RACING Tundra Cup Fancy For Oamaru

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31090, 20 June 1966, Page 5

RACING Tundra Cup Fancy For Oamaru

Tundra is assured of favouritism for the Oamaru Winter Cup tomorrow.

She has earned that position by assembling a solid, versatile record in her five-year-old racing this season—a record that includes two wins as a sprinter and some meritorious performances at a middle distance. Tundra won her second Dunedin Jockey Club Provincial Handicap last Saturday week. Another notable performance at Wangatui gave her a close second to Palisade in the Vice-Regal Handicap at the DJ.C. autumn meeting. On her race record—she has earned almost £6ooo—and on her potential as a stud matron, Tundra has become one of the bargains for the 1962 sales, where Mr and Mrs W. L. Aynsley bought her for 300gns. Tundra is top-weight with 9-3. Closest to her, but 131 b away, is the Washdyke-trained Cranbrook. Cranbrook has done most of his racing as a sprinter but

with a bit of age on him he has lost some of his early speed. Placed Run He was tried at a middle distance in the spring, and was unlucky to run up against one as good as Royal Bid at Motukarara. Cranbrook managed a, mile and a quarter fairly well for his second that day.

Castle Gregory, like Tundra, brings winning form from Wingatui to bear on this race, and he is assured of solid backing. He carried 61b overweight when he won the Queen Elizabeth Handicap at odds of better than 100 to one at Wingatui, and now, after that one victory in open company, he is giving weight to all but two of his Oamaru rivals. Glenmorven is a one-paced type with a preference for soft ground, but he is a place possibility in this field.

Cobble has had a strenuous programme this season but as a winner at a middle distance and a fair front-runner running on a course that has helped front-runners she might not go under easily. Hopes for the winner coming right from the tail of the handicap will centre on Skeltheen and White Rajah, two for Canterbury stables. White Rajah disappointed at Waimate after an easy win against hacks at Amberley, but some good gallops in the last week or so have held out hopes for a bold run from the three-year-old. Skeltheen has had his races fairly well spaced while winning twice this season, and lack of racing since April might not weigh heavily against him. Second Leg Dark Seaman and Sabell should match the best of the southerners in the Grange Handicap, the second leg of the T.A.B. double. Dark Seaman failed twice at the Wellington meeting in May, but on his form on South Island provincial courses, and that is probably the form that really matters in this case, he holds a strong chance. His last three starts in the South Island have produced two wins, both at Nelson, and a third—at Amberley. Sabell runs few bad races, and has distinguished himself in stronger fields than this one. He was second to Tumble in his first of two starts at the, Dunedin meeting before failing against the milers.

With time to freshen he should be ready for a bold run at seven furlongs on what should be good footing.

Donnaway, from Washdyke, and Just- Peter, from Gore, should be the best of the others if they have held their form since their placed runs at Wingatui.

There will be an on-course double at Oamaru on the Hack Hurdles and the Awamoa Hack Handicap. Startler and Mystery Cloud are a fancied combination. A start for William David

in the steeplechase was in doubt yesterday. He strained a muscle behind a knee in a schooling fall last week. He was able to bend his knee when he rolled yesterday, but J. L. Barr was still hoping for further improvement Barr will delay a decision about a start until after the horse works at Riccarton this morning. Fields, with form, for the double are:— 2 p.m.— OAMARU WINTER CUP. £625; Um and 138yds.

st lb 1831 Tundra (3) . 9 3 7448 Cranbrook (10) . 8 4 2171 Castile Gregory (1) . 8 2 8305 Glenmorven (8) . 7 8 8088 Beginner’s Luck (4) 7 8 6098 Cobble (9) . . 7 8 7219 Skeltheen (7) . 7 7 4509 The Missionary (5) 7 7 2707 Underwood Lass (11) 7 7 9814 White Rajah (12) . 7 7 0080 White Skies (2) . 7 7 Scratched: Balken Boy (6). 3.30 p.m.— GRAHGP HANDICAP, £400 ; 7f. 3429 Sabell (8) .. . 8 12 1003 Dark Seaman (4) . 8 11 2562 Just Peter (2) . 8 1 2162 Donnaway (6) . 8 1 2508 Sometime (9) . 8 1 4068 Ba'Iken Boy (5) . 8 0 9397 Cadmean (7) . 8 0 1727 Limbo (1) .. . 8 0 Scratched: Belltana (3)