Certain Fancied At Rangiora Tomorrow

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31023, 31 March 1966, Page 4

Certain Fancied At Rangiora Tomorrow

If Certain and Early Dawn run up to their best form in the President’s Handicap at Rangiora tomorrow they will probably make their 13 older rivals work hard in the first leg of the North Canterbury Racing Club’s T.A.B. double.

Certain is a good staying three-year-old trying to regain winning form after four starts in an autumn campaign. Early Dawn, which is in the same age group, is the more seasoned and already has one open class win.

After a sound third under high-weight conditions at Oamaru last Monday week a winning run by Certain was anticipated in the Ashburton County Handicap on Monday. Although unable to justify his j favouritism he was far from! disgraced by finishing fifth.! no more than three lengths from the winner Birthright. Certain’s performance apparently satisfied W. D. Skelton for he has accepted the mount again. Early Dawn won over a mile and a quarter—the same distance as the President’s Handicap—in the Peninsula Handicap at Motukarara at his start before last Meantime he contested the Oamaru Autumn Cup, in which he was fourth, last Monday week. Because of his weight and barrier draw Certain might be the better prospect tomorrow. He has 7-7, 71b less than his Riccarton rival, and has drawn No. 6 at the start.! Early Dawn has drawn the] outside of 15. SOUND FORM Chatsgay, the top-weight, has sound form. But since he raced.at Westport last month he has been occasionally troubled by lameness so would have to be taken on chance. Hushaway has some useful placings close up on his record but seems to run his best races on roomy courses. The last time he raced —in the Oamaru Autumn Cup—he beat only one of eight home but at his previous start he ran a sound race for fourth in the Waikouaiti Cup. If Waikouaiti Cup form

happens to prove the best guide Golden Vanity would have a strong chance. She finished a close second to Baal Hanan. In her two starts since—at Oamaru and Ashburton—she has failed to run within a stone of that form. FOXTON-TRAINED The Foxton-trained Capless is bound to have solid backing, mainly because he is from the North Island. His only show of form on his present campaign was a distant fourth in the Ashhurst Cup the month before last. Even Chance went a sound race for sixth among the sprinters at Ashburton on Monday when making a fresh start. If he has improved with that run he could make a bold showing for this is more like his best distance. Misjudge and Charlborough are both last-start place-get-ters which showed fitness in their gallops in training yesterday morning. The programme for Stagelland, which has won his last | three races among the hack I stayers, has not been decided. ■ His part-owner and trainer, J. F. Tutton, has to make a decision today. Standout is the only other

light-weight with last-start staying form on his record. At Ashburton on Monday he finished strongly for third. SPRINT FANCY Shipmate, the open sprint winner at Oamaru last Monday week, will probably be a firm favourite for the Charles Bailey Memorial Handicap, second leg of the main double. Shipmate is one of two runners J. C. Tomkinson will saddle. The other is Manana, a high-class sprinter which lacks recent racing. Careen, this season’s Winter Cup winner, is another fresh up from a spell. The last time she raced she was third to Devastation and Palisade over a mile in the Churchill Stakes at the New Zealand Cup meeting. Although this smart Blen-heim-trained mare lacks recent racing she could still be one of the major contenders Shakes, which began his autumn campaign with a victory in the open sprint at Ashburton on Monday, could also take beating. He has shown his best form over more ground but is still reasonably fresh and might go keenly again. If lack of racing dims the ability of the more talented sprinters than Rae’s Hope, So Lovely or Deladana could take part in the finish. Victory for any of the others would mean a major upset.