Racing: Giovana bows out but Northerly still faces tough Cup opposition

By MIKE DILLON

Giovana has been scratched from today's A$1.25 million ($1.52 million) Australian Cup and been retired.

The high-class New Zealand mare developed a raging temperature at Roger James' Melbourne stable on Saturday and had not recovered sufficiently yesterday to be considered for a start at Flemington today.

"It's a huge shame because her work on Saturday morning was fabulous," James said last night.

Giovana had been transferred to James' care for the last two races of her career, today's group one feature and the A$1 million Tancred Stakes in Sydney.

"She had settled into Melbourne far quicker than on any previous trip to Australia and had been doing everything right," said James.

"We took a blood off her on Friday and it showed a slightly elevated white blood cell count and obviously after her gallop on Saturday morning that problem got a lot worse."

Owner Carol Marshall was left with no option but to retire Giovana once the decision was made to scratch today.

The Tancred is over 2400m and without today's 2000m Giovana could not hope to go into that race fully prepared.

She missed the $100,000 Lion Red Stakes at Ellerslie last Saturday week because of unsuitable rain-affected track conditions.

"Do you know, I'm almost relieved," Marshall said yesterday.

"I was thinking about her four group one wins the other day and how I've been on edge since her Thorndon Mile win at Trentham."

James said he was more disappointed than Marshall.

"I think she would have run a big race."

Marshall trained Giovana in New Zealand and James prepared her for the Australian campaigns, winning the Queensland Oaks with her.

Giovana will be served by Fusaichi Pegasus in the spring.

James is now concentrating on Piper Star, one of three mares in the 11-horse cup field which is dominated by Australian champion Northerly.

Caulfield and Melbourne Cup champion Ethereal is trying to emulate the great Let's Elope, who won both those races in 1991 and the Australian Cup in 1992.

Umaline makes up the female contingent but not since Dane Ripper four years ago has a mare won the race.

Piper Star lost none of her admirers when she finished a fighting three-quarter-length third to Northerly and Old Comrade in the St George Stakes last Saturday week.

"It was a huge run last week and, to be fair, Northerly probably saved two or three lengths getting the rails run he got," James said. "It was a big lift in form for her."

It is up to Ethereal and Cent Home to represent New Zealand against Northerly, who brilliantly won last year's Australian Cup before toppling Sunline in the Cox Plate.

Trainer Sheila Laxon is aware of what she sees as the enormity of the task facing Ethereal.

"She has trained on well and I'm delighted with her, but facing horses like Northerly at weight-for-age at 2000m we're really up against it.

"One of the 3-year-olds is certain to really put the pace on early and if they do, Ethereal is going to get a long way off them.

"A fast pace can often suit back runners. It presents them with a chance to run over the top of the leaders, but because of the calibre of the field, they may not come back to us as much as you might think."

Laxon and rider Scott Seamer feel the race to suit Ethereal is the Tancred Stakes at 2400m.

Bart Cummings, already the trainer of 12 Australian Cup winners, has Ustinov, the 3-year-old son of his 10th Australian Cup winner, Let's Elope, as his representative. Only two three-year-olds have won in the last 20 years.

Northerly is the $2 favourite with Old Comrade and Royal Code at $7 and Ethereal at $9. Then come Piper Star and Ustinov at $13.