RACING URSINUS FANCIED AT WESTPORT

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31178, 30 September 1966, Page 4

RACING URSINUS FANCIED AT WESTPORT

General Gilbert will not run in the J. W. Fair Centennial Handicap at Westport tomorrow, leaving Sabell to represent J. L. Barr’s Riccarton stable in the first leg of the Westport club’s T.A.B. double.

E. G. Low, who will again be the race rider, allowed Sabell to ease near the end of six furlongs, which took Imin 23sec. The pace was strongest early, the first three furlongs taking 39 1-5 sec.

Being handy and versatile, Sabell is assured of a big following in the Fair Centennial Handicap. Closest to him in the weights, in the absence of General Gilbert, are Allegretto and Natter, both with 7-6 and Ursinus with 7-5,

Dunedin Form Allegretto has earned consideration with two good runs at the Dunedin spring meeting for a win in intermediate class and a fourth—he deadheated with Captain’s Command—in a strong sprint field last Saturday. Natter, eighth in the Geraldine Cup, could hardly fail to do better in a weaker field and at a distance which showed her to advantage near the end of last season. Ursinus was a good third behind Danny Kaye and Krazikid over six furlongs at Orari on Monday. He should now be conditioned to run out a strong mile and might be equal to an all-the-way win.

Marlborough, a stronglyfinishing Geraldine Cup third, and Clipper, which should be all the better for his recent races at Ashburton, might find a mile a little short of their best distance. The programme decided for Ursinus will have the strongest bearing on betting and. probably, the result of the

Sabell’s winning run in the Geraldine Cup on Monday was a strenuous start for the week, and the Sabaean gelding was not hurried in his gallop on the plough at Riccarton yesterday.

Roche Handicap, second leg of the double.

Ursinus appears to dominate the Roche Handicap field, but if he drops out after an earlier appearance in the first leg, Vivien Robe, Mister Bud and Donnaway should battle it out

Mister Bud is being tried in a hood, and if he gallops generously he should find the speed necessary to win at six furlongs. There will be an on-course double on the Charleston Trial Stakes No. 1 and the Scanlon Hack Handicap. Doctor Snoddy and Don’s Pride are unlikely starters in the first leg of this double, and Farina, the only winner in the field, should be a dominating favourite. P. H. Jones said yesterday that Omasong would not be sent to Westport for the Scanlon Hack Handicap because of a wide barrier position. 2 p.m. J. W. FAIR CENTENNIAL

Scratched: Marlborough (1). 4 p.m.— ROCHE HANDICAP,

HANDICAP. £400; Im. st lb 001 Sabell (4) . . 8 7 02 General Gilbert (6) 8 4 514 Allegretto (10) .. 7 6 9988 Natter (5) ..7 6 03 Ursinus (7) ..7 5 97 Clipper (11) ..7 4 0 Last Count (9) ..7 4 07 Matea (2) ..7 4 00 Scribbler (8) ..7 4 Taxman (3) .74

£300; 6f. Vivien Robe Totara Lad (3) st lb ..8 3 ... 7 9 087 Mister Bud (4) >.7 8 03 Ursinus (6) ... 7 6 Deladana (5) ... 7 5 5 Donnaway (1) ..7 5 0 Gabbler (2) ..7 5 08 Jet Girl (7) -.7 5