RACING Blue Chip Could Win Again At Motukarara

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30895, 30 October 1965, Page 6

RACING Blue Chip Could Win Again At Motukarara

Blue Chip’s Riccarton trainer. J. B. Shaw, said yesterday morning that Messrs J. M. Orr and L. W. Wise’s Blueskin II colt would definitely run in the Little River Handicap at Motukarara today.

That should settle the question of favouritism in this race for two-year-olds at the Banks Peninsula Racing Club’s spring meeting.

Blue Chip will be trying to improve a sound record for his Sydney owners. In his two races to date he has gained a third and a first.

Today he will probably try to run it in front all the way as he did in the Fernside Nursery Handicap at Rangiora yesterday week. Blue Chip will not have to cope with Llanston, the runner-up to him at Rangiora, but Talic and Rival are other Riccarton youngsters which could offer strong opposition. Talic was third and Rival a fair fourth in the Fernside Nursery Handicap last Friday week. Both were having their first start in a race. Only five others in today’s field have had racing experience. The best of this group could be Smart Time, a My Pal filly prepared by G. G. Hampton at Washdyke. She finished fifth, but nearly six lengths from Blue Chip, in the Nightmarch Stakes at Orari a fortnight ago. It was a reasonable first run for she was one of the tail-enders on the home turn. Millie Small, which showed good speed in training on Thursday, could be the best of the unraced youngsters. This My Pal filly will be ridden by A. J. Stokes who rode El Beka to victory in this race last year.

Another attraction today will be the J. F. Buchanan Memorial Handicap, first leg of the T.A.B. double. Royal Bid, the New Zealand Cup top-weight, will probably be the popular fancy. But there should be solid backing also for Even Chance, Sir Robert and Marlow, which are also being prepared for next Saturday’s two-miler. Castle Flight is generally expected to come up with a winning trial for the Stewards’ Handicap on New Zealand Cup day in the Le Bons Handicap, second leg of the main double. Fairlane, also an acceptor for the rich Riccarton sprint, and Newbrook, which will be tried over more ground next week in the Riccarton Handicap, could be the hardest for the Wingatui-trained topweight to beat. There will be a double for course patrons only on the Kaituna High-weight and the Brackenfield Hack Handicap. Skeltheen and Fonteroy might be the successful combination. The forecast is for continued fine weather so the track will be firm.