Explain May Be Tested By Last Link

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29749, 16 February 1962, Page 4

Explain May Be Tested By Last Link

Riccarton stables will put three strong form runners into the field for the Morley Handicap, the main race and first leg of the TA.B. double at Westport tomorrow. Explain, top weight with 9-6, has won three of her last four races. Last Link has won two of his last three, and Matauwhi was runner-up in three starts before finishing out of a place in the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Midsummer Handicap.

Explain is top weight with 9-6, and faces a stiff assignment for a three-year-old filly. She has 201 b more than weight-for-age and will attempt to concede up to 251 b At this distance, one mile and a quarter, she will not find it at all easy to give Last Link 241 b and a beating. Last Link, now a five-year-old, is fulfilling the promise he showed in his early racing. His record from four starts this season is two wins and one third, and he has made steady improvement with racing. He was taken to Trentham for high-weights at the Wellington Cup meeting after a win at Kurow. In bis first start there he ran third to Last Link and Spartacus over 11 furlongs, and a week later he won decisively over a mile and a half with second top weight of 9-8. Last Link ran the distance in 2min 30}see and Commodore Roberts could go only Ijsec faster when he won the Wellington Racing Club Handicap under 7-12 later in the day. Double At Hokitika Explain, winner of the two main races at the Westland meeting last week-end, was tested for stamina over a mile and a half in the Gloaming Stakes at the Wellington Cup meeting. On a rain-affected track she ran out a mile and a half resolutely for an unlucky fourth. She was later promoted to third, being placed ahead of Silver Pelt, which has since won the Wanganui Cup. Explain will be in less distinguished class on Saturday, but if she manages to win under her weight Westport patrons will have seen one of the best performances ever recorded on the course. Form earlier on the Westland circuit points to solid runs by

Juliooh. Volterra, and Come On Boy. all minor place-getters at Hokitika. Coral Ring, now a stablemate of Last Link, will be having his first start for M. J. Wadley's stable. His form background In stronger fields has been moderate, but hts chance will brighten When he gets an easier galloping surface. Second Leg Silver Wood, a Blenheimtrained Targui mare with winning form on the course, should take beating in the Trilford Hack Handicap, the second leg of the double. She raced solidly at Westport in the spring for one win and

a second In six-furtong hack sprints. After running Explain to a neck on the first day she beat that any and some other useful hacks on the second day. Since then she has had sixraces, and has won one of them. That was at Rangiora on October 23. when she was successful over nine furlongs and a half. Her latest race was at Omoto on December 4 when she was placed over a mile and a quarter. She has won her two races this season with strong finishes, but earlier she could run fast in front. Freshened up since she last raced, she should sprint very keenly, and might go it alone in front. The top weight. Queen of Sheba, should not find 9-6 too much at the end of six furlongs. She seldom races badly in this class.

Brokette was first and Star Cheval second over this distance at Hokitika last Saturday.

Star Cheval was tangled by a heavy track on Monday, but will run well if the footing is good at Westport. She had fast footing to help her when she won by three lengths over six furlongs at Hokitika on January 15. Of the others with no alternative engagements. Red Jimmy may be the best. On-course double fields, with form, are:—

Riders For Westport Wesport riders tomorrow include : P. J. Kempton: Julloch, Silver Wood, Ashleigh. Windsor Castle. Mystic. R W. Donovan: Royal Money. Come On Boy, Glenhawk. C. T. Wilson: Coral Ring. B. Collins: Siam. G. W. Mein: Brydone, Fair Polly. Interlaken, Sumptuous. Star Cheval. A. H. Eastwood: Volterra Johnny Robe. Arjamand, Prince Command. M. J. Skelton: Explain, Liantana. Rajah, Robin Adair, Prince Command. A. Read: Harewood. J. H. Jones: Rose Command. N. T. Cowles: Belleville. B. S. Finlayson: Redstan. W Beck: Last Link. Redstan (Trial Stakes No. 2), Sigurd.

TRIAL STAKES NO. 1, Of £150; six furlongs. st lb 1226 Rajah (4) .. 9 6 2135 Rose Command (2) 9 6 4012 Taxman (13) 9 6 5439 Belleville (8) 8 10 2060 Brydone (7) 8 10 87 Coral Lagoon (1) .. 8 10 Kabram (5) 8 10 4563 Montez (9) 8 10 00 Reds-tan (ill) 8 10 9835 Royal Money (3) .. 8 10 4685 Sir Donnington (12) 8 10 0537 Windsor Castle (6) .. 8 4 Scratched: Mystic. McPADDEN HACK HANOICAP. Of £160; seven furlongs. 013 Master Conclusion „ (14) 9 7 7014 Fair Polly (11) 9 0 7231 Plctavia Girl (5) .. 8 12 2614 Aslileigh (2) 8 9 6653 Gay Fiancee (1) .. 8 5 7226 Pyramid Valley (6) 7 13 3240 Sigurd (9) 7 10 6445 Johnny Robe (7) .. 7 7 8866 King Panair (4) 7 7 7 Risdng Flame (12) .. 7 7 06 Robin Adair (3) 7 7 3100 Siam (10) .. 7 7 1242 White Cloud (8) 7 7 Bracket: Gay Fiancee and King Panair. Scratched: Puff. Off-course double fields, with form, are:— MORLEY’ HANDICAP. Of £400; one mile and a quarter. 13111 Explain (2) st lb 9 6 15S6 Hunting Melody (4) 8 9 2227 Matauwhi (6) 8 9 6243 Jul loch (3) 8 7 3625 Volterra (8) 8 0 0000 Coral Ring (10) 3432 Come On Boy (7) .. 8 0 7 12 8131 Last Link (1) 7 10 6038 Interlaken (9) 7 9 5577 Skyrain (5) 7 9 Bracket: Hunting Melody and Interlaken. TRILFORD HACK HANDICAP, Of £180; six furlongs. 2030 Queen of Sheba (12) st lb 9 6 0043 Silver Wood (13) .. 8 13 6653 Gay Fiancee (1) 8 5 2126 Star Cheval (6) 8 5 8066 Arjamand (5) 8 3 8514 Brokette (9) 8 2 7225 Pyramid Valley (7) 7 13 0020 Llantana (8) 7 12 3115 Red Jimmy (4) 7 9 6445 Johnny Robe (2) .. 7 7 Kabram (3) 7 7 2135 Rose Command (11) 7 7 6867 Westfield (10) 7 7 Bracket: Queen of Sheba and Pyramid Valley.