Baloo For Hastings Cup

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31256, 31 December 1966, Page 6

Baloo For Hastings Cup

“The Press” Special Service HASTINGS.

Baloo, which ran fourth, promoted to third, in the Wanganui Wattie’s Cup, fifth in the weight-for-age Manawatu Challenge Stakes and a brilliant, fast-finish-ing second to Bandon in the Manawatu Cup, is a firm pre-post favourite for the 11-fur-long Hastings Gold Cup at the Hawke’s Bay meeting today.

Baloo carried 8-10 on a 7-5 minimum in the Manawatu Cup and has been raised virtually a pound for his second, now having 8-7 on a 7- minimum. Baloo usually gives his best in handicaps when weighted just below the 9-0 mark, and with the likelihood of fast ground he should be very hard to beat with 8-

Fremont, which was a good fifth in the Manawatu Cup and Lucky Rebel, which went a splendid race for sixth, are form horses also currently in favour.

Plantation has been making steady improvement in recent weeks, though he has yet to strike his best sprint form. He usually needs a good, firm track and he should encounter thia at Hastings when he tackles the six-fur-long Stewards’ Handicap, the second leg of the double. TOUGH RIVAL

However, he meets a tough rival in the good galloper, Bywon, which was fourth over six furlongs the first day at Manawatu, then fifth in the seven-furlong Festival Handi-

cap on the final day when the ground offered most uncertain footing. On the roomy Hastings course, provided the going remains good, Bywon might be the one the others have to beat. Selections: 11.30 a.m. —Otatara Highweight: Signus, Astronaut, Strontian. 12.10 p.m.—Hastings Plate: Amoret, Kohinul, Synair. 12.50 p.m.—Fernhill Handicap: Floodlit, Htnagh, Ponsadin. 1.30 p.m.—Juvenile Handicap: Hops, Richman, Court Lass. 2.10 p.m.—Hastings Gold Cup: Baloo, Fremont, Lucky Rebel. 2.55 p.m.—Walpatu Hack Handicap: Mephisto, Bientot. Both Ways. 3.40 p.m.—Stewards' Handicap: Bywon, Plantation, Otherwise. 4.20 p.m.—Wahlne Handicap: Gayllan, Abdication, Bellamour. Fields: 11.30 a.m.— OTATARA HIGH-WEIGHT, £400; IJm. Strontian (7) 10-0; Astronaut (12), Diacol (11), Harry Lauder <3) 9-1; Chaumont (13), Great Affair (4), Naneda (2) Signus (10) 9-0. Scratched: General Derby (5). Royal Admiral (8), Coalseam (6) We Do (9). 12.1* p.m.— HASTINGS PLATE, £300: St— Fair Nip (17), First Night Out (18), Hunoor (3), Llanarae (7), Morgold (4), Squall (10), Temper (20) 8-7; Ahi (12), Amoret (2). AquUegia (13), Baroda (15), Dulari (11), Escorta (8). Great Luck (0), Honey (14), Steptoe (19), Vinous (1), Wedding Bells (9) 8-0. Scratched: Kohinui (21), Synair (5), Norma's Lass (16). 12.54 p.m.— FERNHILL HAHDICAP, £500; St. —Nenagh (8) 8-11: Floodlit (6) 8-8; Ponsadin (2) 8-0: Mr Fashion (7) 7-10: Veronique (5) 7-9; Dutch Prince (9). Thumbs Up (3) Zarashah (1) 7-7. Scratched: Free Pass (4). 1.3* p.m.— JUVENILE HAHDICAP, £500: sif.—Hops (») 8-2; Tudor Lad (7) 8-0; Court Lass (13) 7-13: Richman (8) 7-11; Courtina (5),

DeStar (2), Ima Martian (1) 7-10; Dean Hagen (12), Model (3) 7-9; Guinea Stamp (6) 7-8; Ad Astra (14) 7-7.

Scratched: Cosmic Ray (4) Patrida (10), Russian Jack (15), Mary Ann (16), Subtitle (11).

2.10 p.m.— HASTIHGS GOLD CUP, £2000: Ilf.

st. lb. 6352 Baloo (2) ..8 7 0000 Polo Prince (11) .. 7 10 4410 Tarim (8) ..7 10 6006 Lucky Rebel (10) .. 7 9 0010 Fon (16) ..7 7 6620 Grisbi (19) ..7 6 1046 Sir Barton (1) ..7 6 0094 Calm Comet (15) ..7 2 3443 Fair Linda (3) ..7 2 2530 Janeville (12) .. 7 2 8300 John Derry (17) ..7 2 2100 False Problem (7) .. 7 1 1564 Hyfort (13) ..7 1 8408 Kenrick (9) ..7 1 9396 Matawera (14) ...71 9700 Ta Vince (24) ..7 1 2800 Watchet (23) ..7 1 3700 Dark Song (22) .. 7 1 Scratched: So True (18), Bientot (21), Supa (3). Fremont (20), Sherlocks (5), Talnoch (6). 2.55 p.m.— WAIPATU HAHDICAP, £800: Im. —Bientot (6) 8-10: Mavis Earl (8) 8-0; Mephisto (18) 7-12; Bellamour (15) 7-10; Chaumont (16), Fair Deal (14), Fast Company (1). Gurkha, (9), Hulastep (3), Little Johnny (10), My Desire (4) Neola’s Pride (7). Sincere (5) 7-9. Scratched: Barclay (2), Rossmoyne (13), Abdication (21), Constellation (17), Mr Fashion (20). Both Ways (12), Excite (11), Knight’s Command (19). 3.40 p.m.— STEWARDS’ HANDICAP, £1000; St. st. lb. 045 Bywon (10) ..8 2 5109 Royal Pursuit (11) .. 8 1 7607 Sir Juvante (1) .. 7 12 02 Grazioso (12) .. 7 10 Reciprocal (3) ..79 0728 Backfire (14) ..7 8 5033 Killeymoon (6) ..78 7000 Coprosi (13) ..7 7 0 Home (2) -.7 7 959 Otherwise (5) ..77 0 Rag Doll (4) .77 Scratched: Plantation (7), Dervish (8), Might (9). 4.20 p.m.— WAHINE HANDICAP, £400; If. —Gayllan (2) 8-2; Abdication (7) 7-11; Bellamour (9). Golden Mist (6) Patsy’s Pride (8) 7-9: Advertise (15), Catapult (14), Day (12), Fair Amber (3). Patsy’s Joy (10), Redaire (5), Spirit (1), Yoshiko (4) 7-7. Scratched: Bondi (13), Kerlie (1).