RACING Analysis Of Form For Double At Riccarton

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28552, 3 April 1958, Page 4

RACING Analysis Of Form For Double At Riccarton

North Island splinters are very much in a minority in the £2OOO Great Easter Handicap at Riccarton on Monday hut where there is class backed by recent form—and Monogram and Equal Terms have both—(hey are at no obvious disadvantage.

The form background Terms will have a big infli the Canterbury Jockey Cli the opening of its autumn

In a field consisting only of South Island horses, the Riccar-ton-trained Cheyenne would probably be a pronounced favourite. As it is, he may be supplanted by Equal Terms, whose brilliantly easy win at Awapuni last Saturday was regarded in the north as a winning Great Easter trial.

The Great Easter takes on additional interest because it is the first leg of the traditional double with the Great Autumn Handicap.

If all the stars of the field fulfil their engagements the class in the Great Autumn will be stronger than it has been for some years. Ark Royal. Liban, Shoal, Teaka, Cornflake—these and others in a field of 17, have made their mark on metropolitan courses and in the strongest available company. Teaka is trained at Riccarton, and has achieved the unusual by being unbeaten in his three starts on his home course this season. He became one of the stars of the last New Zealand Cup meeting by winning the Fendalton and Metropolitan Handicaps, his only two races there. And he has since won the Midsummer Handicap. Liban has campaigned successfully from Wyndham to Trentham this season, and Ark Royal and Shoal were two of the outstanding winners at the Dunedin Cup meeting.

Ark Royal ran right up to his best form in winning the James Hazlett Gold Cup. His return to form has heightened interest, and increased confidence, in his attempt to win his second Great Autumn Handicap. Shoal is this season's Dunedin Cup winner, and when Cornflake campaigned at Riccarton last November he showed mastery of a mile and a half in beating all but Teaka in the Metropolitan Handicap.

Drum Roll, from Wanganui, and Money-Go-Round, from Riccarton. put strength into the bottom half of the handicap. A win for either of them would not be anything in the nature of an upset. Form for the double is analysed below.

GREAT EASTER HANDICAP, Of £2OOO. Seven furlongs.

’OOO MIGHTY DOLLAR (17). 9-2 Won Stewards’ Handicap and was third in Churchill Stakes on last campaign at Riccarton.

