RACING R. J. Skelton’s Mount For Marlborough Cup

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30738, 30 April 1965, Page 4

RACING R. J. Skelton’s Mount For Marlborough Cup

No one will be surprised if R. J. Skelton, who rode Friar's Birthday and Court Belle to win two of the major races for stayers at the CJ.C. autumn meeting, makes another notable contribution to his race-riding record in the Marlborough Cup at Blenheim tomorrow.

Skelton’s mount in the first leg of the TA.B. double on the first day of the Marlborough Racing Club’s annual meeting will be Lorastan, the runner-up to Friar’s Birthday at his last start.

Lorastan has no winning runs on his record this season but his Dominion Handicap second was one of his more notable placings, Another was his second in the Oamaru Autumn Cup last month to Court Belle, last Saturday’s Great Autumn and Wattie Gold Cup winner.

ff Lorastan has held the form which enabled him to gain either of those placings he could give Skelton his second Marlborough Cup victory.

Skelton's first winning ride in the race was on Pacisana in 1961. Lorastan is second topweight in a fairly cramped handicap. He has 8-8, lib less than the locally-trained Foxy Boy and 81b more than the tail-enders. Foxy Boy will be trying to improve a sound record for his Picton owner, Mrs C. G. Humphries. He has already won three races this season and two of those were over a middle distance. The most recent was in the Ashhurst Cup towards the end of January. In that event he gave Sailaway weight and a beating and he was going the same distance as he will be tomorrow. Golden Vanity. Silver Kingdom, Dark Seaman and Marlow will represent Riccarton stables. If recent form proves the most reliable guide Golden Vanity, a middle distance winner at Oamaru in March and a minor place-getter over this distance at Ashburton early this month, should be Canterbury’s strongest representative. Prospects From North North Island stables will put seven runners into the field. The best of these are generally expected to be Harvest Moon and Bon Voyage. Harvest Moon struck a lean patch of form after winning the President’s Handicap from a strong field of open stayers at Tauherenikau early in January but he shaped as if he was close to his best again with a fourth in the Easter Handicap on the same course last Monday week. Bon Voyage has no open class form but he has been racing well in heigh-weight and distance hack events in the north lately. Bon Voyage is one of 10 runners on the minimum. The best of the others could be Star Quality, a winner against the open milers at Riverton on Easter Monday and a member of the powerful Winsloe stable at Gore. Second Leg Fancies R. J. Skelton's mount in the second leg of the main double, the Stewards’ Handicap. will be Toureg. That is bound to bring additional support for this veteran sprinter from Carterton but it is still unlikely that he will be highest on the list of strong fancies. But a Skelton could still be heavily involved in the finish for one of the most popular fancies will be Combination. the probable mount for RJ.'s younger brother. Max. M. J. Skelton was not on Combination when he beat the open sprinters at Riverton on Easter Monday but he was the Wingatui three-year-old's rider when he finished a close fourth behind Dhuran. Royal Chase and Tundra in the Waltham Handicap at Riccarton last Saturday. Hushaway, fifth in the Great Easter Handicap and an unlucky third against the milers it the Templeton Handicap last Wednesday week, will have also made Riccarton form valuable if he is one of the major contenders tomorrow. He should certain-

ly be Riccarton’s strongest hope. Flying Trix and 'fanners are two swift sprinters which Southland trainers will saddle. Of these two Manners, which has much the better of the weights and the barrier positions as well, might fare best at seven furlongs.

But the best that the south can produce will probably have to run up to their peak form to keep Arbelle and Damselle, two North Island light-weights, out of the finish. The Trentham-trained Arbelle has produced some of her best sprint runs at Blenheim. Damselle has come right into favour after good work in training at Awapuni this week.

Rae’s Hope, Totara Lad and Vivien Robe will be form runners from West Coast stables. Of this trio Rae’s

Hope, a last start winner against the open sprinters at Motukarara appeals most.

Marlborough Riders Riding engagements for Marlborough include: R. J. Skelton: Lorastan. Toureg, Jester Jinks, Leo, Keep. Captain Howe, Hamadan, Te Anau Lad. D. N. Hadfield: Yatama, Marlow. Trold, Status Symbol, Corsica. G. E. Lowry: William David. E. G. Lowe: Silver Kingdom, Filspar, Takatua, Debbie Marie. P. J. Daly; Pee Wee, Cumberland. J. A. Messent: Mighty Bank. G. W. Mein: Totara Lad, Golden Vanity, Jaydee, Expel, Aoudo. A. J. Stokes: Everglades, Hushaway, Llansfair, Luzonite. L. N. McCutcheon: Sir Limond. R. W. Taylor: Royal Admiral, Saturnian, Llansgaro, Damselle, Friendly Miss, Leone. A. J. Tweedie: Gold Shower. R. O. Cairns: Clipper. B. D. Collins: Idle Chatter. R. K. Moir: Donna Gola. R. A. Jenkins: Sir Loin, Bold Invader, Almiranta. Ana. Idle Chatter, Valbaean, Tax Evader N. E. Eastwood: Foxy Boy. Arbelle. J. R. Dowling: Star Quality, Magic Mirror, Flying Trix. Southern Belle.

1.55 p.m.— MARLBOROUGH CUP, £750: Ilf. lb st. 1600 Foxy Boy (10) 8 9 2792 Lorastan (13) 8 8 1530 Golden Vanity (5) 8 6 5509 Silver Kingdom (14) 8 5 2000 Dark Seaman (1) .. 8 3 0085 Saturnian (2) 8 2 3104 Bon Voyage (6) 8 0 0097 For Sure i3) 8 0 0079 Iranui (15) .. 8 0 9007 Marlow (4) 8 0 0800 Robin Adair <7) 8 0 8800 Sea Prince (9) 8 0 009 Sir Torre (12) 8 0 6617 Star Quality (11) .. 8 0 0007 Tax Evader (16) 8 0 2570 The Missionary (8) .. 8 0 Scratched: Harvest Moon (17). 3.50 p.m.— STEWARDS' HANDICAP £505; 7f. st. lb 2605 Flying Trix (15) .. 8 10 8853 Hushaway <14) 7 13 2580 Manners (3) 7 11 7008 Golden Romance (5) 7 10 0850 Toureg (8) 7 10 0714 Combination (7) 7 8 7341 Rae’s Hope (4) 7 8 1254 Totara Lad (12) 9 - 4367 Arbelle (1) - 6 4207 Damselle (13) 7 5 6490 Waverley (2) 7 5 3622 Shanty Town (11) .. 7 9 1140 Vivien Robe (9) 7 1 8640 Candida (16) 7 0 9608 Cantelo (6) 7 0 9800 Donna Cola. (17) 7 0 1000 Etoile Este (10) 7 0