Fieldmaster Has Right Form For Rangiora

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30887, 21 October 1965, Page 4

Fieldmaster Has Right Form For Rangiora

If ability to run out a middle distance strongly proves the best guide, Fieldmaster should take beating in the North Canterbury Handicap at Rangiora tomorrow.

Mr W. P. Engelbrecht’s Someo gelding is entitled to favouritism in the first leg of the North Canterbury Racing Club’s T.A.B. double on his form credentials alone.

Fieldmaster’s record this season has been very sound. He won as a sprinter at the Grand National meeting and showed that he was just as capable over more ground by winning the Geraldine Cup at his start before last. Beside his Geraldine Cup win Fieldmaster has recorded two minor placings from four starts over ground. At his first attempt he finished fourth in the Ashburton Cup. Last Saturday he ran on strongly for third in the Claude Stock Memorial at Orari. Fieldmaster, which E. J. Didham will ride, is prepared by B. T. Jones at Washdyke. Opportunity and Windvale Lass are other form runners trainers from that centre will saddle.

Opportunity, which is prepared by M. R. Jones, a brother to Fieldmaster's trainer, made his best showing since he graduated to open class at Wingatui last month when he beat Fieldmaster and chased Calvados . home at Orari last week. Windvale Lass made ground for fourth, a length from Fieldmaster, in the Claude Stock Memorial. She had filled the same place at her previous start in the Geraldine Cup. Skelton’s Mount Bell Man and Morris Francis will also represent Washdyke. Except for a third in the Ashburton Cup the latter’s recent form has not been of a high standard. But he could still have solid backing now that •R. J. Skelton has taken the mount. Bell Man showed much promise in his earlier racing this season but lately has not produced anything like the same dash. However, if he came up with one of his best runs he could be a major contender. Riccarton trainers will saddle at least half of the field but there is not a recent form runner among them. Perhaps, the best of them will be Marlow, which went a sound race to dead-heat for fifth in the Claude Stock Memorial when having his first start of the season, and Marlborough, one of the lightweights. Although well beaten in the Geraldine Cup, the last time he raced, Marlborough seems to reserve his best rims for this course. Three of his four wins in hack class were gained at Rangiora. Sprint Fancy Rangiora has also been a popular course with Marlborough's stablemate New-

brook, which will probably be a firm favourite for the Ronald Macdonald Handicap, second leg of the main double.

Newbrook will be trying to improve an outstanding record in this race. He was the Ronald Macdonald Handicap winner in 1962 and 1963 and was the runner-up to Foxy Boy 12 months ago.

Newbrook has the right form to make him look a top chance again. His record in three starts this season is a win and two thirds and in each of the races in which he gained minor placings he had to overcome checks in the running.

The best chances from Riccarton, beside Newbrook, might be Status Symbol, Mogambo and Apache. Status Symbol, a winner in

intermediate class at Orari last month, was a close fourth in the open sprint on the same course last week.

Mogambo was a minor place-getter over more ground in two starts at Westport early this month, and Apache ran one of his better races to finish second to Highland Fair in intermediate class at Orari last week. Gold View, sixth but no more than a length from the winner in the open sprint at Orari last week, will be Washdyke’s main hope. She has not managed more than minor placings in her races this season but combined successfully with R. J. Skelton, who will be her rider tomorrow, over this distance at Washdyke in July. Fields, with form, for the T.A.B. double races are: 2.25 p.m.— NORTH CANTERBURY HANDICAP,

£525; Um. st. lb. 4713 Fieldmaster flO) .. 8 10 3358 Bell Man (13) ..8 4 3560 Morris Fancis (6) ..8 4 5 Marlow (9) ..8 0 009 Meandering (11) ..8 0 00 Duplex (4) . . .. 7 13 1552 Opportunity (7) .. 7 13 0095 Dark Seaman (12) .. 7 11 0909 Waverley (1) .. 7 11 79 Marlborough (3) .. 7 11 087 Race Guide (2) .. 7 11 544 Windvale Lass (8) . . 7 11 Scratched: Gold Find (5). 3.55 p.m — RONALD MACDONALD HANOICAP, £350; 6f. St. lb. 313 Newbrook (8) .. 8 10 5346 Gold View (5) .. 8 1 0 General Gilbert (9) 7 13 7 Deladana (11) . . 7 12 Carester (7) .. 7 12 9542 Mogambo (3) .79 7914 Status Symbol (10) 7 9 4 Vivien Rose (2) ..79 0660 Gabbler (1) ..78 0802 Apache (4) ..78 1544 Waitohi (6) ..78