Is of Monogram and Equal uenee on betting on one of lib’s major attractions for meeting. Has failed in three starts since his second to Liban in Wyndham Cup. Weakened to fifth, last start,, in James Hazlett Gold Cup. Will take beating if at his best. 1043 MONOGRAM (8), .9-o—Won decisively over this distance under 8-2 at Trentham in February. Third with 8-13 in Suburban Handicap (Royal Crescent Ist), and 4th in North Island Challenge Stakes at Wellington autumn meeting. Solid reqord commands respect. 240 MAGIC CARPET (16), 8.6. Twice placed in three starts on present campaign. Has heen slow beginner from open barrier but could be faster from starting gate. Runs his races out strongly. 0000 SKYLIGHT (9), 8-6.—Has done nothing of note since winning over 6f at Wingatui in December. Form haixily looks • good enough. 1141 EQUAL TERMS (4). B.s.—Brilliant Woodville-trained galloper only twice beaten in eight starts. Won Wanganui and Hawke’s Bay Guineas earlier this season, and made successful fresh start at Awapuni last Saturday when he was much too good for the other sprinters. 0011 PACK DRILL (6), 8-4.—Recap-tured best form to win both main middle distance handicaps at«Oamaru autumn meeting. Task much more difficult here. 4411 PURSER (5), 8-2.—Won decisively in weaker company at Wingatui and Motukarara at last two starts. Could take beating here if he has held his form. Has won on soft tracks. 1132 CHEYENNE (14), 8-2.—One of the most brilliant newcomers to open company in the South Island this season. Won Craven Plate at Riccarton in February. Record since is one win, one second, and an unlucky third at Trentham. 2201 MY FRIEND (10), 8-I.—lmprov-ed on long string of minor placings with win over 61 at Oamaru last week. In much stronger company here. 1000 KEEP TIME (1), 8-o.—Only once successful in 16 starts this season. Will find the class troublesome. 0020 PALACE (19), 7-11.—Runner-up to Grey Light over 7f at Oamaru two starts back. Failed over Um, on second day at Oamaru. 0001 RISE AND SHINE (20), 7-10.— Has not raced since easy win over 7f at Rangiora in January, but usually goes well fresh. Has brilliant early speed and should be well in the picture from the start. 1210 SALONICA (21), 7-s—Easy winner two starts back over 7f at Wingatui. Latest failure was on easy track at Beaumont. 3030 SARCELLE (13) 7-2.—Did not get good run in W.R.C. Thompson Handicap at her last start. Fast finisher for 3rd to Bamboo and Marie Brizard in Balmoral Handicap at Trentham in February. Could be troublesome light-weight if track is firm. 0000 PRINCESS NEPTUNE (11) 7-2. —No appeal on latest form, at Oamaru. 1003 WHIOHAU (15) 7.l.—Latest win was over Ilf. at Motukarara. Last start third was over lUm at Oamaru. No form as sprinter. 1112 UONDON (7) 7-o.—Recaptured best form to win double against hacks at Cromwell, and then a hack sprint at Wingatui. Runner-up to The Wanderer over 6f at Beaumont last week. 1103 AQUARIUS (12) 7-o.—Stronog finisher for 3rd in mile highweight at Oamaru last week. Won his last two races in the lower grade. 1032 POST (3) 7-o.— Unlucky not to win at least once against hack sprinters at Oamaru. First test in open class. 0323 RED ELM (2) 7-o.—Promoted hack with background of placed performances on West Coast. May find the class too strong. Scratched: Brianbra. GREAT AUTUMN HANDICAP, Of £2OOO. One mile and a half. 2401 ARK ROYAL (12) 9-3.—Re-captured best form to win, last start, James Hazlett Gold Cup al Wingatui. Won this race as a three-year-old two years ago 3100 LIBAN (17) 8-11.—Won Wellington Racing Club Handicap, Hain, under 8.4 in January. Teka (8.4) 2, Great Scott (8.12) 3. Time, 2.28» a , a race record. Failed on easy track in W.R.C. Summer Hep. Laststart 1 allure was in St. James’s Cup. Carried 8-11. Bali Ha’i 1, 3410 SHOAL ‘ (5) B.lo.—Brilliantly won Dunedin Cup under 8.6 J two starts back. Bruised foot was probably responsible for weak run on second day of meeting. Has ' worked well. 1200 TEAKA (6) 8-10.—Failed on rain-affected track at Trentham at last start. Has outstanding dry-track form at this distance. Likely favourite. 1100 MOTUEKA (2) 8-7—Latest wins were at Walkouaiti and Oamaru in January. Fell, last start, at Motukarara. Must be taken on trust at I’fcm. 2210—DESERT CLOUD (10) 8-7. Raced below her best at Oamaru. Winner over Ilf. at Wingatui under 8-6 two starts back. 0200 TOPAROA (9) 8-2.—Fast-finish-ing sth under 8-9 over Um. at Oamaru last Saturday was fair Great Autumn trial. Veteran, but wearing well 0400 CORNFLAKE (11) 7-10.— Showed his mastery of this distance in running 2nd to Teaka in Metropolitan Handicap at Riccarton in November. Chance will be brightest if track is firm. 4222 DRUM ROLL (7) 7-9.—Consist-ent Wanganui-trained Dogger Bank gelding. Fourth over this distance in Wanganui Cup and runner-up in three middle distance races since. 4000 TAMARISK (14) 7-s.—lm-provement would be needed on latest performances at Oamaru to give him a winning chance in stronger company here. 3402 ROYAL HALYARD (13) 7-3. Just caught by Pack Drill In Gardiner Memorial at Oamaru last week. Fast-finishing 4th in Dunedin Cup. l’ 2 m, two starts earlier. Racing consistently and could be troublesome lightweight. 3304 MONEY-GO-ROUND (15) 7-1. —Will be one of strongest lightweights if she has held her form since her campaign at Trentham. Had two starts there for sth in Autumn Hep., 2m, and 4th in President’s Hep., Him. 1032 LADY VERONA (3) 7-o—Fair race for 2nd to Black Star in mile high-weight at Oamaru. Latest win was against hack milers at Wingatui. 1000 SEADUNE (1) 7-0 Won double against hacks at New Zealand Cup » meeting. Has mastered fim. 000 SAUNTER (4) 7-0 No appeal on form shown this season. 2100 NEPTUNE’S PRIDE (J 6 7-0 Latest win was over Ilf in hack staying race at Trentham in February. Well beaten in W.R.C. Autumn Hep., his first test in open company. 0100 COIN’S EDGE (8) 7-o.—Suc-cessful m February. Last-start failure was against the sprinters at Motukarara. Bracket: Motueka and Tamarisk. )