SEMINOLE FANCIED IN FIRST LEG TOMORROW

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31238, 9 December 1966, Page 4

SEMINOLE FANCIED IN FIRST LEG TOMORROW

If Seminole runs up to her New Zealand Cup form she should take beating in the Gordon’s Gin Handicap, first leg of the T.A.B. double at the Hororata Racing Club’s annual meeting at Riccarton tomorrow.

Seminole’s support- < ers will not bebanking 1 only on the Dogger Bank mare’s New ] Zealand Cup fourth at t Riccarton last month. < A week before the i cup she won at Motu- 1 karara over a mile and 1 a quarter, the distance ( of tomorrow’s race. , Although Seminole had a 1 fairly solid campaign leading • up to the two-miler, she looked none the worse for the : experience after the race. She 1 has held her condition and ’ seems to have thrived. ‘ J. L. Barr, a brother of Seminole’s trainer, G. S. Barr, j will saddle three runners— Sabell, General Gilbert and Early Dawn. Of this trio Sabell has the best record this season—he i has won twice—but he might < have to work hard for vic- ; tory this time under topweight of 8-8. Although they lack recent i form, General Gilbert and Early Dawn could be just as well fancied. Both have shown a high standard of fitness in gallops this week. A change to soft ground 1 would bring Totara Lad and Jester Jinks into favour. Both < have winning form close up i on their records. Totara Lad beat the milers at Hokitika the week before ; last and Jester Jinks was the 1

Greymouth Cup winner last Monday week. El Beka and Last Count must also have chances on their form at Omoto. But at the distance—a mile and a quarter—Last Count makes most appeal. He was an unlucky second to Jester Jinks the start before last. Hushaway and Standout, J. C. Tomkinson’s pair, are both lacking in form but have the ability to run a good middledistance. Clipper and Beau Supreme appeal most of those well down in the weights. Clipper went poorly in heavy ground at Greymouth but that was not his true form. A better guide to his chance might be his third to Seminole and Pacemaker on a firm track at Motukarara the month before last Beau Supreme, which will be having his first open-class start, won his way out of hacks at Motukarara then ran well for a fifth and a fourth among the staying hacks at the New Zealand Cup meeting; Second Leg Pharasal and Shipmate are two quick sprinters J. C. Tomkinson will saddle for the H. A. Knight Memorial Handicap, second leg of the main double. Pharasal, which was placed in each of three starts up to a mile at the New Zealand Cup meeting and has shaped

well in training meantime, looks the strongest half of the bracket. But the prospect of firm footing could also help Shipmate to go very well. Danny Kaye and Kalimera will be a strong combination for G. S. Barr’s stable. A , peak run from either of these capable sprinters would put victory well within reach. Danny Kaye was a close 1 third to Captain’s Command ! and Jetmate over this dis- ' tance at his last start. Sound gallops in training in the ■ meantime and Jetmate’s sub- ' sequent good form make him ' look an outstanding chance. [ But Kalimera, although un- ’ placed in her lone race at ' the Cup meeting, has been

equally impressive in her recent track gallops. She won an open sprint at Rangiora in October and could do so again if the ground remains firm. If the outcome depended solely on class then Middy would certainly be the hardest to beat. But his weak showing in a field of moderate strength at Invercargill raises doubts about his immediate prospects. A splint which developed just before the Cup meeting could have been the cause of his lapse. If this Mosgiel-trained sprinter can be produced at his bes.t he would have little trouble giving weight and a beating to most in this field.