Backfire Napier Pick

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31621, 6 March 1968, Page 4

Backfire Napier Pick

•‘The Frees” Special Service HASTINGS. The most Interesting candidate for the U-furlong Leopard Gold Cup first leg of the T.A.B. double at the Napier Park meeting at Hastings today is Backfire, a sprinter which is bred to stay. After his splendid race for fifth in the two-mile Chalmers Handicap at Trentham, Empyreus is almost certain to be a firm favourite for the Leopard Cup, but Backfire could test him. At his only previous attempt at a middle distance, Backfire ran a bold race for eighth in the Wattle’s Gold Cup at Woodville in December, 1966, finishing on again solidly after drifting in the middle stages. On Saturday he was a good fifth in the seven-furlong McWilliams Wines Handicap at the Napier Park meeting, after a win and two thirds in sprints on the East Coast circuit. He wiH be ridden by R. J. Skelton. Backfire is a powerfully built five-year-old gelding by Fifing Line a former New Zealand record holder at 11 furlongs from Ada Wyn a mare by Instinct from Mabel Knight. The second leg of the double is on the Stewards' Handicap. The weather is fine and the track will be fast. Selections:— Noon.—Ahurirl High-weight: False Problem, Rahpete, Agricolist. 12.40 p.m.—Trial Plate: Soiree, Fast Draw, Vinnaren. 1.20 p.m.—Heanee Hack Handicap: Cheetah, Solarium, Augusto. 2 p.m.—Marewa Handicap: Fret, Woven, Linus. 2.45 p.m.—Leopard Gold Cup: Backfire, Empyreus, Sail Away. 3.25 p.m.—Puketapu Hack Handicap: Ana Kildare, Mary Mead, Swift Stream.

4.15 p.m.—Steward,’ Handicap: Dalvul, Lucky Reba), Nuihau. 4.55 p.m—Taradate Hack Handicap: Fabulad, GoldenIse, Auguste. Fields are:— Noon— AHURIRI HIGH-WRIGHT. 5750; Ilf.—False Problem <9) 10-10; Tamarangi (5) 10-6: Agricolist (4) Rahpete (3) 9-7; Hulastep (7), Jonty (8), Kaimol Star (2), Mighty Blue (1) 9-0. Scratched: Chevllle (6). 12.40 p.m.— TRIAL PLATE, $600; Im.—Bill Bailey (8), Box (17), Gay Erin (12), Great Luck (10), Peter Lyall (16), Sacroan (7), Vinnaren (13) 8-5; Court Order (15), Emma Peel (9), Escameno (14). Fast Draw (2), Jovial Friar (8), Kiri's Pride (4), Mighty Effort (3), Racing Time (5), Shyloe (1). Soiree (11) 8-0. 1.20 p.m.— MEEAHEE HACK HANDICAP, 8770; It.— Dean Hagen (16) 8-12; Hostage (8) 8-11; Augusto (15) 8-10; Cheetah (1). Gurkha (7) 8-3; Trugent (6) 8-1; Solarium (5) 8-0; Gay Romance (10) 7-12: Henech (11) 7-10; Atheneum (14), Peter John (18) 7-8; Bluffing (2), Foxel (4), Hulastep (3), Peter Lyall (17), Ribbon (13). Sincere (12), Tosh (9) 7-7. Scratched: Taina (19). 2 MAREWA HANDICAP, 8700 ; 6f —Royal Tudor (2) 9-2; Alphonso (11) 8-8; Fret (16) 8-2; Woven (3) 8-1; Linus (15) 7-12; Earl of York (10). Slattery (1), Yes Sirree (13) 7-11; Martino (5), Merit Mark (18), Taal (8) 7-9; Deno (17), Grande (12>, Little Annie (7), Manurere (14). Philaebon (4) 7-8: Miss McKelvie (6). Toucan (9) 7-7. 2.45 p.m.—

LEOPARD GOLD CUP $3000; Ilf. st lb 3415 Empyreus (15) ~. 8 12 2120 Sir Barton (9> ~.81 5003. Sail Away (14) ~. 7 13 1460 Calm Comet (4) ~. 7 12

1541 Noir Filou (11) <•. 712 1330 Backfire (3) 7 9 9680 Watchet (13) .. ..78 0474 Balyn (10) ..7 7 4562 Bourbon Lass (2) .. 7 7 9042 Koley (6) ..7 7 3914 Golden Bay (8) .76 9120 Happy Return (1) .. 7 6 9600 Abdication (16) ... 7 5 5750 Might (7) ~.75 90 Paper Kiwi (12) ■ 7 5 8450 Ta Vince (5) ~.75 3.25 p.m.— PEKETAFU HACK HANDICAP, $750; 6f.—Dean Hagen (8) 9-0; Ana Kildare (11) 8-7: Mary Mead ,4) 8-1; Toytime (6) 7-12; Gay Samaritan (2), Swift Stream (1) 7-9; Deep Image (7), Zebby (5) 7-8; Courtina (9), Fairlu (3). Moanui (10) 7-7. 4.15 p.m.— STEWARDS’ HANDICAP $1200; 7f. st lb 14 Dalvui (13) . ..9 2 0000 Min Flicka (2) ..8 4 31 Lucky Rebel (4) . 8 3 1140 Loch Nagar (11) .. 7 10 2110 Coprosi (6) .78 3812 Nuihau (1) ... 7 4 2203 Highbrow (12) ..7 3 5715 Sacimo (5) ~.. 7 3 JO7O Advertise (9) ~. 7 0 1004 Barclay (14) .., ~.70 3300 Bravest (10) .. ~. 7 o 2021 Comrade (8) . • . 7 0 6890 Killeymoon (3) 7 0 0000 Prince d’Amour (7) 7 0 9696 Royal Pursuit (15) .. 7 0 4.55 p.m.— TARADALE HACK HAHDICAF, $840; Um.—Augusto (7) 8-10; Goldenise (6) 8-7; Gurkha (5) 9-5; Fabulad (4), His Lordship (3) 8-2: Synthetic (11) 7-13; Ad Astra (12), Squall (1) 7-12; King Tide (2). Vinous (8) 7-11; Bluffing (14), Chaumont (9). Long Time (10), Peter John (13), Vinnaren (15) 7-10.