RACING POLAR FAVOURED AT ASHBURTON

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31161, 10 September 1966, Page 6

RACING POLAR FAVOURED AT ASHBURTON

Strong High-Weight Prospect Today

Wingatui horses have had success out of all proportion to their numbers at Ashburton irt recent years, and their record could be brighter still after today’s racing there.

Polar is expected to provide a winning lead for the other southerners in the Longbeach High-Weight, the first race on today’s programme.

Polar, a winner at the Otago Hunt Club’s meeting last Saturday, is a stablemate of Spanish Fox, one of the form runners in the last race on today’s card, the Chatmos Improvers’ Handicap.

Another Otago galloper holding a bright chance is the Ashburton Cup candidate, Calvados.

This nine-year-old showed he is wearing well with a fourth in the Islington Handicap on the final day of the Grand National meeting at Riccarton last month.

Riccarton’s Best White Rajah, the Islington Handicap third, and Even Chance, a fair sixth, will be two Riccarton-trained runners in the Ashburton Cup, and will come in for solid backing. Even Chance’s open-class record has been marked by several strong finishing runs

into minor places. He was narrowly beaten over a mile at Ashburton in June, and the high-class galloper. Royal Bid, had a battle to beat him by inches In the 1965 Ashburton Cup.

Sprint Fancy

Fairlane, unbeaten in three starts -at seven furlongs at the Riccarton winter carnival, is assured of favouritism for the Flying Handicap, the second leg of the double. But she might not justify it without stiff opposition from Time and Tide. Tumble, Danny Kaye and others in a fairly strong field. There is likely material for Important spring three-year-old races In minor events at Ashburton. Roman General and Master

Sheeny should, with average luck in a big field, dominate the finish of the Lagmhor Maiden Stakes.

Next Please should perform with credit against the hack milers in the Chatmos Improvers’ Handicap. Our Leigh and Beau Supreme, both from Washdyke, should confirm encouraging first-season form with bold runs in the Rakaia Three-Year-Old Handicap.