RACING Fairscott Faces Tough Mile Field Tomorrow

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31762, 20 August 1968, Page 4

RACING Fairscott Faces Tough Mile Field Tomorrow

"The Press” Special Service AUCKLAND.

Against Pell Mell, Ruakiwi Lass and other top gallopers in the August Handicap at Ellerslie tomorrow Fairscott faces a hard race for his first try in open company, yet he looks a good prospect to win.

Fairscott burst through hack and intermediate company with three successive wins.

Each time he showed all the pace of a top sprinter and at Tauranga. when nearly beaten, the gameness of a very fine galloper. When he won at Te Awamutu, in an intermediate mile, Fairscott carried Bst 111 b, which was 111 b more than the minimum weight. With 7st 91b tomorrow he has 21b more than the bottom weight in the August Handicap so he has been allowed a reasonable concession for his first open race.

In respect of early speed. Fairscott should do as well and perhaps better than Pell Mell and Ruakiwi Lass. From No. 2 at the start, he is almost certain to be one of the leaders. Pell Mell and Ruakiwi Lass are in the habit of dropping behind then making a strong late run. Pell Mell will be coming back to a sprint distance in the August Handicap after a couple of middle distance races, in which he ran very well for a second and a third TOP CLASS MILER Pell Mell was one of the best milers last summer, His recent longer races are unlikely to have so dimmed his speed that he is beyond a very good mile, especially on a big course like Ellerslie.

Roganne, the top-weight with 9-4, 41b more than Pell Mell, has won his last two races, each over one mile and a

quarter. It is a long while since he distinguished himself over a shorter course. More than likely he will be finishing better than most of his opponents but very probably too late. Ruakiwi Lass ran with great credit in two attempts during the Grand National meeting at Riccarton. With luck she could have won either race. As it was, she failed by three-quart-ers of a length the first time and by a neck the second time. Altogether Ruakiwi Lass gathered two firsts and three seconds from her last six starts. She carried 9-0 in the second of her two races at Riccarton and with the scale of weights lower, has 8-9 In the August Handicap. REAPPEARANCE Star Belle's reappearance Is certain to attract attention and it will be interesting to see whether Rainfall, after a letup. is capable of a return to her best. If they get through the August Handicap well, both will be in the Avondale Cup on August 31. From a few starts in New Zealand last autumn, Star Belle managed only a second and a third. She had raced much better in Melbourne during the spring after being the top three-year-old of 1966-67. Star Belle has been sprinting well lately in her training at Takanini and she seems fairly certain to run the best part of a mile very freely. Rainfall is not likely to show the same early speed but if the ground is heavy she might get close at the finish. Lu Filou (8-9) showed sufficient improvement in his last two races to be considered, even if the distance will be perhaps too short for his liking. Redaire, from Hastings and Wonderbar have been racing well and they should be the best of the others. The going will be heavy. Selections: Noon—Westminster Handicap: Ursa Queen, Buland Star, Klzilkhan. 12.35 p.m.—Glenfield Hurdles: Olde Chelsea, Tawa Mahal, Schoolmate. 1.15 p.m.—Provincial Handicap: Ramlegh, Abbey’s Son, His Majesty. 1.50 p.m.—Winter Steeplechase: Last Count, Fiery Lad, Kimberlite. 2.30 p.m.—August Handicap: Fairscott, Pell Hell, Roganne. 3.10 p.m.—Clevedon Handl-

cap: First Division: Tide Song, Ajar. Second division: Mogul, Dee Jay. 3.50 p.m.—Broadway Handicap: Fair Law, Boston Boy, Untouchable. 4.30 p.m.—Metropolitan Handicap: Tina, Corumba, Mike. Fields, with form for the T.A.B. double races are: 2.30 p.m.— AUGUST HANDICAP

$2700; Im. at lb 0011 Roganne (9) . *. 9 4 0023 Pell Mell (3) 9 0 0200 Star Belle (17) 8 12 0300 Rainfall (13) .. h . 8 11 0034 Lu Fllou <7> . 8 9 0122 Ruakiwi Lass (4) 8 9 2328 Redaire (15) w . 8 7 0420 Wonderbar (10) 8 4 2170 Gay Marilyn (1) 8 0 0100 Head Off (14) 7 13 0320 Valiant Rebel (12) .. 7 13 5102 Gay Cobbler (18) .. 7 12 1000 Alsarita (11) 7 9 2111 Fairscott (2) .. 7 9 4000 Papeete (6) 7 8 0133 Dr Simon (5) 7 7 0000 What You Will (16) .. 7 7 Scratched: Claroch (8). 3.50 p.m.— BROADWAY HANDICA $1980; 6f. St lb 4110 Kalgoorlie (10) 9 7 1300 Royal Fair <11) 8 8 8001 Boston Boy (3) 8 5 210 Sunvalley Mist (9) .. 8 4 1213 Honey Belle (8) 8 3 4504 Count Two (7) to . 8 1 0341 Fair Law (6) r .. 8 1 3421 Mitamlt <2> .. 8 1 4000 Travel Alone (5) ».■ 8 1 0230 Untouchable (1) 8 1 0000 Red Arrow (4) 8 0