RACING STAKES PROSPECT AT TRENTHAM

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31196, 21 October 1966, Page 4

RACING STAKES PROSPECT AT TRENTHAM

Star Belle Expected To Succeed Nearly everyone will expect Star Belle to continue her winning form in the Desert Gold Stakes at Trentham tomorrow.

A Star Belle victory in the Wellington Racing Club’s classic would almost certainly settle favouritism for the New Zealand Oaks at Riccarton next month. It could also have a big influence on New Zealand Derby betting, for that rich classic is on her programme as well.

Tomorrow Mr J. Sarten’s brilliant Summertime filly will try to improve an impressive winning sequence. She is unbeaten in three starts this season. Star Belle’s most recent success was in the Great Northern Guineas at Ellerslie last Saturday week. In that £2OOO classic she gave 13 rivals a galloping lesson. Star Belle’s guineas success convinced her connexions that she is almost foolproof in any typ? of going up to a mile. Not long before the guineas was run, her Takamni trainer, I. J. Tucker, was considering scratching her because of the state of the track. But the heavy ground gave her no worries. Star Belle could have similar footing at Trentham tomorrow, for week-end rain is forecast. Dee Dee Fancied The ground at Trentham yesterday was in perfect order. If it stays that way Dee Dee is almost certain to be the one Star Belle has to beat. But if there is rain and the track becomes heavystrong hopes for this very good filly will quickly diminish.

Dee Dee. one of a powerful team prepared at Cambridge

by W. W. Townsend, was unbeaten in two open-class starts—one a sprint and the other a mile—before she contested the Great Northern Guineas. Although she ran well for fourth she was not at ease.

Although soundly beaten in a hack mile at Masterton last Saturday week, Country Girl is bound to have solid backing. Her supporters will hope for a repeat performance of the run which gave her second place behind Star Belle in the Go!' 1 Trail Stakes at Hastings last month. Her Pal, a Riccarton-trained filly being prepared for the classics on her home course next month, will be the South Island's only representative in the field. On her last trip to Trentham she won the Pacific Handicap—for two-year-olds—in May. She raised hopes that she might run well there again when she ran fourth among the open sprinters at Rangiora last Monday week.

Coprosi, if she could regain the form which gave her four wins as a two-year-ol' last season, and Janeville, a close fourth in last Saturday’s Shorts Handicap, have to be included among the possibilities for both have open-class rating.