SHAHRUA PICKED FOR WOODVILLE STEEPLES

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30739, 1 May 1965, Page 6

SHAHRUA PICKED FOR WOODVILLE STEEPLES

"The Press” Special Service WELLINGTON. The 1965 steeplechase season, which began for lower North Island districts last Wednesday at Waverley, moves into full stride with the Gaisford Steeplechase at the Woodville meeting today. It carries the smallest stake for the Gaisford since the race was first known by the name in 1954, and it has drawn the biggest acceptance in the same period. At the end of April and in early May the winter season has hardly caused a shiver and the connexions of many good steeplechasers are happy to leave the stable door closed until the big prizes are offering in June. July, August, and later months. This practice numbers the Gaisford among its principal victims and fields have diminished in size, though not always in strength, from 15 as recently as 1960 to eight in 1962 and nine last year. If it were to retain the race the Woodville District Jockey Club had no choice but to lower its sights and this year for tne first time the Gaisford was demoted to the standing of a hack and hunters’ steeplechase. There has been a corresponding drop in stakes, from £1025 to £775. First choice and the probable favourite is last year’s Gaisford winner. Shahrua. He is probably more seasoned than most of his opponents and he is better performed than most. Baloo and Summer Flight, which are both trained by E. Ropiha, are chosen for the T.A.B. double. Baloo is in the President’s Handicap. His last win was at Awapuni, where this Woodville meeting will be held. It was in the Manawatu Cup in December and he has raced well in most of his nine starts His last start was at Feilding a fortnight ago and he ran a He won the President s Handicap last year Summer Flight has drawn for th' n ? eld reduced to 15 Telegraph Handicap. B ' Ves him ,itt,e ad ’ vantage over most of his favoured opponents. Fascinate is one exception. She drawn No. 20 and though

scratchings will improve the situation, she will probably find herself calling heavily oh her strong finishing run. Selections:— 11 a.m.—Hopelands Hurdles: Conspirator, Tyrol, Vivid Light 11.40 a.m.—First Novice Plate: Lady Wild, Bonzai, Strikeout 12.20 p.m.—Gaisford Steeplechase: Shahrua, Sirrom, Captain Panair. 1 p.m.—Maharahara Hack Handicap: Corina, Dervish, Flounce. 1.45 p.m.—President’s Handicap: Baloo, High Disdain, Fine Time. 2.20 p.m.—S eco n d Novice Plate: Sir Guy, San Leonardo, Rossmoyne. 2.55 p.m.—Kumeroa Hack Handicap: Ladv Mataara, Sherlocks, infection. 3.35 p.m.—Telegraph Handicap: Summer Flight Fascinate, Lei. 4-20 p.m.—Victoria Hack Handicap: Vijay, Kurrajong, Goldtone. Fields:— U.U a.m HOPELANDS HURDLES, £500; 13f.—Conspirator (1) 10-6 Vivid Light (8) 9-10; Coalseam (13) 9-4: Tyrol (9) 9-2; Aloft (5), Fabriano <«). Galacie (15). Gallant Knight (11), Homespun (14) Tarzan (3), The Nob (12). Travelling Light (IS) 9-0. Bracket: Exador and Fabriano. Scratched: Amber Wine (2), Stitch (7). Henry (1). Exador 11.40 a.m.— FIRST NOVICE PLATE, £250: 7f-—Bel Avenir (10), Birthmark (15) Bonzai (2). Dorabel (7), Fox Marie (9). Golden Dome <3), Hello Kathey (1), Lady Wild (8), Mamie Stover (13), Robin Marie (IS), Ronama (4), Strikeout (S), Stylish Princess (11) Stylish Rose (17), Suntor (5), Te Pari Star (14). Zelma (12) 8-9.

