Strong Stayers In Waikato Gold Cup

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31225, 24 November 1966, Page 4

Strong Stayers In Waikato Gold Cup

Piess” Special Service AUCKLAND. Tried and proven stayers such as Gold Chick, Lu Filou, Bandon and Tardini seem the best chances in a packed field for the Waikato Gold Cup at Te Rapa tomorrow.

It is a long while since the Waikato Gold Cup has been won with as much weight as Lu Filou and Gold Chick are being asked to carry. Lu Filou is the second top-weight, next to Roganne, with 8-11, and Gold Chick has 8-9.

Lu Filou has 81b and Gold Chick 101 b less than weight-for-age. The last Waikato Gold Cup winner with anything near 9st was Stylish Officer, which carried Bst 131 b successfully when a five-year-old in 1959. Apa carried 7st 51b when he won last year.

Gold Chick and Lu Filou have any number of very solid middle-distance and staying performances behind them. Bandon and Tardini have raced well in the best company and they have improved again ! to very near peak form. The Gold Cup preliminaries by Lu Filou and Gold Chick in the Foxbridge Plate last week-end were impressive. Lu Filou gave all his opponents a start from the five furlongs and went around them early in the run home. Since he returned to racing late in September, Lu Filou has improved steadily. He should be thoroughly ready for the cup course of a mile and a half. Gold Chick ran close to the pace in the Foxbridge Plate and kept on well to finish less than a length behind Lu Filou. The soft footing suited him and the rain meanwhile has been a further help to his chance.

After winning twice at the Auckland spring meeting in October, Gold Chick had to be eased for a bit with a bruised foot.

Bandon, from Awapuni, and Sir Barton, from Hastings, are prospects. In the last two of his five races this season Bandon ran second and third. That suggests he is coming back to his best. When a five-year-old he finished second in the Waikato Gold Cup, a head behind High Mark. It is unusual for one trainer to saddle up three runners in a race such as the Waikato Gold Cup, and something right out of the ordinary when the three are of such quality as Roganne, Urupukapuka and Mr Fagan, which will all start from W. W. Townshend’s stable.

A succession of fine races through the winter and spring stamped Roganne an exceptionally good middle distance runner. They brought him as well a fairly hefty handicap which might steady him for a time. He ran gamely but without much luck for fourth in the Foxbridge Plate. Urupukapuka (7-12), the only one of her sex in the cup, and Mr Fagan (7-10) are game and consistent. Urupukapuka managed a good third in the Foxbridge Plate and Mr Fagan, last time out, won well at Avondale. The weather has been showery and the going is fairly certain to be soft. The T.A.B. double will be the Waikato Gold Cup and the Grandstand Handicap.

Doubtful starters are Court Beau (Grandstand Handicap), John’s Joy and Great Summit (Guineas), Ariosto (First Frankton Handicap), and La Jolla (Linley Handicap). Selections:

Noon. Ruakura Handicap: E Timi, Fair Muse, Bubba.

12.35 p.m.—First Frankton Handicap: Tina, Cambridge Fair, Karin Belle. 1.10 p.m. Sutherland Hurdles: Khoringa, Big Boy, Tyrol. 1.40 p.m.—Waikato Guineas: Barellan, Star Belle, Foxvale.

2.20 p.m.—Second Frankton Handicap: Kathey’s Son, Super Count, Tried and True.

2.55 p.m.—Waikato Gold Cup: Gold Chick, Lu Filou, Bandon.

3.40 p.m.—Champion Handicap: Prince Heroic, Doc, Achates,

4.25 p.m. Grandstand Handicap: Special Request, Rohe Potae, Cherie Brizard. 5 p.m.—Linley Handicap. On Safari, Fair Linda, Dislnee.

Fields, with form, for the double are:—

2.55 p.m.— WAIKATO GOLD CUP, £3000; I Im.

Brackets: Kowloon and Regal Ruler. Draco and Isfahan. Castle Dee and Computer, Ironbark and Major Luca. 4.25 p.m.— GRANDSTAND HANDICAP, £1250; 7f.

4244 Roganne (21) st. lb 9 2 8641 Lu Filou (6) 8 11 1852 Gold Chick (22) 8 9 1020 Red Crest (5) 8 8 9115 Bright Chief (8) 8 7 3523 Bandon (13) 8 4 0007 Peterman (20) 8 3 0081 Midnight Kiss (7) . i 13 2753 Urupukapuka (18) 7 12 3441 Mr Fagan (12) 7 10 7000 Yardstick (14) 7 9 2074 Clarendon (23) 7 9 003 Tardini (9) 7 8 1230 Garden Place (4) .. 7 7 8956 Udare (11) 7 7 0414 Mac’s Pride (15) 7 6 851 Sir Barton (1) 7 6 0903 Grand Fllou (17) .. 7 4 9630 Town Guard (24) .. 7 4 7090 Calm Comet (16) .. 7 3 0100 Kowloon (19) 7 3 0000 Regal Ruler (3) ,. 7 •» 5262 Draco (2) .. 7 i 0494 Isfahan (10) 7 i Balloted out with right of eentry:— 3260 Major Luca (25) .. 7 0 0800 Castle Dee (26) 7 0 OOO Computer (27) 7 0 7500 Ironbark (28) 7 0

0822 st. lb 8 13 Alkaid 17) .. 1408 Rohe Potae (11) 8 8 0412 Geyser Land (24) .. 8 6 08 Gene (5) 8 4 8054 38 Master Defence (10) Admiral Donnington 8 3 (21) 7 13 71 Court Beau (3) 7 11 2241 Special Request (1S> Earl of Foxwood 7 9 (15) 7 8 04 Forebrace (22) S 00 Silver Sunset (2) 7 8 Sunset Fair (8) 7 8 1 Waihere Lass (20) .. 7 6 050 Fairfleet (12) 7 4 063 Greymoon (16) 7 4 663 Cherie Brizard (14) 7 3 17 Hi Value (17) ’ .. 7 3 0765 Bardowie (9) 7 20 Pell Mell <4) i 2 30 Boscar (13) Prince Mahmoud 1 1 <19) 7 1 0206 Fair Fury (23) 0 005 Kilileymoon (1) 7 0 0409 Viola (6) 7 0 Bracket: Prince Mahmoud and Killeymoon.