RACING LIGHT-WEIGHT MAY BEAT NERULA

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29724, 18 January 1962, Page 4

RACING LIGHT-WEIGHT MAY BEAT NERULA

Senor Fancied For Wellington Cup

Nerula will be generally accepted as a true champion if he wins the Wellington Gup under topweight of 9-7 on Saturday.

He will be giving weight, and a lot of weight in some cases, to winners at the distance and to other stayers which have potential without having had opportunities to master the distance in the best class.

But with all his weight, the Rotorua stayer will probably be favourite, and there will be scenes of great enthusiasm at Trentham if he completes a formidable task.

If there were any doubts beforehand about early favouritism for the Wellington Cup, Nerula probably settled them when he won brilliantly at Woodville last Saturday. Nerula was rehandicapped 21b for his Woodville win; and 21b at the end of two miles can be a heavy burden for a horse above 9-0. Nerula is now one pound above last year’s Wellington Cup winner. Great Sensation, and these will be the only two horse attempting to best th* weight-for-age scale. There have been Wellington Cup winners with more than scale weight—Golden Souvenir and Beaumaris were two of them—but this could be a year in which a stayer far away from the top weights wall win the big prize. That stayer could be Senor. one of the four-year-olds in the field, and weighted to carry 7-2 or 261 b less than weight-for-age. Senor is 331 b below Nerula, 321 b below Great Sensation, and 231 b below the New Zealand Cup winner, Quite Able. Senor was not far below the best of the staying three-year-olds last season. What is more, he showed that Trentham is his favourite course in winning two high-weights and running a close third in the Gloaming Stakes, the ‘Trentham Derby." at the last Wellington Cup meeting. On breeding. Senor appeals as one certain to run out two miles strongly under his light weight. He is by Le Filou, wh’ch has sired the Auckland Cup winner, Floutulla. His dam. Set Fair, is by Neptune or Whistling Wind from Indian Coronet by Coronach from Indian Princess by Bulandshar from Love of Silver. Indian Princess won the Great Northern Derby. This is the Hebrew Maid family, and it has been rich in high-class stayers and classic winners. Beau Vite, the best of his time in New Zealand and Australia: Skipton, winner of the Melbourne and Caulfield Cups: Wotan, winner of the Melbourne Cup in record time; Peter Jackson (New Zealand and Great Northern St. Legers and Moonee Valley Gold Cup); Motere (Auckland Cup), Old Bill (Wellington Cun), Wardress (Canterbury Cup) these were some distinguished members of the family to which Senor belongs. Few of the breeding students might be prepared to look past Senor, from his place in the weights, in the second richest two-mile race of the season. Second Leg The Wellington Cup is the first leg of the double on Saturday. The second leg is the Telegraph Handicap, in which Ellerslie form couln have a strong bearing. Otematata. Rochdale, and D.Day, three of the principals in the finish of the Auckland Railway Handicap, should be major contenders. Fields for the double are reviewed below. WELLINGTON CUP, Of £lO,OOO. Two miles. 1531 NERULLA (7). 9-7.—Bril-liant last-start winner at the Pahiatua meeting at Woodville a week ago. Unbeaten at Trentham in the winter, he has since been a very close second to Quite Able in the New Zealand Cup and an easy winner of the CanterburyCup (l]m.) at Riccarton. beating Great Sensation. 2241 GREAT SENSATION (26) 9-6.—Cup winner last season In record time. Completed preparation with a decisive win in the -Dunedin Cup at Wingatui on Boxing Day. 1131 QUITE ABLE (21) 8-11.— New Zealand Cup winner at Riccarton. in November. Last-start winner of the Manawatu Cup with a brilliant staver’s run Runner-up to Great Sensation last year, when beaten by a head. 2571 DESERT CHIEF (27) 8-7. Easy winner of the Invercargill Gold Cup at his last start. Bred to run two miles in his present form 2521 FAIRASSAN (2) 8-3.—Has a solid record up to middle distances. Outstayed Banderole and Spondulicks over 11 furlongs in the Levin Handicap on January 10. Is an unknown quality at this distance. 4011 GAY DEFOE (25) 8-2. Raced solidly at the New Zealand Cup meeting, where he was second to Studio in the Riccarton Handicap and won the Fendalton Handicap. Winner of the Wairarapa Cup (11 f.) and President's Handicap at Tauherenikau. Has won up to a mile and t half. ■O6B BEAUZAMI (8) 8-I.—Un-placed in the Nathans Memorial Handicap on the fourth day of the Auckland meeting at Ellerslie. Only win this season was in the Spring Handicap (10 f.) at Elerslle in October. Best effort over two miles was a strong finish for fourth in the 1961 Auckland Cup. <422 BUATO (23) 8-I.— Last year’s Auckland Cup winner and runner-u< to Floutulla thia year. Tried

