RACING For Sure Could Test Stayers At Ashburton

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30531, 28 August 1964, Page 4

RACING For Sure Could Test Stayers At Ashburton

If For Sure produces one of his best staying runs he should take beating in the Tinwald Handicap at Ashburton tomorrow. For Sure is one of the light-weights and Otago’s lone runner in the first leg of the Ashburton County Racing Club’s double.

For Sure, which will be trying for his first open-class win, was fourth in the Islington Handicap on the final day of the Grand National meeting this mouth. In that race he was well beaten by Count Filou and Valuate but came fast from the ruck to run Triple Bel to a neck.

During the autumn andi winter For Sure showed he; was a versatile performer in all types of going. He beat the hack stayers on firm ground at Blenheim and did the same at Waimate where the going was good. When he cleared hack company on his home course, at Wingatui, in June, the going was soft One of For Sure’s wins was at a mile and five furlongs. The others were both over a mile and three furlongs, the same distance as he will be going tomorrow. For Sure will be one of four five-year-olds in a field of 15. His strongest rivals, perhaps, will be in the same age group and Riccarton-trained. The other five-year-olds are Zinder, the top-weight with 9-0, Count Pedro (8-1) and Golden Vanity, which has 7-8, the same as For Sure. Firm Tracks Zinder has done nothing of note since the tracks became soft but his staying form last season when the tracks were quite firm was well above average. His three distance wins included the Timaru Cup and the County Handicap, one mile and three furlongs, at Ashburton in May. Mr and Mrs Tutton, who race Zinder, also have McCool in the field. This big Balloch gelding should appreciate any easing in the ground with yesterday’s rain. Count Pedro, like Zinder, prefers a firm track. He gained his first open-class win at Washdyke in June on a track which was good. But he did not have footing to suit at the Carterton meeting last Saturday week. In the circumstances his third—well behind Bagush but close up on Capless—argued well for his fitness. Golden Vanity, like For Sure, has no open-class wins on her record. But she showed at the Grand National meeting where she gained a

third as a sprinter and a close fifth and a sixth in the staying events that she was fast approaching peak form. Although still fairly highstrung this Summertime mare should eventually develop good form as a stayer. Her dam is Shot Silk, a Waikato Gold Cup winner. From a patron’s point of view the problem horse of the field will be Boundless. This will be the first race since February for this very good Riccarton four-year-old. He has worked like a winner but he goes very keenly and it will just be a question of whether he can last out the distance. Although he faces a formidable task his class could still carry him through. Sprint Fancies The Riccarton stablemates. Newbrook and Magician, and the Wingatui three-year-old. Combination, should be three of the stronger fancies for the Flying Handicap, second leg of the double. Newbrook and Magician are two open class sprinters near the top of the handicap and Combination is one of the light-weights. The Riccarton pair, both members of J. S. Shaw’s team, lack recent racing. Newbrook has not raced since the summer and Magician’s last run was on his home track in April. But in the past both have gone very well fresh and recent track trials indicate they might do the same thing again. On the other hand Combination is a little more seasoned. He started a fresh campaign with a second and first at the Grand National meeting. That first-up defeat cost him a sequence of five wins in a row. This will be the Bellborough gelding’s first open class test but everything he has done so far suggests he will measure up to the class. Approval, the top-weight,

Morris Francis and Fairlane are three capable sprinters from South Canterbury in the field. Approval won five open sprints last season before his form tapered off. Fairlane is endowed with plenty of pace. She won five times as a two-year-old and concluded her racing last season with a win over this distance at Ashburton in May, The best of the others could be Riccarton-trained. They are Royal Leigh and Seaend which were both open sprint winners last season.