Solus Picked For Southland

Press, Volume C, Issue 29517, 19 May 1961, Page 4

Solus Picked For Southland

•‘Tfta Preet" Special Service

INVERCARGILL, May 18. Solus looks capable of scoring his sixth success for the season in the Waiau Hand cap, main event and first leg of the T.A.B. double on the second day of the Southland Racing Club’s winter meeting on Saturday. An easy winner on the first day. Solus has been raised 71b and will again meet a field of moderate worth.

The second leg will be the Clifden Handicap. for which Blue Haven and Napra look to have most in their favour.

Ronson Light has been scratched from the Southland Steeplechase, which will be a four-horse affair There was rain today and the track will be heavy. Solus was not seriously tested when he won last week and a lift of 71b to 8-5 is not likely to be sufficient to worry him in the Waiau Handicap. He will meet a field much similar to that which he beat on the first day. Solus will be again ridden by R. J. Skelton. The track will be heavier, but he has shown ability under all conditions. Vamoose ran a fair race for fourth last Saturday without threatening to be a winner and would not appear to have much chance with Solus. Panel, which comes in 51b better than when she finished second to Solus, should again be the one to make a race of it. It is unlikely that she will match him at the weights but her solidness — she has finished second at three of her last four starts —will be in her favour. It took a capable galloper in McGregor to down Cashmere against open milers last week, and on that run Cashmere, a recent winner over hurdles at Riccarton. could be a danger. He made most of the running when McGregor beat him and it was a better-than-average placing. Melotone would need to improve sharply on his run against the milers but the longer journey on heavier ground would suit him. Captain Hunt is a fresh runner which could make his presence felt. He ran two sound placings in strong open sprint fields at Riverton at Easter and at his only start since beat Darby and Peril over a mile and 33 yards at the Beaumont meeting. Promise. Count Aven and Ocean Roll would need to Improve sharply on their first-day form, but Garrob would have a chance on his third to McGregor and Cashmere. He missed the jump out on that occasion and was responsible for a fast run from the half to get within half a head of Cashmere. Lord Fane is another newcomer with recent winning form to his credit. He beat a high-weight field at Beaumont at his last start and the Invercargill opposition may not be a great deal stronger. If the track becomes really heavy, as is possible, he will be in his element. Hundred Grand is another mudlark but he failed on the first day, sharing the lead in the middle stages but stopping to last. Second Leg Blue Haven, which finished a good fourth after securing a poor run over a mile the first day, will have her chance to make the grade in open company in the second leg, the Clifden Handicap. The Kurdistan mare has had a heavy season's racing but she has come through it well and at her previous start she cleared hack ranks when she won over a mile and 33 yards at the Beaumont meeting. On her first-day run she will be a strong prospect. The Wanderer was not produced on the first day but has worked well at Invercargill during the week. His latest racing indicated he had retained much of his dash. He was a winner at Riverton at Easter in much stronger company than he will strike on Saturday. The Wanderer would appeal more over less than seven furlongs but if the ground remains reasonably firm he could still be well in it Sabin failed to run on over a mile last week, finishing a fair sixth, but he could be a much different proposition over seven furlongs as he has some sound placings to his credit as a sprinter. He will certainly have to be considered.

Melodic is making a fresh start, not having raced since January 7. He has shown fine form on heavy going but may not be sufficiently seasoned. He is a free goer, however, and is the type who could cause an upset. Ben Ledi is reaching the veteran stage and Brooksdale. Cattiva <a heavy track specialist) and Antarctic Flight have not been racing

well enough to be Serious;--considered. Hundred Grand is engaged earlier but on his first-da-, run the ahorter distance would be more to his ingBrianbra, a winner over hurdles last Saturday, w. race as a sprinter this week Napra finished fifth l.vSaturday, but is a good de,-: more capable than this looks a likely improver. Hcame home well from ■ middle of the field over , nrile. but seven furlongs w: see him much better place.He will be one to test 8..Haven. Selections:— 11.30 am.—Orepuki H , Steeplechase: Shootalonj. c.,.. sius. Bayline. 12.10 pm.—Novice Stakes: tri« Mist. Fflwood. Floral Note 12.30 pm.—Te Tua Hack Har dicap; Laura, Salatan, Sa: ■ Pride. 1.30 p.m.—Pukemaori Hac. Hurdles: The Ranger, MUor Demolish. 2.10 p.m.—Waiau Handicap Solus, Panel, Captain Hunt 2.55 pm.—Southland Steepit chase: Sir Edwin. 3.40 pm,—Clifden Handicap Blue Haven, Napra, 11. Wanderer. 4.20 p.m.—Tua tape re Handicap Strategy. Oakfield, Relation. WAIAU HANDICAP, Of £400; one mile and three furlongs. 3364 Vamoose (6) ..8 1 1651 Solus (11) .. .. 8 2422 Panel (2) .. ..8 9172 Cashmere (4) .. 8 ; 1670 Melotone (8) ..7 331 Captain Hunt (12) .. 1015 Promise (3) .. 7 4583 Glenrowan (7) ..7 9891 Lord Fane (91 .. 0033 Garrob (5) .. 7 0077 Count Aven IB) .. 7 . 0679 Ocean Roll (10) .. 7 ; CLIFDEN HANDICAP. Of £325, seven .furlong: 4104 The Wanderer (7) .. 9 7236 Sabin (11) .. .. 8 : 7060 Melodie (4) ..8 12 5778 Ben Ledi (3) ..St: 5155 Napra (12) .. .. 3 •> 4040 Callevo (1) .. 7 12 5801 Brianbra (8) 9506 Antarctic Flight 121 7 1 0890 Hundred Grand (9) 7 1: 8607 Cattiva (13) .. 7 0514 Blue Haven i«) .. 7: ■ 67 Brooksdale (10) .. 7 lit Scratched: Garrob.