RACING Personify Picked For Hororata Cup

Press, Volume C, Issue 29691, 8 December 1961, Page 4

RACING Personify Picked For Hororata Cup

The Andrews stable from Waimate has two form horses in the Hororata Cup field tomorrow, but unless there is rain there will probably be only one runner. Unless the ground eases, Jesse Owens will probably not start, leaving Personify to carry stable hopes. P. H. R. Andrews said yesterday he had not engaged a rider for Jesse Owens. “He won’t run if the track is" hard,” Andrews said.

Magic Circle was scratched yesterday for the Cup. reducing the field to eight, and there is every prospect of a two-dividend race. Personify and McCool are certain to dispute favouritism for the Cup. which is the first leg of the double. Personify is in the unusual position of top weight in an open class race, though he has won only one race in open company. He was carrying 71b over, weight when he ran into a place in the Dominion Handicap at Riccarton last Easter, and a win at Rangiora and minor placings have advanced him steadily in the weights. He was impressive in his win at Rangiora, running away from Quite Able and the others in the straight. During the race he galloped easily behind the front bunch on the inside and showed speed in going for a gap near the home turn. The Hororata course will suit Personify, which will be ridden by W. D. Skelton. Personify and McCool last met in the Metropolitan Handicap on the final day of the New Zealand Cup meeting.

Yet Le Cheval ran Beilarook to a neck over six furlongs on the first day of the Gore meeting, then won by three lengths in Imin 12 1-5 sec over the same distance cn the second day. Abou Ben Adhem has the speed to be well forward in the chase after Le Cheval to the straight. Abou Ben Adhem has freshened nicely since the New Zealand Cup meeting, where he was fourth in the Members’ Handicap. His fresh run is usually his best, and bis best could be good enough for this occasion. Gabelle won at Rangiora two starts back, then ran a very ordinary race against the sprinters at Motukarara. She usually runs out seven furlongs strongly when given time to settle. Much could

depend on the run she gets early from the inside barrier position, in this field. Gay Defoe and Flying Time will be a fairly popular bracket and it will be in more demand than ever if Flying Time is able to race on an easy track. Gay Defoe ran third in this race a year ago when a heavy track dulled the speed of some of the straight-out sprinters. But he is better equipped for middle distance racing, and won the CJjC. Fendalton Handicap over a mile and a quarter at his latest start. Safe Harbour may be the pick of the light-weights. She did not make the grade in stronger company at the New Zealand Cu>p meeting, but her fifth in the Members’ Handicap on the third day was not at all bad.