RACING Fleeting Moment May Win Big Steeples

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31724, 6 July 1968, Page 6

RACING Fleeting Moment May Win Big Steeples

••The Press” Special Service PALMERSTON NORTH. Fleeting Moment, a rugged and determined nine-year-old from Woodville, is expected to crown a highly-successful career by winning the Wellington Steeplechase at Trentham today.

The heavier the track, the better Fleeting Moment’s chance will be, for he is in his element when the ground is at its very worst.

yond, both of which are injured. Explicit stifled himself while schooling at Trentham on Thursday. He could be fit again in time to start in either the Matai Steeplechase or Eric Riddiford Steeplechase later at the meeting.

W. D. Skelton has the mount on Gus and his brother, R. J. Skelton, will ride Free Pass from Woodville, one of those which probably would appreciate rain to loosen the going. Still, Free Pass is in such great order that he could excel even his trainer’s opinion of him. Free Pass and Gus are sure to be among the favourites and Dunraven, although likely to be at slightly longer odds, should be their main rival. He also has a great record at Trentham. He has won five times there, but he has yet to master a mile. Whiti Te Ra has come into real prominence this week, with reports of his outstanding training at Hawera. His owner-trainer, has refrained from racing him lately because the colt is ready to show his top form without warm-up races. Whiti Te Ra’s record makes him a little above average in winter footing, especially at Trentham. He could be the most likely to down the favourites, for he is a free runner certain to avoid interference. Jay Ribbon

include the southerner, Jay Ribbon, which has given encouragement in his recent racing. After a really good showing at Ashburton last start, he appeals as the best of the three South Islanders. But Trentham is a testing track and with today’s strong opposition, South Islanders will be looking to Jay Ribbon more with optimism than confidence.

Beyond hurt a leg when he fell at Hastings last week-end It is bruised badly enough to prevent him from working, so his chances of making a Trentham appearance this month seem remote. Task Easier The improvement in the weather, while it is hardly likely to result in a good track, could make things a little easier for Gus in the first leg of the T.A.B. double, the Whyte Handicap.

The man who will saddle Fleeting Moment for his big test, is the former top-class horseman, J. W. Harris, who won the race in 1955 on Aligarh. In recent weeks, Harris has concentrated all his efforts on getting Fleeting Moment fit for a gruelling run over three miles and three furlongs. M. J. Dombroski will have the mount. He is expected to declare a little over-weight, but Harris has decided to engage him all the same because he handles the Golden Souvenir gelding to perfection. Dombroski steered Fleeting Moment to a recent success in the Capital Steeplechase at Trentham in May, and he made it look so easy that day that he needs only a little luck to account for today's opposition. Fleeting Moment's task has been made easier by the withdrawal of Explicit and Be-

The top-weight, General Myth, has done so well since his final gallop on Thursday that he now seems likely to down Redaire in the Steward’s Handicap, second leg of the double. Redaire has shown all her best form on wet tracks. She may need a rainy day to beat General Myth. Last week-end, General Myth ran a provincial sprint field into the ground at Hastings, winning as he liked. The race improved him, and, as he has already won the Thompson Handicap on a soft track at Trentham, he cannot help but appeal. Redaire retains a certain amount of favour and so does Just Wishing, which will be ridden by the top northern light-weight, B. F. Andrews.

All the chestnut’s best races have been run in holding footing and he will get this if the rain holds off today. Gus was the favourite in 1966 and 1967 for the Whyte Handicap, and he failed both times. But he has looked [likely to recapture his best I form this winter. Few are likely to overlook his outstanding record at Trentham, where he has already won five I times.

The chances do not end there, and likely contenders