Gay Filou, Llanmai For C.J.C. Double

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30289, 15 November 1963, Page 4

Gay Filou, Llanmai For C.J.C. Double

Gay Filou, from Riccarton, and Llanmai, from 1 rentham, are picked to win the double on the final day of the Canterbury Jockey Club’s New Zealand Cup meeting at Riccarton tomorrow. Gay Filou is in the £3OOO Metropolitan Handicap, of one mile and a half, and Llanmai will run against the milers in the £3lOO Caltex Stakes, the club’s first sponsored race.

Gay Filou was fourth in the Canterbury Gold Cup on Wednesday, and everything suggests that this was the run of an improver.

It was his first race beyond a sprint distance on his present campaign, and should have been of excellent value in sharpening him for a mile and a half, which is perhaps his best distance. Gay Filou could not find sharp finishing speed when the pace quickened near the half-mile in the Canterbury Gold Cup. and faded slightly in the last furlong. But it was one of many solid runs on his record, and it looked a pointer to an early victory. Gay Filou has 7-12 and is 211 b below Beauzami. They met in the Canterbury Gold Cup and Beauzami gave the Riccarton gelding 131 b and beat him by a length for third. Form Horse Beauzami carried 8-13 in the Canterbury Gold Cup. which was a limited handicap. He has 9-5 in the Metropolitan, but in his present form he looks a bright place possibility, at the least. Wingatui will have form runners in Kumai, Palisade, and Royal News; and Royal Bid could improve the solid record of Southland horses at the meeting. Kumai was third and Palisade fourth behind Beauzami and Sy beau in the New Zealand Cup last Saturday. Royal Bid showed fine finishing speed at the end of a mile and a quarter to win

the Fendalton Handicap on Wednesday. At a mile and a half he should again beat Royal News, the Fendalton Handicap third. Gay Defoe has already won two Metropolitans but could pot have raised his connexions’ hopes for a third win in . the race by failing in the Fendalton Handicap on Wednesday. Count Filou failed to stay two miles in the New Zealand Cup, and might need some easing in the ground before he manages to shine at a mile and a half. But the distance should not trouble the Riccarton lightweight, Picright. He finished better than anything for fifth in the Fendalton Handicap. and appeared to lose the race by failing to jump away with the others. Another form runner in the tail of the handicap is Sailorman. a fair fourth in the Riccarton Handicap last Saturday, and a close fourth in the Fendalton Handicap on Wednesday. Second Leg The Dunedin-owned and Trentham-trained Llanmai opened his present Riccarton campaign promisingly with a second to the brilliant Bellarook in the Stewards' Handicap last Saturday. Bellarook beat him by a length in the Stewards' Handicap. when receiving slb. Llanmai will meet Bellarook 81b better in the Caltex Stakes and that might help him to even the score over more ground. Blyton. Wilful, and Baloo are three more talented northern gallopers in the Caltex Stakes field.

Blyton ran Magician close in the Canterbury Gold Cup. and Wilful was an unlucky second behind Shakes in the Jockey Club Handicap. Baloo was well beaten on an easy track in the Stewards' Handicap, but he is better at a mile than at six furton®s. and has done- best when the ground is firm. This Woodville-trained six-year-old galloped brilliantly in training yesterday. Magician and Shakes earned starts, in Obe Caltex Stakes with wins on their home course on Wednesday They have drawn well, have She early speed to hold good positions, and the pluck to battle strongly to (tie end.