RACING POINT DUTY PICKED TO WIN AT TRENTHAM

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31499, 13 October 1967, Page 4

RACING POINT DUTY PICKED TO WIN AT TRENTHAM

Point Duty, a model of consistency in his five-year-old racing at Trentham last season, should improve a solid course record with a win in the Wellington Handicap tomorrow.

After three races so far this season Point Duty should be fit to run a mile and a half right out under 8-8 in the first leg of the Wellington Racing Club’s T.A.B. double.

Two of Point Duty’s seven wins last season were at Trentham. He achieved a notable double there before being put into winter quarters—the Gloaming Stakes Handicap, one mile and a half, on May 6. and the Waterloo Handicap, 11 furlongs, four days later.

His gameness was put to the test on each occasion; his winning margins were a nose and a head. In the second of these victories he carried 8-4 and outlasted Riccarton’s Manana after a sustained battle in the straight. Tomorrow he has 8-8, and he will be giving weight to all but Laramie.

Handy though Laramie has been in provincial handicaps in the lower half of the North Island, it is doubtful if he could be rated as one of the top prospects for a mile and a half at Trentham.

Tougher opposition for Point Duty could come from Fremont, Fans, and the South Island pair. Summer Magic and Time and Tide. Strong Light-weight Fremont, one of the good number of robust horses sired by High Rank, is an improver in a “dangerous” section of the handicap, in the lower half. He won open class races at Napier, Levin, and Wairarapa in the first half of last season, and looked little inferior to Point Duty when third behind that horse at Woodville in April. Point Duty beat him about a length and a half at Woodville when meeting him 231 b better than he will be tomorrow.

In the meantime Fremont has started his five-year-old racing fairly promisingly with two thirds and a f ourth in his last four starts. He was one of the strongest finishers over 11 furlongs at Masterton last week, and Automaton and Kenrick, which finished just ahead of him in the minor dividend-bearing places were hardly more impressive. The Gore-owned and trained Summer Magic was taken to Masterton for his first test of the season beyond a sprint distance. He ran sixth, and the race should have benefited him.

Lack of racing condition weighed against Summer Magic. Also, he had an unsettling trip north earlier in the week. Now he has settled and no-one could be surprised if be improved on his third in this race last year.

Riccarton Hope Time and Tide is tilting at a race won by Manana in the same colours last season, and with an equally Impressive form background. Manana won the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Islington Handicap and a mile and a quarter at Rangiora at successive starts before his Wellington Handicap victory last year. Time and Tide is unbeaten in three starts at five years. He won the Paparua and Heathcote Handicaps at the Grand National meeting, and took the step to a mile and a quarter with ease in the Geraldine Cup, in which he carried 8-5. Tomorrow he has 7-11. Clarendon, a durable Clariscation gelding from Morrinsville with winning form close up on his record, might come

into stronger favour if the ground is soft. His win at Avondale two starts back was on a rain-affected track.

Fans, impressive winner of the Islington Handicap at the Grand National meeting, could manage only tenth in the Avondale Cup at his next start, but his third to High Sky and Avro in the Waverley Cup on Wednesday has placed him on the list of stronger fancies.

The roomy Trentham course suits Fans, also Governor General, which would not have to find much improvement on his last-start third on a testing course in the Waipukurau Cup to be a light-weight place prospect.

Sprint Fancies Loofah and Serena, the mounts of the Skelton brothers, W. D. and R. J., are two of the top fancies for the Shorts Handicap, second leg of the double. Serena established her class with a brilliant win over Captain’s Command and High Glee in the Telegraph Handicap at Trentham last Wellington Cup day. She has started her five-year-old racing with a win over six furlongs at Waipukurau. There she was ridden by W. D. Skelton* but R. J. Skelton will be her Shorts Handicap rider. W. D. Skelton has been associated with Loofah in nearly all his racing, and this successful combination will be renewed tomorrow. Loofah's rise to take ranking with New Zealand’s top milers last season was spectacular. He began the season as a maiden, and finished with a record of six wins and three seconds. Tara’s Pride had to run a New Zealand mile record of imin 341 sec to beat Loofah in the George Adams Handicap at the Wellington Cup meeting. But if, perhaps, a mile was Loofah’s best distance, Mr A. O’Malley’s Arragon gelding found his speed quickly enough to win over six furlongs at Pahiatua in the summer. Some of his more notable wins were the W.R.C. Hutt Handicap and the Masterton President’s Mile. And he won each race stylishly. Captain’s Command managed only one win last season, yet he was one of the South Island’s best sprint stake-earners. Valuable consolation prizes came his way with minor placings in rich races at Trentham, Ellerslie, and Riccarton.

