TROTTING Poupette, Cloudy Bay Might Win Double

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30981, 10 February 1966, Page 4

TROTTING Poupette, Cloudy Bay Might Win Double

Poupette and Cloudy Bay form a strong combination for the T.A.B. double at the Canterbury Park Trotting Club’s autumn meeting at Addington Raceway on Saturday.

Poupette was an easy winner over two miles at Forbury Park last Saturday, but Cloudy Bay . was checked and pulled up in his race at the same meeting.

Poupette showed superior stamina to win last week. She began brilliantly from 24 yards and was always prominent. Once into the straight she was switched wide out on the track and her trainer-driver, H. W. Cox, had her under restraint at the finish where she beat Snow Globe by a length. A six-yard penalty and a distance shorter by three furlongs than that at Forbury Park should not stop Poupette making another winning run. Unlucky Third The Leeston pair, Asia Minor and When, will probably vie for favouritism with Poupette. Asia Minor finished an unlucky third from the limit behind Harbour Light (12 yards) and Poupette (18 yards) in the Canterbury Park Trotting Cup on January 1. Under invitation conditions he meets Poupette on 12 yards worse terms in spite of the fact that since then Poupette has won twice to Asia Minor’s one win. Asia Minor’s win was under free-for-all conditions on January 3 when he beat Harbour Light, Queen’s Cord and Poupette, while Poupette was also successful at Hutt Park. When, the backmarker on 36 yards, will not be a forlorn chance after two unlucky placings at Hutt Park last month. Another bracket assured of strong support is that of Castleton’s Gift and Uteena. Castleton’s Gift looks reasonably placed on the limit. He was a splendid fifth on the middle night at the Dunedin Festival Cup meeting on a track which did not suit him. Given firm footing on Saturday, he could make the handicapped horses work hard for a win. Uteena’s racing at Forbury Park was of a high standard. She was an unlucky second on the first night and gained a win and a third from her two other starts. She is in grand form at present and another bold showing is expected. Acquit although inclined to hang badly in his races, has trotted fairly well lately, finishing second and fourth in hjs last two of three starts at Forbury Park. He is always liable to surprise. Won Last Month Harbour Light showed her true form at the Canterbury Park meeting on January 1 and 3. She won the Canterbury Park Trotting Cup and was beaten narrowly bv Asia Minor under free-for-all conditions. This week she will be without the services of her usual driver, M. Holmes, but that should not stop her showing to advantage once more in spite of her awkward handicap of 24 yards. A win for any of the others on the limit would be a major upset, although the hardy four-year-old, M-arshella, cannot be overlooked. Flaming Way, on 18 yards, should be a better prospect. He has trotted most encouraging races in his last three starts. He is always capable of surprising, but it is hard to see him finishing in front of Poupette Asia Minor, and Castleton’s Gift. Cloudy Bay, an impressive sprint winner on the middle night at Forbury Park, should make a bold bid to win the February Handicap, which has drawn a field of very mixed class.

Cloudy Bay was badly checked at the start of the Dunedin Festival Cup Final last Saturday. By the time he had settled down he was too far back to have any chance and D. C. Watts pulled him up. His previous form this season was of a very high standard and he looks likely to be one of the biggest winners this autumn. Under Offer Cloudy Bay was held under offer by an American syndicate, but so far no business has resulted. The bracket of Password and Paddy’s Day could be the pick of the horses oh the limit, with Password appealing most. He has shown sound sprint form in the past

and should be able to secure a favourable run. Paddy’s Day was placed in the race won by Town Martial on February 2 at Forbury Park after giving that runner a start of 24 yards. He could be coming back to form. Cuddle Doon’s fourth in the Dunedin Festival Cup Final entitles him to consideration. He raced in the open throughout that event and there was merit in his placing. Town Martial and Trysail could do best of the others on the limit, while Golden Oriole, Happy Ending, and Peerswick could add interest to the finish. Peerswick is one of the speediest sprinters in commission, but he rated disappointingly at Forbury Park. He could easily win on Saturday.'