RACING Matauwhi Picked In Hororata Cup

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29383, 9 December 1960, Page 5

RACING Matauwhi Picked In Hororata Cup

Matauwhi may gain a long overdue but much deserved victory over a middle distance in the Hororata Cup tomorrow. This race is the principal event and first leg of the double at the Hororata Racing Club’s annual meeting.

The last seven of Matauwhi’s 10 races this season have been beyond a mile and he has been a minor place-getter in all but two of them. His latest placing was a fourth behind Fils d’Or, Kilroy and Solepic in the Riccarton Handicap, nine furlongs, on the first day of the New Zealand Cup meeting last month.

Most of Matauwhi's recent placings have been gained on testing tracks. His ability to run close to the lead in his races could place him at a distinct advantage around the turns at Hororata.

Matauwhi, one of eight Riccarton-trained runners in the field, is also one of six acceptors on the T-7 minimum. He will probably have to carry a pound or two over-weight for the services of W. D. Skelton but will still have a good pull in the weights from Rayspar and McCool which are expected to be his strongest rivals. Rayspar is third in the handicap with 8-0 and McCool, the top-weight, has 141 b more. Rayspar was runner-up to Come On Boy m the Hannan Memorial, one mile, at Omoto last Saturday. He showed that he

had probably improved with that race by running the best mile in training at Riccarton yesterday. He has compiled a useful record over middle distances this season and was a decisive winner at 10 furlongs on the turning track at Westport early in October.

McCool is the class horse of the field but he has found success elusive both on turning and testing tracks while the ground has been firm. The rain within the last week will ensure that the going at Hororata is no better than easy. McCool’s latest track gallops have improved under the conditions and 'his race form could also stiffen with the sting out of the going. His greatest disadvantage might be the bends for he is a long strider. Greymouth form also favours the prospects of Appreciate (8-1) and Gaytana <7-121. Most horses getting into the veteran stage—and Appreciate is eight—take longer to reach their peak form after a spell but this consistent Orari-trained gelding showed thdt he was not far from his best when he contested the Kettle Memorial, his fourth race this season, at Grevmouth on Monday and finished third. The Kettle Memorial winner was Gaytana which succeeded in runaway style. That victory came after a solid campaign at the New Zealand Cun meeting last month and a hard race for third in the Hannan Memorial on the first day at Omoto. She has not had much time to freshen and in spite of her form may find Appreciate a more formidable rival now that she meets him on 61b worse terms.

Beside Matauwhi the best of the others on the minimum may be Hand Over and Thumper Hand Over, which wlil have her first start in open company, will try for her second successive victory. She beat the hack stayers decisively in her latest race, the Otaio Plate, on the final day of the New Zealand Cup meeting. Thumper had his first test against the open stayers in the Tinwald Handicap at Ashburton a fortnight ago. His fifth, after racing three wide most of the way on firm ground, was a creditable effort. His chance of getting into one of the contending positions again has brightened now that the going has eased. Shaped Well Rustic, which shaped particularly well in her final trial at Riccarton yesterday, is helected to win the H. A. Knight Memorial Handicap, the second leg of the double.* Rustic has not raced since her unsuccessful attempt as a stayer in the New Zealand Cup but she usually goes well fresh and might be capable of reverting to sprinting successfully. Although Rustic will have solid backing it is unlikely that she will be the favourite. That distinction will probably be held by the long striding Washdyke gelding Gay Defoe, the Metropolitan Handicap winner at his last start. If Gay Defoe can manage the bends successfully he should carry top-weight of 8-13 into one of the dividend bearing places. There will also be strong support for Le Cheval, a proven sprinter on turning courses. Le Cheval, which will be W. D. Skelton’s mount, will probably try for an all-the-way win and such tactics at Hororata could give him victory. Le Cheval is one of the lightweights. The best of the others may be London Tower or Struan. London Tower, the runner-up to Gaytana at Greymouth last Monday, will try to improve on a consistent record which includes a win and several minor placings this season up to a mile. Struan, fourth in the open sprint at Ashburton a fortnight ago. should have had sufficient racing now after a lengthy spell to have brought him back to his best form which was very good.