RACING Birthright Picked For Marlborough Cup

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31041, 22 April 1966, Page 5

RACING Birthright Picked For Marlborough Cup

(From Our Oicn Reporter) BLENHEIM. Favouritism for the T.A.B. double at Blenheim tomorrow is unlikely to be settled until definite plans for General Gilbert and Te Aro are known.

General Gilbert is the top-weight in the first leg, the Marlborough Gold Cup. Te Aro also is in that race but is an acceptor for the Stewards’ Handicap, the second leg of the double.

These two were the successful combination in the T.A.B. double on the first day of the meeting. General Gilbert has 141 b more than the weight he carried to victory on Wednesday.

His part-owner and trainer J. L. Barr, said yesterday morning he would make a late decision whether to start. If he runs, General Gilbert will be ridden tomorrow by G. W. Mein. If the horse is scratched Mein will ride El Ganador, a moderate sixth in the Wattie Gold Cup on Wednesday. If Te Aro runs in the Marlborough Gold Cup. her trainer. C. A. Bowry, will ride her. Bowry would not commit himself yesterday, but said he might not run her at ail. If General Gilbert and Te Aro are scratched from the cup field it is hard to predict the popular fancy. On Wattie Gold Cup running it seems likely that Golden Vanity or Birthright will have that distinction. Best Chance With the prospect of a pace favouring the true stayers. Birthright might be the best chance. He, too, will have a change of rider tomorrow. B. J. Anderton has accepted the DECIMAL CONVERSIONS Decimal currency will be introduced In New Zealand in July, 1967 Recommended conversion rates from 5s to £1 are as follows:

mount. This combination was successful at Ashburton last month. Lorastan, which deadheated with Birthright for third in the Wattie Gold Cup and So Lovely, a solid-finish-ing fifth, will be other strong fancies.

Wtih a free-goer like Taxinan engaged, the race will be run truly. If Taxman pulls away in his usual front-run-ning style, those near the top of the handicap will have to carry their weight every inch of the way. If Te Aro is scratched from the Stewards’ Handicap, Bowry will ride Kintyre, the beaten favourite in the second leg on the first day. In the A. F. Loe Handicap on Wednesday Kintyre got to the front for a few strides inside the first furlong, but could not match Carester for pace. He finished third in a small gap behind Te Aro and Might. Form Runners Might will be one of two form runners for E. Temperton’s stable. The other is Royal Admiral, which ran soundly for fourth in the sprint on the first day. There will be a double for course patrons only on the Mayfield Hack Hurdles and the Apprentices Improvers’ Handicap. Dine and Dance and Sabaean Summer could be a successful combination for North Island stables. If fine weather continues the track should be firm and fast. Fields, with form, for the double are: — 2.25 p.m.— MARLBOROUGH GOLD CUP, £900; Um.

5s 50c 13s $1.30 6s 60c 14s $1 40 7s 70c 15s SI 50 8s 80c 16s £160 9s 90c 17s SI 70 10s SI 18s $1.80 Ils $1.10 19s $1.90

st. Ib 4931 General Gilbert (13) 8 10 2143 Birthright (14) 8 9 1251 Te Aro (5) .. 8 '7 6236 El Ganador (1) 7 10 8062 Golden Vanity (6) .. 7 10

0067 Arakhan (11) 7 8 8773 Lorastan (12) 7 7 2805 So Lovely (10) 7 6 7809 Bellman (15) 7 5 0090 Bon Voyage (2) 7 5 0900 Carnmor (9) 7 5 4560 Certain (3) 7 5 4008 Charlborough (4) . 7 5 0007 Fathom (17) 7 5 0000 Grand Coeur (8) . 7 5 0000 Tax Evader (7) 7 5 1100 Taxman (16) 7 5 4.25 p.m.— STEWARDS' HANDICAP. £450; 7f. * st. lb 1251 Te Aro (2) . r . 8 5 7223 Kintyre (7) 8 4 2892 Might (12) 7 11 0005 Carester (3) 7 8 2029 Sabell (4) .. 7 8 8218 Vivien Robe (11) . 7 7 5400 Dark Seaman (10) . 7 3 0004 Royal Admiral (8) . 7 2 4797 Carnbeg (13) 7 0 3940 Deladana (6.) 7 0 4770 His Host (9) 7 0 6 Tawa (5) .. 7 0 0 Tutton (1) 7 0 5060 Waverley (14) 7 0