RACING Promise May Succeed In Steeples Today

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29820, 12 May 1962, Page 4

RACING Promise May Succeed In Steeples Today

Promise, in spite of his top*weight of 10-5, might lead the field home at his first attempt over country in the Alford Hack and Hunters’ Steeplechase, a feature event at Ashburton today. The Wingatui seven-year-old has yet to tackle the big fences under race conditions, but he has schooled well in training and should have more pace on the flat than the 11 which will oppose him today. Last season Promise won his way into open company as a hurdler.

Garbett, another which began his jumping career with a successful campaign over hurdles, and the former North Islander, Rauloch. might be Promise’s hardest rivals today. Garbett is two years older than Promise and Rauloch and is in the early stages of a fresh campaign He would have benefited from his run in the high-weight at Riccarton on April 23. when he led from the six furlongs into the straight and then dropped out.

Last winter Garbett was I."fitly campaigned, but he

did manage to gain a third over the Riccarton country in August, on the first day of the Grand National meetins

Rauloch did his racing in the North Island from R T Cotter s Te Rapa stable last winter and wfll be having

his first start today from the Wasbayke stable of M. R Jones

Rauloch was placed over hurdles at Ellerslie last season and ran fourth over the Pukekohe country at one of his two starts this season.

Rauloch was placed on the fiat in the Taupo Jumpers' Flat last season, but neither he nor Garbett has as good form on the fiat as Promise, which ran third to Dormic and Panel over 11 furlongs at Invercargill on March 24 and has since been second in a high-weight at Beaumont.

Promise is trained at Wingatui by H A Anderton, who was the leading trainer in the South Island last season and won the Alford Steeples with Mananui. Another Wingatui candidate which might not be without a chance today is Lucky Bill, which schooled well at Wingatui on Wednesday morning.

Although he is 12. Lucky Bill is carrying his age well, and he went around the testing Riverton country at Easter in useful fashion, without managing to get a stake. Tlie going at Ashburton could suit him better. A better prospect might be Van Da Hum. which has won over the Ashburton country. Van Da Hum failed to slow up in the hurdles at Riccarton on the last day Of the autumn meeting on April 28. but at Nelson earlier last month he gained a couple of seconds over hurdles, behind Prince Command on the first day and Slatey on the second Double Prospects

The double today will be on the Ashburton County Handicap and the Barford Hack Handicap Rhythm Rein. Gay Tommy and Counit Pierre look a likely trio in the first leg and Bodkin is the probable favourite for the second leg.