brilliance displayed by his charge, who cost only $20,000 as a yearling.
Mercury, a Tommy Smith candidate for the $1.68 million Golden Slipper at Rosehill on March 18, is valued at $4 million, so how much is Show County worth?
Show County has now won his only four starts and yesterday's success took his prize earnings to $200,500.
Jockey BRIAN WOOD allowed Show County to set a sizzling pace early, then gave him a rest approaching the turn. where Paris Opera moved to within three lengths of him.
Over the latter stages, Show County surged clear and was never in any danger of being run down.
Private clockers timed Show County to run the last 800m in 45.8s, while his final 400m was clocked at 23.92s.
This compared favourably with the 24.18s run by the older mare, Life At The Top, when she won the previous race, the Super Sunday Handicap, over 1,400m.
HORSE TO FOLLOW: SHOW COUNTY is improving with every run.
SHOW COUNTY 6-4: BEIRNE
IF the Golden Slipper was run at Rosehill tomorrow Show County would be 6-4 favourite and Melbourne filly Confederate Lady next at 9-4, according to former leading bookmaker Dom Beirne.
"Of course, it could change in coming weeks if Melbourne form is found to be stronger or weaker than Sydney," Beirne said.
Show County's final 400m time of 23.92s compared favourably with the 23.09s of Groucho, who won the Expressway Stakes after having a slow pace early.
© 1989 Sun Herald