Gay Fox Tipped For First Leg

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29890, 2 August 1962, Page 4

Gay Fox Tipped For First Leg

Gay Fox beat some highly-rated Winter Cup candidates in the Brabazon Handicap last Saturday. It was as good a trial as could be wished for as a lead to the Paparua Handicap, first leg of the double at Riccarton on Saturday.

The Brabazon Handicap was only Gay Fox’s second start after a winter rest, and he managed to win, though probably a little short of his best.

Thiis Ranfurly - owned, Wingatai-trained five-year-old carred 31b above the minimum in the Brabazon Handicap. His 8-8 in the Paparua Handicap represents a rise of 51b in a race with a 71b higher minimum. Gay Fox will receive weight from Studio, Abou Ben Adihem, Erldon. Gay Tommy, and John Jameson. A winning run at this distance will probably be beyond the veteran Gay Tommy. Studio is really a middledistance performer, too, though he has early speed and could sprint well fresh. He would be a place possibility, perhaps, on a firm track, but that seems unlikely on Saturday. Smart Sprinter On Brabazon Handicap form, Erldon might not manage to beat Gay Fox, but he rates a chance on his best form, which at times has been good at seven furlongs. He was well beaten in one start at the Wellington winter meeting, but was placed twice beforehand at Hastings, once behind Howe Far, which beat the Sprinters on the first day at Trentham. Earlier he won at Wanganui. John Jameson seldom runs badly on the provincial courses when he comes to form and might not find this class much, if any, too strong for him. His latest start was on his home track at Waehdyke last week. He was only just beaten by the useful Rhythm Rein and the light-weight

Matlock over a mile and 35 yards. Earlier last month he won the Fraser Memorial, one mile and 35 yards, on his home course. His beaten rivals included Melodic (fourth), third place-getter in the Brabazon Handicap last Saturday. The Trentham sprinter, Gay Duchess, should almost certainly run into one of the places if she shows the ability that marked a win at Master-ton and a fourth at Trentham in the autumn. She did not make much of a show on a heavy track in her only start at the Wellington winter meeting, but the record book suggests she is better on firmer ground. Pine Ridge and Far Step, both from the North Island Should be two of the stronger light-weight contenders. Pine Ridge, a game hardy Avocat General gelding from F. C. Pratt’s Levin stable, has had 33 starts in the last year, but has held his form wonderfully well.

He won the hack sprint, seven furlongs, on the last day of the Wellington winter meeting, Mid at his latest start ran second under 9-0 over the same distance on a heavy track at the Manaiwatu Hunt meeting. W. D. Skelton will ride Pine Ridge on Saturday, renewing a combination that was successful at Trentham.

Far Step was spelled after failing in the Telegraph Handicap at Trentham last January- This will be his first start since, but he won fresh up last spring and could do the same again on Saturday. One of Far Step’s three wins early last season was over seven furlongs under 9-0 at Awapuni. He cleared hack class with that victory, then failed twice in open class before he was put aside. Far Step’s recent training sprints at Awapuni have left no room for doubt about his present fitness. Supreme Effort has done nothing noteworthy since he raced solidly at Riccarton a year ago, but improvement was evident when he last raced and finished fifth at Washdyke on July 7.