Racing: Buzz Lightyear shows his class

By MIKE DILLON

Buzz Lightyear did his owner Terry Jarvis the favour of the century in scoring a dashing win in last night's $150,000 group one Bayer Classic at Levin.

The straight-shooting Jarvis was irked going into the feature that Buzz Lightyear was not receiving the rating he deserved.

In one of the most emphatic statements possible, Buzz Lightyear left his rivals struggling to race clear in the home straight.

"I think the press have been tough on him," said Jarvis. "He's a lot better than he's been given credit for."

Opie Bosson, more animated than after any of his feature wins, agreed.

"A lot of people have underrated his ability to last 1600m, but he gives that impression because he gets lost in front on his own in the late stages of his races."

That was definitely the case yesterday. Buzz Lightyear looked like winning by a wide margin when he exploded clear, but the brakes went on when he lost concentration at the 175m and Bosson was made to work harder for his winning riding cheque.

The remarkable finishing burst by runner-up Domero was one of the features, but it was made to look even better with Buzz Lightyear putting himself in coast mode.

Ten minutes before the race Buzz Lightyear was promoted to favouritism ahead of Ambitious.

It looked like a match race developing when Ambitious trailled Buzz Lightyear to the home turn but Michael Coleman was quickly hard at work on the filly, who dropped out of contention in the run up the straight.

Coleman was not happy afterwards.

"She was badly tightened against the running rail for five or six strides coming to the home turn and never recovered.

" I don't know if she was going to kick and go out after Buzz Lightyear in the straight or not, but she was never given the chance.

"I had to dig her hard to maintain her spot and it took the stuffing out of her. She came back with white paint down her side from being jammed against the rail."

Greatthings Happen finished third ahead of Ambitious' stablemate Idol.

A huge disappointment was Bocelli, who was under pressure to maintain his forward position as far out as the 800m. He was dropping away and well beaten before the home turn.

If Jim Campin is disappointed at losing the racing services of top mare Emerald, he knows stablemate Hero is still capable of winning big money.

With a sensational performance, the volatile and remarkable Hero defied his 59kg topweight and the opposition in a tough race to lead and win the $25,000 Levin Stakes.

There can not be one race fan left who doubts Hero is the best 1400m horse in the business. Yesterday's win was his ninth from 11 starts at the distance.

Emerald injured a leg in the $A500,000 Sandown Classic in Melbourne and Campin has retired the mare to be mated with his stallion Deputy Governor.

Hero, not for the first time across the Tasman, could not find his best form, beating only one home on the same day at Sandown.

"Yes, it has disappointed me he hasn't got the same sort of record in Australia," admitted Campin yesterday.

On his effort to defy Tall Poppy, carrying 4.5kg less, through the entire home straight yesterday, Hero would win outstanding money in Australia if he could find his form.