RACING Micheline Is Taranaki Prospect

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31139, 16 August 1966, Page 4

RACING Micheline Is Taranaki Prospect

“The Pre**’’ Special Service

PALMERSTON NORTH. Micheline’s fine run for third in the Whakatane Cup on Saturday points to a winning chance for the Le Filou mare in the Halcombe Handicap at New Plymouth tomorrow.

Micheline has previously been successful on her trips to Taranaki. Her Tauranga placing was her first flash of form for some time, but it will earn her a big following in the first leg of the Taranaki double. Micheline has not been successful since her Stratford Gold Cup win on New Year’s Day. In that race she carried 7-5 and beat Advocacy and Acis. She won again on the second day of the meeting. A few months later Micheline finished a good third behind Tolka and Understudyin the Caltex Gold Cup at New Plymouth. Sunny Filou and Monty’s Gold may be the ones to test Micheline. Sunny Filou, which is also by Le Filou, showed promise when he finished a sound fifth at Pukekohe a fortnight ago. Monty’s Gold has raced well in recent starts at Awapuni, Trentham and Marton. In his last start at Marton he ran a fair race for second behind the runaway winner, Vigour. Monty’s Gold races well on Taranaki courses. He was second in this race to King George last year. King George is again an acceptor. He showed improvement in his last start at Marton.

Other prospects include Beira, which is capable of better than he has shown in recent attempts, and the hack graduate, Don Silva. He has not raced for a few weeks, but his good staying ability should be respected. Astral Blue will make strong appeal in the Stratford Handicap over six fur-

longs. The half-brother to Advocacy won five races last season and a last-start placing behind Stirling Castle and Mali Peter at Te Awamutu suggests he will be the one to beat in the second leg of the double. Astral Blue’s wins in the season just ended were at Gisborne, Hawera, Hastings, Waverley and Rotorua. Probably his most notable success was in the Longlands Handicap at Hawke’s Bay. He beat Watchet. Bold Invader and Dunraven, the latter winning at Trentham afterwards. Selections:—

11.30 a.m.—Trial Hunters’ Steeplechase: Coral View, Gay Grant, Stelan. Noon.—Opunake Stakes: Kimberlite, Red City, Topmost 12.35 p.m.—W all ar a Handicap: Grey Count, Coralong, Lenoman. 1.15 p.m.—o pun ak e Stakes: Surelynne, Overstock, Pride Of Place. 1.50 p.m.—Taranaki Hunt Cup: Stoney Broke, Erewhon, Rethea. 2.30 p.m.—Halcombe Handicap: Micheline, Monty’s Gold, Sunny Filou. 3.15 p.m.—S tand is h Memorial: Adler, Olde Chelsea, El Hara. 4 p.m.—Stratford Handicap: Astral Blue, Bijali, Feurig. 4.40 p.m.—Urenui Hack Handicap: Gay Polo, Be My Girl, Charisma. Fields, with form, for the double, are:— 2.30 p.m.— HALCOMBE HANDICAP, £325: 9f. st. lb. 0442 Monty’s Gold (2) .. 810

4 p.m.— STRATFORD HANDICAP, £250; 6f.

Taranaki Riders

“The Press’’ Special Service PALMERSTON NORTH. B. Long: Chanita. R. J. Skelton: Pride of Place, Micheline, High Sky. J. P. Riordan: Hy Lark, Nickel Pot. N. D. Riordan: Surelynne. Gay Polo, Court Duchess. N. Belsham: Kimber, Catto’s, Staccato, Too Good. G. L. Wason: Polo Pony, Vita Boy, Castle Lady, Knock Back. K. J. Grylls: Golden Orbit, Avocat’s Pride, Charles Kingsley. L. K. Tinsley: Cimgold. T. Whittington: The Prize. D. J. Finlay: Cowley. R. W. Taylor: Tramore, Monty’s Gold, Smoky Bay, Kerry Dancer, Charisma, Nefische. K. Cullen: Coralong, Feurig. R. Cleaver: Grindle. M. DOmbroski: Gold Tie. K. J. Mauriri: Coral View. K. Reggett: Main Defence. R. B. Marsh: Overstock. L. Gestro: Lenoman, Don’s Mate, Coral Reef, Royal Polo. G. N. McLelsh: Astral Blue, Stoney Broke.

0003 Mlcheline (11) 8 7 0034 King George (7) 8 7 0030 Kimber (3) 8 6 0030 Solly Joel (13) 8 3 0304 Royal Polo (8) 8 2 0000 Beira (10) 8 2 0000 Red Forest 114) 8 2 1040 Don Silva 11) 8 1 0100 Main Defence <V> 8 1 3200 Sunny Filou (4) 8 1 0043 Boy Voyage (9) 8 1 0300 Court Duchess (12) 8 1 0000 Spab (5) 8 1 Bracket: Court Duchess Mlcheline. and

st. lb. 0103 Astral Blue tS) 8 12 0030 Bijali (10) 8 9 4032 Feurig <7) 8 6 2000 Topsil <«> 8 2 3034 Monograph (4) 8 0 4010 Hlwyn (5) 8 0 0000 Dr. Jekyll (9> 8 0 0000 Super Time (1) 8 0 0000 Count Carmel (8) .. 8 0 2000 Smoky Bay (2) 8 0