in Wellington Cup last year, when he finished 10th. 3115 MARWON (10) 8-o—Un-lucky sixth in the Auckland Cup at last start after being carried back by a tiring horse near the half-mile. Impressive winner of the Queen Elizabeth Handicap over a mile and a half at his previous start, beating Ruato. Won earlier at Ohinemuri over the same distance. 0858 DASHING STAR (14) 7-12. —Unplaced in the “Sonny” Smith Memorial Handicap at the Pahiatua meeting last Saturday. Has not been in solid form since beating Fair Filou in the Ralph Somers Memorial Handicap at Te Arolia in September. Good record as three-year-old last season, when wins included the Great Northern St. Leger. 0504 DAYSUN (18). 7-11.—Fast finisher for fourth in the Auckland Cup on January 1. Has been racing consistently around the Auckland district without a great deal of success. 3581 FLOUTULLA (1), 7-11.— Surprise winner of the Auckland Cup. finishing strongly from the middle of the field. Placings earlier in the season included a third in the Waikato Gold Cup (IJm). 5860 MA CHERIB (12). 7-10 Thirteenth In Auckland Cup, was latest of a number of unplaced efforts this season. Has won over this distance. 8998 SPONDULICKS (11). 7-10. —Third to Falrassan and Banderole at Levin last Wednesday. Won Waipukurau Cup and Manchester Handicap at Feeding at successive starts earlier in season. 4121 QUICK TIME (16) 7-9 Won Dunedin Jockey Club Handicap on December 23 and was second to Great Sensation In the Dunedin Cup on Boxing Day. Only race since was the Tittaru Cup, which he won. on December 30. Third to Quite Able and Nerula in the New Zealand Cup in November. 2030 VITAPOINTE (9) 7-9 Eleventh in Auckland Cup. Third to Lord Sasanof and Llanmai at weight-for-age in the Clifford Plate on the second day at Ellerslie. Second to Cheveux over 11 turlongs at Awapunl on December 16 when having second start for the season. 3676 EMBRACE (20) 7-B.—Un-placed in the Queen Elizabeth Handicap, Summer Cup and Nathans Memorial at Auckland Cup meeting. Placed in Gothard Handicap at Woodville and Manawatu Challenge Stakes at previous starts. 9479 KINGDOM (22) 7-7.—Came from rear for fourth in Summer Cup on second day at Ellerslie but unplaced in Auckland Cup and Nathans’ Memorial on later days of meeting. Won Masterton Gold Cup in October. Benefited from Auckland racing. 9537 LAVISH COUNTESS (13) 7-6.—Unplaced in “Sonny” Smith Memorial Handicap at Pahiatua last Saturday. Third to Tar in gam a and Red Signal in the Pahiatua Cup a start earlier. 0075 PORT WINE (8) 7-6.—Un-B laced in “Sonny” Smith lemorial at Pahiatua. No form earlier in the seassn. Good stayer at his best, he was runner-up to Oreka in the New Zealand Cup in 1960. 4326 RUNGAHIWI (24) 7-5. Consistent place-getter. Has found success elusive at middle distance but has shaped as if he might stay .... m >les well. 1838 RUVE: (17) 7-s—Third to Gay Defoe and Princess Donna in the Wairarapa f U P v at her start before last, but was unplaced on the second day of the meeting. Won Kelvin -Handicap (lOf.) on the second “ ay °* the Manawatu on December 23. 02,0 PRINCESS DONNA (4) 7-3.—Second to Gay Defoe in the Wairarapa Cup. but failed on second day of meeting and again in the Levin Handicap last Wednesday week. Won the Hone McMillan Memorial Handicap at Foxton on December 9. 5079 BLUE BLADE (19) 7-2 Won Inglewood Handicap at New Plymouth on August 12. when having first race for season, but untimes since. .440 MAR QUIT A (3) 7-2 Fourth in Wairarapa Cup and President’s Handicap st Tauherenikau. Unplaced in Manawatu Cup, but won Bolton Handicap and was second to Moy in the Gothard Handicap at Woodville at her two previous starts. 9469 SENOR (5) 7-2—Unplaced in Queen Elizabeth Handicap on the first day at Ellerslie. Best effort this season was a fourth in the Waikato Gold Cup on November 25. A good staving three-year-old last season. Likes Trentham where he won two highweights and was a close third in the Gloaming Stakes this time last year. Brackets: Marwon and Daysun, Princess Donna and Blue Blade. Marquita and Senor. Scratched: Stipulate. TELEGRAPH HANDICAP, Of £2500; six furlongs. 112 ROCHDALE (13) 9-6 Unlucky second to Otematata la Railway Handicap at Ellerslie at last start. Carried 9-8 and had to make a run wide after being last for good way. Has his chance at the weights. 6175 OUTCOME (15) g-H—lm-pressive winner over 7f. at Trentham in the spring. Has since won at Woodvile and just beaten by Bellarook in CJ.C. Stewards’ Handicap. 0118 SHANGRI-LA (10) 8-10 Failed against stayers in Invercargill Gold Cup in which she had 9-9. Will welcome big relief in weight. Has won as sprinter at Trentham 2232 BELLAROOK (1) 8-8

