On-course Double Prospects

Press, Volume C, Issue 29535, 9 June 1961, Page 4

On-course Double Prospects

One of Promise*'* best rune should be adequate to give him victory in the June Haek Hurdles, the first leg of the oncourse double, on the third day of the Dunedin Jockey Club's winter meeting at Wingatui tomorrow. Promise, a member of the powerful Anderton stable, was runner-up in the Otago Hurdles (last Monday. It was a defeat he could well have turned into victory had he not tried to carry top-weight of 10-5 in the lead for most of the last mile. Promise, which has 51b more tomorrow, has winning form as a hurdler close up on his record. That was id the Peerswick Hurdles at Riccarton. his only race at the C.J.C. autumn meeting. Promise will have strong opposition from Grant and Milord which will both be trying to improve winning records at the meeting. Grant came from a trailing position to wear Promise down in the Otago Hack Hurdles. But he has gone up KHb for that win—his second in hig last three starts —and that could be sufficient to reverse the positions over the shorter distance this week. Milord was a close fourth in the Otago Hack Hurdles but Brianbra. which beat him f or third was in a gap of 14 lengths behind Promise. That run was hardly in keeping with Milord's performance in the Greenfield Hack Hurdles on the first day of the meet;ng when he spread-eagled his rivals to win by five lengths. If Vamoose’s jumping is up to the required standard his switch to hurdling could be succesful. There has been much promise at times in some of his best staying runs on the flat and few in this field would shade him for stamina or nace if he produced one of his most generous runs. Pilot Dancer or Lord Fane might have the best backing of the others. The former did not shane badly when tried as a hurdler on the Blenheim - Nelson circuit where he was a minor placegetter three times in as many starts. Lord Fane had two successive wins on the flat before he contested the Greenfields Hurdles last Saturday. His caution at each obstacle cost him any chance of reaching a challenging nosition. But the race could have given him confidence and he may manage the course more competently this time. SECOND LEG The Slug, a stablemate of Grant. Vamoose and Brooksdale. might complete a stable double for E Winsloe, of Gore, in the Electric Stakes. This six-furlong event for two and three-year-old nonwinners is the second leg of the on-course double. Zetland Leigh and Francisco. which are both Riccarton-trainefi. rhight be the strongest of The Slug's rivals. Zetland Leigh was the best—he was fourth - behind The Slug in the corresponding race on the first day of the meeting. His finishing run was one of the minor features of the race. Francisco was the beaten

favourite in the same event. But his failure have been attributed to a slow beginning and a wide run all the way. Before the meeting Francisco had shown racewinning ability on the training tracks at Riccarton. The strongest of the Wingatui contenders will probably be Palace Royal. Begame and Sir Athol and South Canterbury’s best is expected to be Hiaway,