PRINCE FILOU PICKED IN REEFTON Ist LEG

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29021, 9 October 1959, Page 5

PRINCE FILOU PICKED IN REEFTON Ist LEG

The Riccarton-trained Prince Filou is the form horse for the County Handicap, main race and first leg of the double at the Reefton Jockey Club’s meeting tomorrow. Prince Filou will probably be favourite after his second to Appreciate at Westport on Monday.

That was one of his more encouraging races since he came to Riccarton to be trained by R. E Johnstone. But his best form earlier in his career was of a higher standard, and so he should not be past the improving stage yet.

the mile Westport Handicap by half a length on Monday. But another victory here on a higher scale of weights might be a little more than he can manage. Curtain Raiser will be having his first race on the circuit, but this will be his fourth start for the season. He has been runnerup in his last two races, the latest being behind Feleka over six furlongs on the first day of the Dunedin Jockey Club’s spring meeting.

The County Handicap distance is a mile and 150 yards. Prince Filou has 8-9 and is 171 b below the top-weight Appreciate, which was the star at Westport where he won two races.

Appreciate carried 121 b more than Prince Filou when he won

Curtain Raiser is eight, and is past the improving stage. But he might not go under easily in this field if the ground is firm. Uproar is a form horse in the bottom part of the handicap; he was third to Appreciate and Prince Filou last Monday. Others with chances if they race up to their best are Marsana and Looking Forward, both WaSh-dyke-trained gallopersReefton Hack Balance, a stablemate of Prince Filou, might be one of the stronger aspirants for Reefton Hack Handicap honours. This race is the second leg of the double. There could be some thinning out in the field because several candidates have earlier engagements. But this is Balance’s only engagement. Balance’s record at Westport was a third and a fourth, and before that he won as a hurdler at Wingatui. He seldom runs badly, and it will be surprising if he fails to run into one of the places.