Sprint Chance For Kintyre

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31195, 20 October 1966, Page 4

Sprint Chance For Kintyre

If Wainui Handicap form proves the best guide Kintyre should be the hardest to beat in the Awatea Handicap, second leg of the T.A.B. double at Trentham on Saturday.

Kintyre's third last week was particularly notable because after staring 21 wide he was forced over as much ground as any and more ground than most in the

Wellington Racing Club’s "big” mile. This time Kintyre will be going seven furlongs. He is also one of the group drawn fairly close to the inside and this is usually considered a marked advantage at the seven-furlong barrier at Trentham. But Kintyre is unlikely to have things all his own way. The Awatea Handicap has attracted many well-per-formed and talented sprinters. Rohe Potae, from Te Rapa, and the Cambridge stablemates, Urupukapuka and

Bottle Top, are notable newcomers with strong form. It would not surprise if weight of Waikato money made one of this trio outright favourite. Rohe Potae has already won open sprints at Te Rapa and Te Aroha this season. Last Saturday he was the runnerup to his stablemate, Summer Blaze, in the open sprint at Ellerslie so his form all-round has been good. WIDE DRAW If, as expected, two races in a fresh campaign—she has been placed in both—have brought Urupukapuka to peak 1 she should take beating in spite of a wide barrier draw. Urupukapuka was one of the Dominion’s top three-year-olds last season. She won five races and among her notable placings were a second in the Desert Gold Stakes i and a third to Sobig and Kintyre in the weight-for-age Harcourt Stakes at the Wellington spring meeting. Uurupukapuka will probably be preferred to Bottle Top at seven furlongs. The latter is as speedy and consistant as they come but to date six furlongs seems to be about his limit.

The way Dunraven beat the open sprinters over six furlongs in the Shorts Handicap on the first day of the meeting suggested that he will run seven and, perhaps, do so very welt He is almost certain to be one of the favourites.

First-day form will also be proved valuable if Jetmate gets into the finish. He did exceptionally well to finish fifth after striking bother near the three furlongs in the Shorts Handicap. It was good effort for a horse better known for his ability on firm ground. Wavering raised hopes of an early win when she ran Ichtar to a long neck in an open sprint at Otaki the last time she raced. She has previously performed well at Trentham. SOUTH ISLANDERS Fairlane, from Washdyke, and Krazidkid, from Riccarton, will represent South Island stables. The former, one of the "stars” among the open sprinters at the Grand National meeting in August, would be a strong prospect if the going became soft or heavy. Krazidkid could not be strongly fancied on his Shorts Handicap form. Nor could Tracey, the beaten favourite in that race. As a form guide Plush’s sixth among the milers in the Wainui Handicap last Saturday may be of better value.

Of the others, the consistent Awaroa makes most appeal. She finished out of a place in the Ansett-A.N.A. Handicap at Hawera on Tuesday but struck bother on the home turn. A better guide to her chance this time could be her easy sprint win at Waverley at her previous start.