Has been racing consistently under big weights in the south. Has won three races, Including the C.J.C. Stewards' Handicap this season. Prospect. 0421 OTEMATATA (12) 8-7 Stout finisher for nose victory in Auckland Railway Handicap at his last start. Tendency to change ground cost him first place in Awatea Handicap at Trentham in spring. 3510 EQUAL TERMS (14) 8-6 Form has been patchy, but showed his best to win Stratford Gold Cup two starts back. 2315 SPIBOROUGH (2) 8-5 Latest win was over this distance at Hastings on January 1. Placed at Manawatu meeting. 1226 CABRIERE (5) 8-4—Fast finisher for second in Great Northern Derby. Did not get good run in Auckland Railway Handicap at last start. Fnished sixth. 8312 GOLD VIEW (11) 8-1 Sprint winner at Waikouaitl. Runner-up to Andalusia at Oamaru .where class was not strong, but gets considerable relief in weight here. 1153 D DAY (16) 7-13—Had Auck. Railway Handicap won two strides from the post; beaten in nose and nose finish by Otematata and Rochdale. Won at Trentham in spring. 0530 CATTLE (3) 7-12—Lost rider at last start. Third to Aqaba, Minstrel Beau over 6f at Hastings, December 30. 5 AURIETTE (19) 7-10— Second start after Australian campaign. Fifth at Tauherenikau. Wide barrier draw might beat her. 4273 SHAMROCK QUEEN (17) 7-9—Third to Terrorist. Yonda at Avondale last week. Runner-up to Don Palatine in Electric Handicap, 6f. at Avondale Likes Trentham. 2139 FAR STEP (18) 7-1— Beaten favourite, and disappointing. at Levin last week. Drawn badly. 0000 ARATIATIA (9» 7-o—Vast improvement in form needed. 7445 BALOO (6) 7-o—Lightly raced and could be an improver. Last start fifth was at Awapuni when having first start since a fourth in Pearce Handicap at Trentham in October. 0184 DAINTY GIRL (21) 7-0— Unlucky fourth against hack sprinters at Ellerslie on Auckland Cup day. Beat strong field of hacks over this distance at Te Aroha in December. 1162 FUNNY STORY (20) 7-0— Improver’s second to Waltoa at Levin last week. Won treble against hack sprinters at North Island holiday meetings. Smart. 6065 GAY DUCHESS (4) 7-0— Latest form hardly look good enough for this test. Tired after trailing at Levin last week. 9690 LADY LORINDA (7) 7-0. —Weak finish after pacemaking over l;m at Stratford at last start. Form has been unpromising. 6569 TOP RANK (8) 7-0— Shaped like future start at start of season winning twice before an lunlucky second in Avondale Guineas. Lost form then.

Stipulate Scratched For Cup Stipulate was scratched yesterday for the Wellington Cup. Annie Oakley was scratched for the Fitzherbert Handicap. CANTERBURY JOCKEY CLUB SUMMER MEETING SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3 ENTRIES for all events will close at 4 p.m. TOMORROW. F. T. H. BELL, Secretary. —Advt