RACING OREKA FAVOURITE FOR N.Z. CUP

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29354, 5 November 1960, Page 6

RACING OREKA FAVOURITE FOR N.Z. CUP

21 Starters Expected In Riccarton First Leg The general opinion of trainers at Riccarton yesterday was that the Hawera stayer, Oreka, will be the one the others have to beat in the £5OOO New Zealand Cup today. When betting on the race ceases' the totalisator will probably confirm his favouritism. The New Zealand Cup, the first two-mile race for the season, will be the big attraction on the first day of the Canterbury Jockey Club’s New Zealand Cup meeting.

Oreka, a five-year-old entire son of Targui and the Ruthless mare Best, has come through a thorough and searching preparation to the satisfaction of his youthful Hawera trainer, R. J. Bain. He will have conditions today which should help him run true to the very good form he has shown over middle distances this year.

Oreka’s last start winning run in the Wellington Racing Club’s Watkins Handicap was a performance of rare brilliance. A run equally powerful at the end of two miles could be matched by few, if any, of the others in the cup field. The last time the Watkins Handicap proved valuable as a New Zealand Cup guide was in 1956 when the Riccarton-trained Jimmy Flash contested and succeeded in both races.

Oreka, 'which is raced by Mr H. A. Sherborne, a Hawera publican. will be ridden by last season’s leading horseman, R. J. Skelton. Twenty-three horses were left in the field when acceptances closed and unless something unforeseen happens before starting time today, 21 are expected to go to the post. Rhythm Rein was scratched last evening and the other defection will be Colchis, which burst a Wood vessel in the bowel yesterday. Although Colchis will not run, the Awapuni stable of T. R. Howe will still be represented in the race by Balfast, a proven stayer with a New Zealand Cup victory already on his record. In his trainer’s opinion Balfast, which

won the race in 1958, will be hard to boat again if the race is truly run.

There is just as much confidence in the camp at F. C. Pratt, who prepares Foglia d’Ore, that last year’s winner will be hard to match again. However, the moot discusMd runner outside of Oreka is the Wingatui-trained top-weight. Desert Chief, which is certain to have solid backing altar his outstanding winning run at Motukarara a week ago. His trainer, D. G. O’Neill, is confident that Mr. G. J. Barton's four-year-old will manage the distance competently. Port Wine, a hardy Chief Lord entire from Woodville, which lacks recent form credentials, galloped his way into calculations with an outstanding final trial in training on Thursday. Quite Able, which runs out middle distance* in the style of a true stayer, might be Riccarton’s best, and strong off-course support from Auckland will ensure that the Takanini stayer. Prince Argon, is fairly high on the list of favoured runners. The New Zealand Cup will be the first leg of the totalisator double. Second Leg Fountainhead, which has sprinted brilliantly in training during the week, might come out best in what is expected to be a spectacular finish to the Stewards’ Handicap, the second leg of the double. Fountainhead, a member of the

highly sucrofaful Takanini stable of G. W. JB. Greene, will have oppcMtien in strength from some very *paody and capable sprintart. The beet of hi* North Island rivals are expected to be the Te Awamutu ctcblemate*, Ricardo and Rochdale, the Levintrained Fairaaaan and Huka Falls, from Otaki. Roman Mhid i* expected to represent Riccarton with distinction and Llanmai could be Wingatui’a best. The Gore-trained three-year-old, Bellarook, and Page Boy, tram Invercargill, will give Southland strong representation. Other major attractions on an interesting programme will be the New Zealand Derby Stakes and the Welcome Stakes, for two-year-olds. Blue Lodge, from Hawera, and the Takanini colts, Bargoed, Ohatmore and Stipulate are expected to dominate the betting and possibly the finish of the three-year-old classic. Commanding, which won the Karitane Handicap at Trentham in a race record time at his last start, i* the ruling favourite for the Welcome Stakes.