RACING Arctic sun picked to WIN

Press, Volume C, Issue 29536, 10 June 1961, Page 4

RACING Arctic sun picked to WIN

Dunedin Steeplechase At Wingatui

~' Arctic Sun is generally expected to improve a very sound record over the W ingatui country’ in the Dunedin Steeplechase on the third day of the Dunedin Jockey 7 Club’s winter meeting today. Arctic Sun will be trying for his second win at the meeting and his third from four starts over the Wingatui country within a year. He gained his second successive victory in the Otago Steeplechase on the course last Saturday. There was little to hearten the backers of Arctic Sun’s rivals in the Otago Steeplechase. Ihe 10-year-old Formic gelding led for the last seven furlongs and outstayed Sir Edwin by 15 lengths.

Sir Edwin mlghit again be •he strongest of Arctic Sun’s rivals today. Not far back cm Sir Edwin's record is a win over the Orari 'chaser That was on April 3 in the Riverton Steeplechase which Sir Edwin won comfortably. Arctic Sun finished third five lengths behind him. Form at. the Southland meeting last momth will prove valuable if Le Roi or Glenkennick reach contending positions. Le Roi was the Southland Steeplechase winner and Glemkennick was the runner-up two lengths and a half back. This will be Glenkenmck's first race since but Le Ro: competed in the Otago Steeplechase last Saturday and finished at the tail of the field. However, he could still prove that form wrong for it is understood that during the race ne got his tongue over the bit. Stamina was definitely lacking from Sydtrev's effor’ in the Otago Steeples in which he beat only Le Ro. home. A week earlier his dashing style almost kept him in front throughout the Studholme Hack and Hunters’ Steeples at Waimate but his lead was short lived over the tougher Wingatui country las'. Saturday. An Arctic Sun victory in the Dunedin Steeples could herald the start of a highly successful day for his Orari owner-trainer, P H. C. Stock. Stock will saddle up five horses during the day and

two of the other four. Compensate and Royal Order, are high up on the list of fancied runners for the respective legs of the TA.B. double which will operate on the Queen Elizabeth and Empire Handicaps.

Although he has proved his ability lo piaster solid weights Compensate, under 9-6. is not set an easy task in the Queen Elizabeth Handicap. His opponents with strong records as milers closest to him in the handicap include Ravelsrton. from Wingatui, and Riccarton’s Cheyenne but the runner which he might find hardest to match is the Washdyketrained Rhythm Rein which has 22!b less. Melodic and Panel have been scratched for the first leg of the main double. Now that Grate Game has been listed as a doubtful starter in the Empire Handicap. the chance of victory for Royal Order has strengthened. Her strongest rivals will probably be Desert Chief and The Wanderer. If Grate Game does not run. the second leg of the main double will be a twodividend race. Ben Ledi and Super Key dropped out of the field yesterday. There will be a double for course patrons only on the •Tune Hack Hurd'es and the Electric Stakes. Promise and The Slug are a favoured combination. Cornflake and Lord Fane, which was destroyed after a schooling accident on Thursday, are the defections from the June Hack Hurdles. The track will be firmer than on the first two day’s of the meeting. There has been fine weather in Dunedin since Monday aad the ground hgs dried out considerably.