RACING Grand Coeur Likely Blenheim Favourite

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31043, 26 April 1966, Page 5

RACING Grand Coeur Likely Blenheim Favourite

(From Our Own Reporter? BLENHEIM. W. D. Skelton will return to Blenheim this morning for the third day of the Marlborough Racing Club’s annual meeting. Skelton who rode three winners on the first day of the meeting and two more at Hastings .on Saturday, will ride Grand Coeur in the Bellborough Handicap, first leg of the TA.B. double.

This Wellington-owned Ruthless gelding will be one of the strong fancies. He is entitled to solid backing after a close second to Arakhan in the Marlborough Gold Cup on Saturday

Grand Coeur will be one of two runners from E. Temperton’s stable. The other is Warm Up, which will be ridden by W. Dymond. Grand Coeur’s Marlborough Cup rider.

Warm Up, which gained open rating by winning the Wairarapa Hack Cup on New Year’s Day, raced as a sprinter an the first day at Blenheim. He showed good pace for a time, but dropped out on the turn after racing three wide. Although his best form has been at a mile, he appeals as the type which could shape well over more ground so could strengthen the chance of a Temperton victory. Arakhan, the Marlborough Cup winner, and Golden Vanity, the runner-up to General Gilbert in the Wattie Gold Cup on the first day of the meeting, probably will have stronger backing. Drawn Wide Arakhan has drawn wide at the start, but his natural pace could get him into a handy position before they reach the first turn for he has a straight run of nearly two furlongs. Golden Vanity will try for her second successive win in this race. Although she failed to last out a mile and three furlongs on Saturday, over this distance—nine furlongs and 30 yards—she could repeat her success of a year ago. Te Aro, the open sprint winner on the first day of the meeting, received a bad run on the inside and finished well back in the Marlborough Cup. It was of no value at all as an indication of her staying potential, but as she has shaped fairly well up to a mile and usually runs her races out well there seems every prospect that she will see out this distance. If there was further rain to soften the ground Lucky Son would come into favour and the same would apply to Mr A. Clouston’s pair. Camberg and Tax Evader. Bon Voyage, the Marlborough Cup third, and Lorastan, third equal with Birthright in the Wattie Gold Cup, have sounder form and should have stronger backing, but both of their trainers were still considering yesterday morning whether they should reserve their horses for the

Nelson Cup and bypass this race. Taxman appeals most of the other light-weights. An attempt was made to ride this good front runner in behind in the Marlborough Cup. After racing in the middle of the field and four wide most of the way he beat only four runners home. There is almost certain to be a change of tactics this time. Might, the runner-up to Te Aro on the first day of the meeting, probably will be the most popular fancy for the Majestic Handicap, second leg of the main double. Strongest Rivals If form proves the best guide as far as the rest are concerned Sabell and Vivien Robe, the two principals in the finish of Saturday’s sprint, should be Might’s strongest rivals. There will be a double for course patrons only on the Wairau Hack Hurdles and the Seddon Hack Handicap. Bandarshar and Sabaean Summer could be a successful combination. Arakhan, Charlborough and Skybolt will not run in the Wairau Hack Hurdles. Fathom has been scratched from the Bellborough Handicap and Red Stole will not contest the Champion Hack Handicap. Juryman and Madras will be missing from the Dash Hack Handicap field. There was overcast weather and some showers in Blenheim yesterday but not nearly enough rain to change track conditions. Unless there is further deterioration in the weather the track will be firm. Noon— WAIRAU HACK HURDLES, £250; 13f.—Arakhan (7) 10-7; Banda sihar (61 10-5; Bine And Dance (8) 10-1; Faireourt <9) 0-9; William David (4) 9-6; Charlborough (2) 9-3; Maguire’s Peter (11) Royal Admiral (10) 9-1; Makara (1), Skybolt (3), Sydtrev (5) 9-0. 12.3 S p.m.— TRIAL STAKES, £215; 7f._ Claremont (13), Kerlie (1) 9-3; Oriental (15), Chapel (4), Dambuster (5), Golden Supreme (12) Jester Maid (9). Kaygee (3), Lady Darnley (7), Lysbeth (21, Mt. Nahdu (16), Perfect Ace (8), Red Spec (10), Rossetti (11), Valbank (6), Why Harp (14) 8-7. Bracket: Kerlie and Oriental. 1.15 p.m.— SEDDON HACK HAHDICAP, £240; 7f.—Bold Invader (1) 9-2; Sabaean Summer (9) 8-5; That True (10) 8-4; Pygmaios (14) 8-1; Dowmanca (7), Darnburgli (13) 8-0: Omasong (6) 7-12; Jayess (5), Silver Princess (2) 7-11: Serengeti (12) 7-10; Ginger bread (11) 7-9; Magic Rose (8) 7-8; Corneil (4), Coseta (3), Indian Chief (15) 7-7.

2.35 p.m.— WEST DERBY HANDICAP, £240; sf.—Myree (2) 8-5; Marand (3) 8-2; Llanston (7) 7-13: Bellburn (4), Evening In Paris (1) 7-8; Courtroom (8), Khush Mahal (6), Money Galore (5) 7-7. 3.10 p.m.—

CHAMPION HACK HANDICAP, £345; Ilf.—Red Stole (12) 8-6; That True (8) S-5; Takatua (6) 8-3; Gayemana (7) 8-2; Mr Jones (10) 8-0; Hawkins (I). Lordtuckey (11) 7-13; Oriental (2), Jubilee Boy (9) 7-12: Eastburn (3), Lucky Crown (4), Norway (5) 7-11. Bracket: That True and Oriental. 3.50 p.m.— MAJESTIC HANDICAP,

4.30 p.m.— DASH HACK HANDICAP, £240; sf.—Bold Invader (61 9-4; Donnaway (9) 8-4; Kerlie (12), Gingerbread (5) 7-11; Magic Rose (4) 7-9; Alten Fiord (71, Chapel (21, Corneil (8), Willmore (11), Indian Chief (3). Juryman (10), Lady Darnley (1). Madras (13) 7-7. Brackets; Bold Invader and Willmore.

Bracket: Bold Invader and That True. IJS p.m.— MARLBOROUGH HANDICAP, £650; 9f and 30yds.

0200 Lucky Son (10) st. lb .. 8 10 2010 To Aro (1) .. ..8 2 0001 Arakhan (14) .. 7 12 0020 Golden Vanity (3) .. 7 5 0002 Grand Coeur (2) ..7 4 0003 Bon Voyage (6> ..7 3 4004 Dark Seaman (7) ..7 3 0004 Fathom (12) ..7 3 0030 Lorastan (9) ..7 2 0000 Lucy Gray (4) ..7 2 0000 Bellman (11) ..7 1 4000 Carnbeg (5) ..7 1 0000 Tax Evader (10) ..7 1 0000 His Host' (13) ..7 1 1000 Taxman (8) ..7 1 0000 Warm Up < 15) ..7 1 Bracket: Carnbeg and Tax Evader.

£415: 7f. at. Ib 0201 Sabel <1) .. 8 8 2002 Might <4) .. 8 4 2102 Vivien Robe (2) 8 3 4004 Dark Seaman (9) .. 7 10 0040 Royal Admiral (10) 7 8 4000 Carnbeg (5) 7 7 0400 Deladana (S) 7 7 0 Tawa (7) 7 7 00 Tutton (3) 7 7 0000 Waverley (6) 7 7