On Purpose Cup Hope For Waikato

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30340, 16 January 1964, Page 4

On Purpose Cup Hope For Waikato

“The Press” Special Service MATAMATA, January 15. Waikato horses will be there in force at Trentham on Saturday. They face stronger opposition from the South Island than for many years but look sure to win their share of the honours.

In the spring Matamata sent five runners to Wellington. and four won. With On Purpose in the Wellington Cup they stand their best chance of causing an upset in that race as B. Sullivan did in 1953 with Crimson King. On Purpose was an unlucky third at Avondale on Saturday. After brilliantly beating Cracksman at weight-for-age at Te Rapa in November she was hurt and missed work. Well before her best, she failed in the Waikato Cup and o'her races right up to Ellerslie. The racing improved her a lot and her Avondale form was first class. She has not been to Trentham since the Waikato horses swept the board there last March and she was very unluckily beaten by Straight Irish in the two-mile Chalmers Handicap. Ilumquh Favoured That day she carried 7-7 J and lost by a long head after being almost brought down three from home. Now she has 7-8. Waikato trainers and racing men feel that Ilumquh with 9-0 has been made a neat present of the Wellington Cup but also feel they will give him a run for the money, especially with On Purpose. Senor, Summer Regent, and High Mark. The last-named trio were first, third and fourth in the Auckland Cup. High Mark will be better suited by Trentham than Ellerslie and is from the stable that won with Jalna in 1960. Jalna, incidently, is now in foal to Empire Way. Semprini is most favoured by Waikato trainers for the Telegraph. He is probably a better horse over seven furlongs that six, as he proved when he just caught Final Command over that distance at Te Rapa in November. With the Trentham six almost straight, the Telegraph is seldom won by a sheer sprinter and Semprini’s brilliant finish will be an asset. Just before Christmas Semprini had his hardest winning race when he only caught Udare on the post in the sprint at Te Aroha, a straight every bit as testing a s Wellington. Udare hurt a hip shortly after and missed Ellerslie, but resumed and failed at Thames Improved with that race, he was a good fifth at Avondale on Saturday and could again prove hard to beat at Trentham. Good Day Peter could only finish fifth at Avondale but his astute trainer, H. Long, said that the horse later de-’ veloped a very sore wither. He is certainly a better horse than that run indicated. His s’ablemate, Garden Place, is the best young horse the Waikato has sent down for the Anniversary Handicap since

Khorazami which at hi? first start in open class beat Ilumquh. He looks the main rival for the highly-rated southern three-year-old Boundless, with Hilldale and Sir Henry likeliest of the others from here.

The Matamata trainer, T C. Alcock has made many trips to Trentham and has failed to win a race only on one occasion, when Count One struck rain for the Thompson Handicap last year. He has taken this good galloper and Umpah south this time and looks to have a small but likely team. Count One is second topweight in the Telegraph Handicap with 9-3. His class might carry him through, but it seems unlikely. He has had many attempts at six and seven furlongs in open class races and has never won or looked like winning any of them. His prospects look brightest in the mile Adams Handicap later at the meeting Better Work Umpah, unluckily beaten by Aro at Avondale works better and has won left-handed, and will run in the rich hack mile on the second day. A. C. McGovern and Dandeinee have found Trentham a happy hunting ground, winning a race on each of their previous forays there. Dandeinee has had a strenuous time but has been kept in good order. He has been freshened up for the Telegraph Handicap and should be close at the finish. Dandeinee will probably be the main northern hope for the Gloaming Stakes, a mile and a half, on the second day but if Odeon runs well at Pukekohe he may be sent down. The Te Aroha trainer D. M. Perkinson has had bad luck with this big Gigantic gelding. Odeon has a club foot on the right front. It severely hampers him right-handed, but he still ran second in the Queen’s Plate over a mile at Ellerslie.