RACING Westport May Suit Mudlarks

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29016, 3 October 1959, Page 6

RACING Westport May Suit Mudlarks

Canterbury-trained mudlarks might find a welcome change in track conditions on the first day of the Westport Jockey Club’s spring meeting today. Westport had showery weather yesterday, and the track will be little better than easy.

The latest form of most of the horses engaged today has been shown on firm and fast tracks in Canterbury, but changed conditions will, •in most cases, lengthen the lists of possibilities. A soft track might brighten the chances of Canon, Appreciate, Prince Filou and Nehru in the Licensed Victuallers’ Handicap, the first leg of the double. Betting might be fairly well spread over this field, but the light-weight Royal Halyard will probably hold his place as one of the most favoured candidates. Tintagel and Corowa may be the pick of the field for the Colvin Hack Handicap, the second leg of the double. There will be strengthened support for Corowa now there is no likelihood of a hard track. This Riccarton-trained Coral Arc gelding was not taken south for the second day of the Dunedin meeting because a hard track seemed likely. He has developed his best form when he has had easy footing, and beat some smart hacks ovei nine furlongs at the Grand National meeting on a rainaffected track. Buller Stakes

The Buller Stakes No. 1 lost a form runner yesterday when Roa was scratched, but this Orari winner is still in the field for the Buller Stakes No. 2.

Solaris,’ runner-up to Roa at the Geraldine meeting, is now likely to be a strong favourite for the Buller Stakes No. 1. Northwood, another double acceptor, will run in the Buller Stakes No. 1. He has been sixth in his last two races and could be one of the improvers. Northwood’s stablemate Kent was scratched yesterday for the Scanlon Hack Handicap; he was not taken to Westport. The Scanlon Handicap favourMelody. She earned that position after her second to Abou ite will probably be Hunting Ben Adhem over seven furlongs at Orari on Monday. M. R. Jones, w’ho trains Hunting Melody, will saddle one of the fastest hack sprinters in the Roche Hack Handicap. The stable representative in that race w’ill be Galina, which showed smart form as a two-year-old last season.

South Canterbury representation will be strengthened by London Tower, a winner on her home track on Monday.

Riccarton's best will probably be Montreux. This Oman mare has been rather unlucky in her last two races.