TROTTING Cairnbrae Favoured For Stakes At Ashburton

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30560, 1 October 1964, Page 5

TROTTING Cairnbrae Favoured For Stakes At Ashburton

If Cairnbrae has made the impro vement expected as a result of his second to King Hal at the New Brighton meeting on September 19 he could return to winning form in the Ashburton Flying Stakes on Saturday.

Like most of the horses handicapped behind the limit, Cairnbrae will need more than average luck to secure a reasonable run in an unwieldy field of 24, which includes a number of horses which appear to be out of their class.

It is unfortunate that the Ashburton club set a limit on the race allowing horses on 2:12 to compete. Some of these runners look to be near the end of the road and, as they have shown in some other invitation races this season, they hamper the goodclass horses which have to start from behind the limit. Cairnbrae is one of a bracket of four. His stablemate, King Hal, will prove a worthwhile second string, but Peel and Urrall will have to show improvement on their efforts so far this season to be a serious threat.

Cairnbrae was having his first start for some months when he finished second to King Hal at Addington Raceway. He was very slow away and was last after 100 yards. He put in a great run to be one of the leaders for the last six furlongs and it was only in the last 50 yards that he was headed by his stablemate. Cairnbrae looks in great order at present and if he races as well as he did at Addington, he will be hard to catch. King Hal, too. is right back to the splendid form he showed earlier in his career. His win at the New Brighton meeting was well merited as he had raced most consistently earlier in the season. King Hal has been penalised six yards for his win at Addington and that might not be sufficient to keep him out of the finish once more. Stiff Task Lordship and Vanderford are the two class horses in the field. Lordship is the backmarker on 48 yards and he will be set a stiff assignment in this big field. However, he is too good to leave out of calculations. He had to miss a race at the New Brighton meeting because of a slight injury received in his paddock. He did not miss much work as a result and he could well make a bold bid to win this race for a second time. Vanderford, on 30 yards,

won this race from 12 yards 12 months ago. He has been placed in his five starts so far this season and is due to win at short notice. His most recent placing was a fast-fin-ishing fourth in the race won by King Hal a fortnight ago. He received a poor run most of the way and wended his way through his rivals in great style in the straight. Four Successive Garcon d’Or has had four successive wins this season and will be one of the brightest prospects among the horses on the front He will meet much stronger opposition than in any of his other races, but that should not stop him giving a good account of himstif. Jay Ar will strengthen G. B. Noble’s representation in the race. Jay At, too, has raced consistently this season, with a win at Auckland at his last start. Jay Ar is good enough to race prominently, even from 24 yards. Avante, winner of the Ashburton Cup last December, paced his best race for some time when He finished third in the sprint won by Bluff at Addington a fortnight ago. This will be a much tougher proposition, but if he receives a good trail until inside the last furlong, he could surprise. Sound Prospect However, Deft appeals more. She paced her best race for the season when third to King Hal and Cairn-

brae a fortnight ago. In the past she has paced her best races on grass tracks and it will not surprise if she is close up. Flying Blue is another sound prospect He has recovered fully from the injury which interrupted his preparation towards the end of July and he recorded a pleasing effort at the Methven trials on Tuesday. He has the happy knack of winning in strong company when least expected. Highland Step must be considered after his decisive win in the Methven Cup, while Junior Royal and Safe Return must be respected. Junior Royal was a shade unlucky when eighth in the race won by King Hal recently. He has more ability than most in the race and if he can take full advantage of his brilliance, he could be close up.

Safe Return has not had much luck lately and there was merit in his Methven Cup fifth. A win for any of the others would be a major upset and the pick of them could be Oreti, a good seventh at Addington on September 19 and a winner at the Methven trials on Tuesday. Rehandicaps Rehandicaps for trotting meetings on Saturday are:— Ashburton President’s Handicap: Quesnel, now 36 yards. Seafieid Handicap: Happy Ending, now 36 yards. Te Awamutu October Handicap: Waiuku, now 36 yards.