12.20 p.m.— W- H. GAISFORD STEEPLECHASE, £800: 21m.—Shahrua 119) 10-5; Oneroa (6) 10-4; Kenloch (14) 10-2; Ballador (15) 10-1; Summer Day (1) 9-11; Count D’Azure (5), Prejudice (18), Captain Panair (10) 9-4; Vivid Light (2) 9-2: Captain Bennie (17). Facade (13), Gold Spire (IS). Ripahucki (7), Sirrom (3). Starloch (20) 9-0. Brackets: Gold Tie and Stitch; Royal Courage and Count D’Azure: Ballador and Prejudice. Scratched: Banger (12). Gold Tie (4). Stitch (8). Royal Courage (11), Courageous (9).

MARHARAHARA HANDICAP, £350; 7f.—Dervish (4) 9-0; Lucky Rebel (1) 8-12; Corina (7) 8-3; Gave All (8) 8-2; Flounce (10) 81; Storytime (9), Autobe (15) 7-13; Watchet (18) 7-11; Furst Lady (16), Golden Bay (11), Lady Janus (14), L’Arc (13), That's Fair (5), Thone (2). Valcorn (6), Vickie Leigh (17), Hylander (3) 7-10. Scratched: Sherlocks (12). 1.45 p.m.—

2.20 p.m.— SECOND NOVICE PLATE, £250; 7f.—Bourke Mail (15), Huntor (9), Just Sam (11), Lightning Chief (1), Lord Aurora (12), Malpas (4), Moving (14), Potan (3), Punch (7), Recharge (2), Red Band (10), Rossmoyne (8), San Leonardo (6), Sir Guy (13), Comitus (5), Olympian (16) 8-9. 2.55 p.m.— KUMEROA HACK HANDICAP, £350 ; 6f.—King George (6) 8-6; Lady Mataara (3) 8-5; Sherlocks (7) 8-2; Infection (8), Classic Way (1) 8-1; Sir Juvante (10) 7-10; Justice Mac (2), Mossburn (5), Quinella (9), Zihl (4) 7-9.

Scratched. Wyndee (10). Star of Kildare (12), Peacemaker (8). 440 p.m.— „XJ CT ® R ' A „ HACK HANDICAP, £450; Ilf.—Kurrajong (2) 9-0-Goldtone (3) 8-13; Black Ice (7) 8-8; Vijay (20) 8-7; Worthy Chat (14) 8-5; Matea (4) 8-4; Rockline (17) 8-2; Golden Rebel (12) 8-1; Far Cry (9), 8-0: Altina (21), Autumn Haze (IS), Donperi (13). Doressa (15). Estate (22), Garnishee (8), Gay M a rco (19). Magog (1). Prince pnchall <n) ’ Sapphire Bing

Scratched: Fontenella (5), That’s For Sure (6), Lordtuckey (18).

PRESIDENTS HANDICAP. £1000; Ilf. 8363 Baloo (6) st. lb 8 10 2421 High Disdain (5) 8 8 9000 Big Bill (131 8 2 0516 Kaupane (2) 7 12 4222 El Ganador (7) 7 10 2058 Bright Coral (14) 7 6 2501 Laramie, (1) 7 6 3003 Fine Time (17) 7 3 4821 Tilly Light (3) 7 3 450 Mireusonta (11) 7 2 0000 Triple Bel (18) 7 2 5000 Fleeting Moment (4) 7 1 7700 Aorangi (10) 7 0 9080 Blue Defaulter (17) .. 7 0 19 Matauenga (12) 7 0 1099 Boley (8) 7 0 0000 Top Lad (16) 7 0 0304 Vigour (9) .. 7 0

3.35 p.m.— rELEGRAFH HANDICAP. £700; 7f. 3517 Gymkhana (4) St. 8 lb 13 0816 Lucky Son (15) 8 10 3244 Plantation (9) 8 7 1120 Red View (14) 8 4 2100 David Jeff (13) 8 545 Lei (1) 7 7 7158 Velvet (18) 7 1471 Young Margaret (3) 7 7 0805 Gayestephan (19) 7 6 3537 Count Carmel <6) .. 7 5603 Summer Flight <5) .. 7 3 7306 Fascinate (20) 7 1 3370 Red Shadow (2) 7 0000 Athlone (17) 7 0 6909 Hello Kinfel (16) 7 0 0504 Monetary (7) 7 0 1128 Sir Blue (11) 7 0