FITZHERBERT HANDICAP

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28795, 16 January 1959, Page 4

FITZHERBERT HANDICAP

Bella Paola May Be Favourite

A ally that failed to attract a bid at the national sales a year sro, will probably be a solid favourite for the Fitzherbert Handicap at Trentham tomorrow.

This is Bella Paola, a daughter of Oman and the Red Mars mare. Marie.

Her Matangi breeder, Mr A. Meier, sent Bella Paola to the Takanini trainers, G. F. and G. W Smith, and she has won her last three races.

A filly with her record appears to be well in with 8-8. Last start she was much too good for other two-year-old Allies in the Goodwood Juvenile Stakes at Ellerslie on December 28. She carried 8-5, including 61b overweight, and won by two lengths and a half. One of the unplaced runners that day was Taj Beebe, which won the Great Northern Foal Stakes at her next start. Bella Paola is the only Auckland representative In the Fitzherbert Handicap. Awapuni will be strongly represented by Karina and Royal Mother. Karina is a brown by Knight’s Romance from Nigra, and is trained by T. H. Knowles. In her first of two starts at the Auckland Cup meeting she won the Midsummer Handicap, five furlongs. On the fourth day of the meeting she was runner-up to Wakatere over six furlongs in the Sylvia Handicap. Royal Mother has a victory over Karina on her record. That was over 5J furlongs at< Awapuni on December 27.

Royal Mother carried 61b less than Karina and won by a length. At level weights there should be little between them.

South Island representation will be left to Amazing, a smart Pictavia filly owned by Mrs M. H. Kirby, Lyttelton, and trained at Riccarton by C. C. McCarthy. Amazing has not escaped lightly in the weights for an easy win on the final day of the Dunedin Cup meeting. Amazing has 8-1 and win be giving away up to 81b to other winners.

This win be Amazing’s first test over six furlongs. She has good speed, and unless she has distance limitations, she should run well.

The stable apprentice, B. S. Dodds will ride Amazing.