Summer Glow In Form For Summer Handicap

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28800, 22 January 1959, Page 4

Summer Glow In Form For Summer Handicap

(From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, January 21. . Summer Glow will be a firm favourite for the Summer Handicap, the first leg of the double, when the Wellington Racing Club concludes its three-day meeting on Saturday.

A good second in the Wellington Cup at her last start was possibly Summer Glow’s best form over a distance, although she won the Pahiatua Cup, of one mile and a quarter, and was placed in the CJ.C. Metropolitan Handicap, one mile and a half. Since last week Summer Glow has thrived and on form she should win. Resemblance, which lost second place to Summer Glow in a photo finish in the Wellington Cup, will again be her strongest rival.

Resemblance won the Summer Handicap last year and he is obviously returning to form after a lapse. This was indicated by his second at Hastings and confirmed by his Wellington Cup placing. The top-weight, Yeman, is an

improved horse since his cup fourth. If he starts; he should be in the finish. At present there is sorpe doubt that he will go to the post The track remains hard, and Yeman’s trainer. C. M. Jillings, is unlikely to start his horse unless there is rain. The weather at present is fine.

Disappointing Ballast was disappointing in the Wellington Cup and a better prospect this week might be Llanjsfalr which has run two good races at the meeting. Llanisfair was close up at the finish of the cup and near the lead till the last, furlong in the Wellington Racing Club Handicap only two days later. Canon did not get a Clear run in the Racing Club Handicap, his first start of the meeting. His finish for sixth was a feature of the race and showed that he was little if any below the handicap horses here.

Motueka is an improved horse after his race on Monday. This week he will be ridden by his usual rider, W. D. Skelton, who rode Compensate in the Racing Club Handicap, the Motueka ride in the race going to R. J. Skelton. W. D. Skelton has been associated with Motueka when he has run his best races, including his win in the CJ.C. Metropolitan Handicap. Sarcelle failed to run on in the January Handicap, one mile, on Monday. In that event she carried 8-13 and the minimum was 8-0. With a 7-0 minimum in the Summer Handicap, Sarcelle will carry 7-12 and the weight relief will be in her favour.

T he best two light-weights are Final and Happy Luca. Final was a good and fast-finishing fourth ip the Racing Club Handicap and if she can mount her run a little earlier this time she should be harder to beat.

Happy Luca will have her first race at the meeting, but her fourth and fifth at Pahiatua at her last two starts were achieved under difficulties and did nothing to dispel the belief that Happy Luca was a promising young handicap mare.

Lion Favoured in Spruit Lion will be a warm fancy in the City Handicap, the second leg of the double. He was virtually put out of the race when the gates of his stall failed to open in

the Telegraph Handicap last Saturday. It says much for his ability that, in spite of this, he would almost certainly have been in the money had he got through two furlongs from the finish. Lorica has run two useful races so far at the meeting. These were his first starts after a long spell so he can be expected to improve. Lorica is a specialist over six furlongs at Trentham. Pandex was another involved in the stalls fiasco in the Telegraph Handicap and she was travelling faster than any when she reached third place at., the post. The field this week is not as strong.

Bamboo fought on solidly for her Telegraph Handicap win and it is interesting to note 1 that flrstday winners which do not race again till the last day have a great winning record at their second starts at Trentham.

Cabpnne, pn the strength of a good trial on Tuesday, will also be well supported. Cabonne won the Eulogy Stakes at the Manawatu meeting and the Ladies’ Mile at Ellerslie but failed in the' Great Northern Oaks for which she possibly did not have sufficient of a stayer’s preparation. Minglow

Minglow was going well near the front till the crossing in the Telegraph Handicap, but dropped the bit and faded right out. She has done well since and is expected by her connexions to race more prominently this week. Baraden, which is 10 years old, has bhen a model of consistent running during the summer and a win for him would be well received. Sonella and Chattering are out and out speedsters and the better should be Sonella, which was a good fourth in the Telegraph Handicap. Fair Merit has a good reputation and will be having his first race at the meeting, On Auckland form, however, there might be little between Fair Merit and Shamrock Queen and the latter’s fifth and fourth at her two starts at the meeting were both good enough to suggest a good chance this week.