RACING Vitamise Fancied To Win Brabazon

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30193, 26 July 1963, Page 4

RACING Vitamise Fancied To Win Brabazon

When Vitamise produces one of his best runs on his home course, he is just about unbeatable. The Stewards’ Handicap and the Great Easter Handicap are two important sprint races he has already won at Riccarton this season. If his performance tomorrow matches some of his recent gallops in training, it is more than likely that he will add another victory to that record in the Brabazon Handicap, second leg of the Christchurch Hunt Club’s double.

Vitamise lacks racing since April, but that could be to his advantage, for like most of the stock of King’s Cotnmand his first run is often his best. With 8-13. Vitamise has 201 b more than the tail-enders will carry and 31b les* than the top-weight, Toureg. But tor all his 9-2, Toureg will be one of the strongest North Island contenders if he is produced at his peak. Although his form slumped badly in three starts at Trentham this month he showed his real class at the Great Northern meeting in June. At Ellerslie Toureg gained two open sprint wins. Saint Nicholas * 8-8) and Red View <B-3> will be other strong northern hopes.

Saint Nicholas out-ran a strong field of sprinters in the Onslow Handicap at Tren. tham the last time he raced. If this Levin-trained three-year-old has held that form he will take beating again. Second To Re-Echo

Red View earned his trip to Riccarton with an outstanding run in the Winter Cup Trial at Awapuni last Saturday. He ran Re-Echo to a long neck and had the Winter Cup fancy all-out to win. If form is going to prove the most valuable guide, Apathy and Royal Order should be the best of the other South Island horses in the above 8-0 section of the handicap. Apathy, a member of W. J. Hillis's team, has already won six of her eight races this season. Although she has made her mark as a stayer, she has a sharp sprint a* well when “fresh-up. ' Apathy has not raced since April but looked as if she had done plenty of preparatory work when galloped between races at Waimate and Washdyke.

Royal Order might not be in the top flight of sprinters, but her best is still a lot better than average. She was the best of the milers behind

Palisade at Ashburton the last time she raced and ran seven furlong* successfully in the Amberley Cup in May. Wlngatui Prespet t

Otago'* sole runner. Magic Casement, must rate a chance with 7,13. This Perilous mare can both sprint and stay and her best victory—at the expense of Pailisade—was as a sprinter on her home course last month.

Coral Chief, Picket and Mhor are fairly talented Riccarton sprinters well down in the weights. Coral Chief was fourth behind the dead-heaters, ReEcho and Mantovani, in the Stewards’ Handicap at the Wellington winter meeting the last time he raced. That was his lone race at Trentham and his second in a fresh campaign. Coral Chief was nosed out of first by Gay Fox in the Brabazon Handicap last year. Picket's third in the Claremont Handicap at Washdyke last Saturday was encouraging form. He did not get the best of runs during the race and was forced very wide on the home turn. Winter tracks have caused Mhor to be sparingly raced. He had his first open-class 'est in the Amberley Cup in May and failed to get into the finish But form on the turning Amberley course might not be the most reliable guide Mhor's record in hack class would have been hard to fault.

Sabre To Miss Riccarton

“The Press" Special Service WELLINGTON, July 25. Sabre will not contest the Grand National Steeplechase at Riccarton next week. After he made ground for third in the Wellington Steeplechase. Sabre's near hind leg filled. He was left at Trentham in the hope that he would recover and compete at Riccarton.