28 January, 2003

Auckland A Facta

Rejuvenated veteran Facta Non Verba (pictured) will round off his Sky Channel Nights Of Glory preparation at Auckland this Thursday night.

The New Zealand Cup runner-up will only have to contend with five rivals when he comes from 50 metres behind in the 2700 metre handicap.

Booked to arrive in Melbourne next Tuesday, trainer Mike Berger has the spritely eight year old on target for a tilt at the SEW Eurodrive Victoria Cup on 8 February and the Carlton Draught Hunter Cup on 22 February.

No stranger to Moonee Valley, Facta Non Verba returns after crossing the Tasman to post three wins at headquarters in the winter of 2001.

Regular reinsman David Butcher has the reins in Auckland, but local champ Chris Alford, who handled Facta Non Verba in his last Melbourne campaign, will assume the driving duties during the Nights Of Glory.

Wilson Waits

Colourful New South Wales horseman Dennis Wilson is beaming after the first-up run of Cups aspirant Seelster Sam at Harold Park last Friday.

"That was the Sammy of old, he went very, very good", declared Wilson.

"He may have ran second, but they went very quick and he sprinted home well....I couldn't be happier."

The performance was so pleasing that Wilson has aborted plans to tackle this Saturday night's Casey Classic at Moonee Valley and will instead head straight into the SEW Eurodrive Victoria Cup on 8 February.

"That was original plan and I don't think there's a need to go to plan B after Friday's run", added Wilson.

Placed in last year's Carlton Draught Hunter Cup, Seelster Sam was first-up from a six week break in the Golden Mile after slightly disappointing efforts in the Miracle Mile and Treuer Memorial at his previous appearances.

Scheduled to arrive in Melbourne next Thursday, the open class speedster will be joined by boom stablemate Camlach - one of the colts to beat in the Metalcorp Victoria Derby on 15 February.