Besides his second in the W.R.C. Telegraph Handicap he was placed in the Shorts and Summer Handicaps at Trentham, third In the Stewards at Riccarton, and third in the Auckland Railway Handicap. Good Prospect Such a record to back a second fresh up at Orari recently makes the big Wingatui chestnut one of the top prospects in what will be his only race at the meeting. Floodlit and Carlsberg should be the best of the others if the footing is firm, but if there is a change to soft ground the chances of Dunraven, Master Defence, and Krazikid will brighten. Dunraven won this race last year. Master Defence has won at two of his last four starts.

Riccarton’s Krazikid has won his last four races, one at Wingatui, two at Ashburton, and one at Riccarton. This will be his stiffest test so far, but he should be a strong South Island second string to Captain’s Command. FIRST LEG OF ON-COURSE DOUBLE 11.30 a.m.—

373 Impetus (12) 8 10 5810 Last Romance (7), J. T. Anderson 8 10 3243 Le Danois (11), J. A. Messent 8 10 1461 Mannix (1), J. P. Riordan 8 10 3211 Mess Boy (14) 8 10 7118 Monastic (4) 8 10 0566 Rego Star (3), K. Reggett 8 10 1101 Unsurpassable (8), K. S. Cullen 8 10 2712 Goldenise (9), R. B. Marsh 8 5 1211 High Delight (6), M. N. Rauhihi 8 5 1344 Winning Words (2), R. A. Jenkins .. 8 5 SECOND LK OF OH-COURSR DOUBLE U.S* p.m.— WAIHUI HANDICAP, 93000; 1m. st lb 00 Fon (18). J. R. O’Neill 8 10 02 Tara’s Pride (21). L. K. Tinsley 8 7 624 Felramor (16) • 8 4 8 Min Flicka (1). W. D. Skelton 8 3 4190 Watchet (15) 8 3 728 Tarim (17). R. A. Jenkins 8 1 2200 Gus (3), J. T. Anderson 8 0 99 Baloo (10). H. N. Rauhihi 7 13 9021 Wee Galleon (8), R. J. Skelton 7 10 4799 Tinsel (14) 7 8 7 Tuskar Rock (9), B. N. Mahoney 7 8 1320 Claroch (10), G. L. Willetts 7 7 001 Destriere (4), N. E. Eastwood 7 7 9132 Avro (12), R. Cleaver , 7 5 8 Halcyon (6), B. S. Dodds 7 5 8106 Janeville (7), R. B. Marsh 7 5 022 Archimedes (13), K. Aitken 7 4 2770 Redaire (11) 7 3 79 Exalt (20). K. Reggett t r.’ 7 2 650 Gold Mint (2), J. F. Harris 7 2 5050 Torere (5) 7 2 1.40 p.m.— HERETAUNGA HANDICAP. $2000; Ilf. St lb 0402 Kalkohe (7), R. J. Skelton 9 2 311 Country Girl (3), H. N. Rauhihi 9 0 0970 Khoranet (9), J. A. Messent 8 9 04 Gold Fort (16). K. S. Cullen 8 7 6811 Conqueress <6>. N. E. Eastwood 8 3 5050 Little Johnny (15) 8 3 7122 Mammoth (8), W. D. Skelton 8 1 3213 Master Brynn (2), R. B. Marsh 8 1 111 Honourbrlght (10) 7 13 2914 Running Scared (14), t. G. Low 7 12 3514 Roussel (11), R. T. Cleaver 7 11 85 Look Up <1). L. K. Tinsley 7 9 5553 Blind Date (5) 7 8 448 Thriller (13) 7 8 30 Gold Majesty (12), G. L. Willetts . 7 7 8780 Illumined (4), D. G. Foley .7 7

