RACING Osman For First Leg At Invercargill

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29366, 19 November 1960, Page 6

RACING Osman For First Leg At Invercargill

One of Osman’s best runs should be sufficient to assure him of a well-earned victory in the City Handicap at Invercargill today. This race is the principal event and first leg of the double at the Southland Racing Club’s spring meeting. Two miles in the New Zealand Cup proved a bit beyond Osman’s capabilities although he held a challenging position outside the last furlong.

However, when tried over 10 furlongs »n the Fendalton Handicap on the second day at Riccarton, he finished fifth, a length behind Carbonette, Royal George and Valaris which figured in a blanket finish for the minor places. If Osman has held that form, an additional furlong on a course which is less testing should not bother him. He was runner-up to Underarm over 10 furlongs on his home track at Gore one race before the New Zealand Cup. Gore form will also have proved valuable if The Era, one of two runners from H. A. Anderton’s Wingatui reaches one of the contending positions at the finish. She was runner-up to the very capable Calyxes in the main race at Gore on October 22.

Anderton will also saddle up Prince Ermine, a minor placegetter in this race a year ago. Prince Ermine’s latest campaign has been as a hurdler but he showed good form in middle distance flat races last season when his record included three wins. Vamoose Vamoose will strengthen the possibility of a Gore victory. He lacks form credentials but would only need to reproduce one of his best runs to out-class the best of the others in this field. Vahioose's spring form a year ago was solid. He won the President’s Handicap at Gore and was fourth in Foglia ” d’Oro’s New Zealand Cup at Riccarton. Page Boy and Happy Birthday are generally expected to dominate the betting and the finish of the Taramoa Handicap, the second leg of the double. Page Boy created a new track record for seven furlongs when he led from end-to-end in the Members’ Handicap at Riccarton last Saturday. He managed that under 7-7 J. He has 8-12 this time which is equivalent to a rise of HJlb on the higher-scaled minimum. Happy Birthday

At the weights he will not find Happy Birthday an easy rival to dispose of if she has held the form which gave her a second to Challen in the New Zealand Oaks

last Saturday. Happy Birthday is in receipt of 181 b from Page Boy. Hiere will be solid backing in the minor events for Promise and Aquinas which were both successful at the New Zealand Cup meeting. Promise, which carried topweight of 10-9 to a decisive victory in the Middleton High-weight last Saturday, will be a pronounced favourite for the Kew Hurt Hes in which he has been weighted at 9-4. Aquinas beat the middle distance hacks easily in the Ashley Handicap on the second day at Riccarton. He made, a big run from near the tail of the field for fifth against the milers in the Seymour Hack Handicap last Saturday. He, is second ton-weight in the Stewart Island Handicap, a mile event for hacks, today. There was rain earlier in the week blit it did not affect the track which should be firm. Selections:—

Noon. Kew Hack Hurdles Promise, Surapt, Demolish.

12.35 p.m.—Roslyn Trial No. 1: Magic Casement, Stormai, John Mac.

1.15 p.m.—Takitlmu Hack Handicap: Reshine, King's Tax, Runty. 1.55 p.m.—Roslyn Trial No. 2: First Division—War Chime. Dame Rumour. Second Division —Field Princess, Irish Mist.

2.45 p.m.—City Handicap: Osman, The Era, Vamoose.

3.30 p.m.—Myross Hack Handicap: Fuji Yarns, Grey Jacket, Misty Bank. 4.15 p.m.—Taramoa Handicap: Page Boy, Happy Birthday, The Ranger.

4.55 p.m.—Stewart Island Hack Handicap: Aquinas, Dormic, Ocean Roll.