TROTTING Samantha-Chief Hall For Epsom Double

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30235, 13 September 1963, Page 5

TROTTING Samantha-Chief Hall For Epsom Double

I he Mangere-trained six-year-old, Chief Hall, is likely to be the second leg of a popular double combination at Alexandra Park when the Auckland Trotting Club opens its meeting tomorrow night.

Chief Hall, an easy winner over a mile and a half at Hutt Park earlier this month, will start from the limit in the two miles Takanini Handicap, the second leg of the double.

The favourite in the first leg, the September Handicap, is likely to be the Yaldhursttrained mare, Samantha.

Samantha and Chief Hail both smart performers in good form, have the added advantage of recent racing. Samantha is the only one of the 12 entries in the September Handicap which has raced since March. In the Takarana Handicap only four runners besides Chief Hall have raced this season. Samantha is 'the backmarker on 24 yards with Panui in the September Handicap. but this should not be too great a handicap for her in the 13 furlongs and 96 yards event.

This season Samantha has raced very well, and though she has not won she has been placed at all four starts. On two occasions she ran second to Cardigan Bay and on another she came third behind the deadheaters Cardigan Bay and Junior Royal in the National Handicap ait Addington. At her latest start, Samantha was third to Cardigan Bay and Master Alan in the President s Handicap at Hurt Park. Valcador and Call Boy. are •elected as Samantha's toughest opponents.

Valcador lias not raced since March, when he ran second to Gentry ait Alexandra Park, where he has usually performed well. His last win was in the two-mile Henderson Handicap there in February.

Call Boy is reported to be very fit. An unreliable beginner. he will be hard to beat here if, he goes away well. Last Saturday, at the matinee meeting at Pukekoihe. he inowed a tot of speed and went an excellent race for fourth after being badly away. Another runner which may be well supported is Dundee. He did not win last season, but he went well at the Pukekohe matinee and may be ready again to show good form. Fresh Runners Two of the runners in the September Handicap will be making fresh starts after lengthy spells. They are Lavengro, which last raced in February, 1962, and Hau-tia-pu. which will be having his first start since 1961. Lavengro’s absence from racing was a result of recurrent soreness. He made an encouraging showing at Pukekohe, where he came sixth. Second placings at both the matinee meetings at which he has apjieared recently indicated that Hautapu is well forward for his new campaign. A former South Island pacer. Guineas, and the Ma-taura-tnained Highland Step might provide the most opposition to Chief Hall in the

second leg. the Takanini Handicap. Highland Step made his first appearance for the season at New Brighton. last Saturday, in the McKenna Handicap. He was wide out ait the middle of the field most of the way, and finished sixteenth. That race would have improved him. Guineas, which used to be trained ait Templeton by F. E. Newfield, is now in the Takanini stable of J. Campbell, for whom he will be having his first start this week. The track i* in splendid order. Selections.— 6.50 p.m.—United Handicap: Great Adios, Direct Cobra, Night Prince. 7.25 p.m.—lntroductory Handicap: Five Star, Little Smoke, Lassie Hanover. 7.55 p.m.—Glenfield Handicap: Gipsy Hanover, Adios Heather. Culater. 8.30 p.m.—September Handicap: Samantha, Valcador, Call Boy. 9 p.m.—Royal Oak Handicap: Pohutukawa, Min Scott, Light Oak. 930 p.m.—Grey Lynn Handicap: Full Sovereign, Whaka, Steigerman. 10 p.m—Takanini Handicap: Chief Hall, Guiness, Highland Step. 10.30 p.m.—Franklin Handicap: Anarca Direct, Golden Ego, No Reply. Double fields, with form, are:— SEPTEMBER HANDICAP, £l3OO ; 2:12 class; 13f 96yds. 9207 Call Boy (4) .. .. It. 0043 Earl Delta (7) ..It. 1799 Globe’s Birthday (6) .. It Hautapu (1) .. • • It. 7615 Johnny Cabot (5) .. It. 8074 Masie Direct (3) .. It. 2102 Valcador (2) .. it. 0007 Dundee (2) .. ..12 9870 Flying Fiver (3) .. 12 Lavengro (1) ..12 8896 Panui (1) .. ..24 2323 Samantha (2) ..24 Bracket: Call Boy and Lavengro. TAKANINI HANDICAP, £1100; 2:13 class; 2m. 1631 Auto Tryax (2) .. It. 4441 Chief Hall (8) .. It. 90 Frontier Lad (11) .. It. 0956 Guiness (7) .. ..It. 4900 Highland Step (9) .. It. 5190 Ingemar (10) ..It. 4947 Jon boy Star (1) .. It 0607 Kariba (6) .. ..It, 2746 Mighty Mina (5) .. It. 9990 Southern Cross (4) .. It. 0007 Wexford Chief (3j .. it. 5120 Dandy Andy (3) .. 12 7507 Desiree (1) .. .. 12 0425 Schnapps (2) .. .. 12 Bracket: Jonboy Star and Desiree.