2.2S p.m.— VELLINCTON HANDICAP 36000; lim. st lb 3431 Laramie <8), L. K. Tinsley . 8 9 004 Point Duty (13), R. B. Marsh . . . 8 8 2510 Clarendon (7), G. L. Willetts . 8 6 606 Summer Magic 4), R. J. Skelton . . 8 1 103 Fans (2). H. N. Rauhihi .. 8 0 111 Time and Tide (10), A. J. Stokes . . 7 11 3734 Fremont (1), N. E. Eastwood . . 7 7 9073 Kenrick (5), J. A. Messent . . 7 5 0582 Automaton (4), K. Aitken . 7 4 8025 Three Kings (9), B. S. Dodds 7 4 243 Governor General (6), J. F. Harris 7 3 0600 Sparkling Maid (12), B. N. Mahoney .. 7 1 804 Tardini (11), K. Rohloff . . 7 1 0807 Getup (3) 7 0 068 Sonax (15), N. Nicol 7 0 3.10 p.m.— WELLESLEY STAKES 94000; 5f. st lb 5 Bindana (16) . 8 7 1 Cote d’Azur (8), L. K. Tinsley 8 7 3 Euchreloo (9), K. Aitken .. 9 7 3 Honda (5) . . 8 7 0 King’s Brew (2), M. J. O’Connor 8 7 2 Palamos (11), D. G. Foley 8 7 1 Yamaha (13), R. J. Skelton 8 7 3 Ardfern (3), W. P.

CLEH HURDLES. $2000; lim. 0334 Beyond (5), M. J. st lb Dombroski 11 7 0638 Regal Ruler (4), G. Jenkins 3007 Blue Defaulter (8)’, 9 8 M. J. O’Connor 9 7 0021 Humber (3) 0633 Agra (9), G. N. Mc9 6 Leish 710 Count Serene (1) R. 9 0 A. Jenkins 9 0 7803 Golden Rebel (6) 5052 My Surprise (10) C. 9 0 I. Goss 9 0 Scratched: Comrade dion (2). (7), CIO12.10 p.m.— WELLINGTON GUINEAS $6000; Im. 1211 Bompa (5), W. D. st lb Skelton 4655 Brltannicus (15). L. $ 10 K. Tinsley 2512 Greenstone (10), A. 8 10 T. Jones 4035 Ima Martian (13) R. 8 10 J. Skelton 8 10

2 Black Witch (15), G. L. Willetts 8 2 748 Cuanto Le Gusta (14), H. N. Rauhihi 8 2 116 Lady Defence (4), K. E. Reggett 8 2 06 Parfait (6), R. B. Marsh 8 2 Reveiller (17), J. A. Messent 8 2 42 Tanain (7), R. A. Jenkins 8 2 Scratched: Royal Tudor (10), Tiger Kelly (1). 3.55 p.m.— SHORTS HANDICAP 83000; 6f. 1210 Master Defence (3), K. E. Reggett st lb 8 6 1 Serena (13), R. J. Skelton 8 6 1111 Krazikid (2), E. G. Low 8 5 Loofah (14), W. D. ' Skelton 8 5 3250 Dunraven (12), K. Cullen 8 2 Jetmate (5), L. K. Tinsley 8 2 2 Captain’s Command (11) 8 1 41 Floodlit (6), A. T. Jones 8 1 843 Carlsberg (8), R. A. Jenkins 8 0 Prince Hagen (9), J. R. O’Neill 8 0 145 Scramble (7) 7 13 7 Game (10), R. B. Marsh 7 12 General Myth (4), H. N. Rauhihi 7 11 Court Beau (1), G. L. Willetts 7 10 YoshikO (16) 7 10 945 Merrick (18), N. E. Eastwood 7 0 Shiloko (15), N. Nicol 7 0 500 Terramycin (17), B.' N. Mahoney 7 0 4.40 p.m.— OCTOBER HANDICAP 12000; Im. st lb 00 Day (20) 9 5 6092 Callander’s Gift (2) 9 4 Havering (17) 8 11 32 Banagh (13), H. N. Rauhihi 8 8 90 Vijay (10). S. B. Robertson 8 8 14 Goldy Boy (3), K. S. Cullen 8 5 0067 That’s Right (12), R. A. Jenkins 8 3 0511 Striking (1), J. R. O’Neill 8 2 1890 Deep Blue (5), J. A. Messent 7 12 011 Next Please (7), E. G. Low . 7 12 60 Hops (14). R. B. Marsh 7 11 122 Libya (6), D. Blake 7 10 13 Caruso (18), B. S. Dodds 7 8 454 Bridge Port (9), G. L. Willetts 7 7 90 Gay Marine (11), M. Donoghue 7 7 8445 Jazz (8), J. F. Harris 7 7 4004 Jeenie Bee (4) 7 7 0 Kandara (19), R. J. Skelton 7 7 7 Talavera (16), W. D. Skelton 7 7 Scratched: Bren’s Pride (15).