Jesse Owens Picked In First Leg At angiora

Press, Volume C, Issue 29648, 19 October 1961, Page 4

Jesse Owens Picked In First Leg At angiora

Jesse Owens, from Waimate, and the Riocarton-trained Quite Able might battle out the finish of the President’s Handicap at Rangiora tomorrow. The President’s Handicap is the principal event and first leg of the double on the first day of the North Canterbury Racing Club’s annual meeting.

Jesse Owens was th* unlucky runner in th* Claud* Stock Memorial Handicap at Orari last Saturday. He was never in a trailing position at any stage and lost what still appeared to be a winning Chance when he was badly checked about half a furlong from the finish. Jesse Owens's third was his second minor placing over a middle distance from three starts on hi* present campaign. He had been a fast finisher for fourth in the Geraldine Cup at his previous start. Stamina is one of Quite Able’* stronger point* and a true run race, which is likely, will be very mueh to his liking. A last-start fifth after covering extra ground to the Grandstand Handicap at Wingatui last month suggested that he was fast approaching peak form. Besides Jesse Owens, the Waimate trainer, P. H. R. Andrews, will saddle Personify and Prines Delaware for the President’s Handicap. The former also has last-start form credentials. Form Runner Personify was the runnerup to Quick Time in the Claude Stock Memorial Handicap last Saturday and he was also the cause of the check which cost his stablemate his chance. Nevertheless, his performance was a promising switch back to middle distance racing after two earlier races this season as a sprinter. C. G. Humphries, who trains Quite Able, will also have Hand Over to represent hi* stable but her form generally this season has been disappointing. Hand Over was one of four reesrVM which are now all back in the field. Quick Time, Kelton and Magic Circle were scratched for this race on Tuesday and Gaytana dropped out of the field yesterday. Set Hard Task Compensate, the Geraldine Cup winner at his last start, will have to work hard for victory from the outside of 16 at the barrier under topweight of 8-10. But he could still not be counted out lightly for he hss that touch of class which many of his rivals in this field lack. Compensate is trained by P. H. C. Stock at Orari. The same trainer will saddle up Supreme Effort which will be switching to middle distance racing (rfter some consistent sprint form. The turning track might enable him to manage this distance as competently as any of his rivals. Long strider* like McCool, Golden Howe and Navarone might find the turning track difficult to manage successfully but the turns are unlikely to bother either Matauwhl or Slatey. Matauwhi was runner-up to

Compensate in the Geraldine Cup three starts back and supported that effort with a win over 10 furlongs at Westport. Slatey was successful over one mile and 150 yards in the County Handicap at Reefton last Saturday week when having his second start for the season. His last win in hack company was over 10 furlongs at Amberley in May. The Second Leg Safe Harbour might start a fresh campaign successfully in the Ronald Macdonald Handicap, the second leg of the double. This will be the Riccarton-trained mare’s first race since the grand national meeting in August but she has thrived during that spell away from racing and nas sprinted attractively lately in training. G, H. Murfltt, jun„ may saddle two of Safe Harbour’s strongest rivals They are Hopeful and Treasure Mine which were fourth and fifth respectively in the open sprint at Orari last Saturday. That was Treasure Mine’s second placing in as many starts on a fresh campaign. Hopeful, which has shown some of his best form on the smaller tracks, was having his first start for the season at Orari. One of John Jameson’s best runs would get him into the finish. He has disappointed badly in his last two races but was a close second to Approval and beat Compensate home over this distance at Ashburton last month. Gabelle, which shaped better than she had in any of her earlier races this season to finish eighth in a strong field of open sprinters at the Otaki meeting at Trentham on September 30, might be the best of the others. She worked attractively yesterday, has drawn the No.

1 position at the start and what is more Important has the necessary pace to be in or near the lead throughout.