RACING Messene Is Likely Winner At Wanganui Tomorrow

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31771, 30 August 1968, Page 4

RACING Messene Is Likely Winner At Wanganui Tomorrow

"The Press" Special Service

PALMERSTON NORTH.

Messene has been brought south to Wanganui because of the marked preference the mare has shown for racing left-handed. After her two bold races this season, she is likely to go particularly well in the F. F. Newman Handicap.

This is the first leg of the double on the opening day of the Wanganui Jockey Club’s spring meeting and Messene gets in with only 7-11, in spite of her present form. Her chance will be helped by drawing No. 5 at the start. This is not Messene's first trip to Wanganui. She came last September to win the Mosstown Handicap from Anxious Moments and Country Girl. It was wet that day. Since then, she has graduated to open class by winning the Johnsonville Handicap at Trentham in May. There is no doubt that she is best on anticlockwise tracks, so her second to Gay Marilyn last week at Auckland could have been an even better trial than it seemed at face value.

Gay Marilyn beat Messene comfortably by five lengths, but Messene only got going in the last furlong and a half of the mile race. She became unbalanced on the home turn and her rider. J. Macdonald, said afterwards that she was still ill at ease right to the line. Specialists’ Track Wanganui is regarded as a track for specialists and so the Woodville pair, Automaton and Pasa Doble, will have to be respected. Automaton has won several times there and Pasa Doble took the Wanganui Guineas easily just on a year ago. Although both these horses lack much recent racing at totalisator meetings, they both had matinee runs earlier this month, outings which brought them along rapidly. The top-weight, Gus, while he is perhaps at his best in holding ground, should go well again after close seconds at both Hastings and Foxton. Foxton form is usually a good guide to Wanganui chances, especially at this meeting. Other possibilities include Lucky Bebel and the hardy Astral Blue, both last-start winners. But the hardest of all for Messene to beat may be Monastic, a locally-trained four-year-old with a smart record on his home track. Three wins Monastic has won three of his four races at Wanganui. This is perhaps because of his aversion to travel. He was taken to Trentham in July, but he failed to eat properly or settle away from home Monastic has almost invariably gone well fresh and the last time he raced at Wanganui he finished a good second in a sprint event With 7-10 and No. 2 at the start, he could be the one to make Messene work hardest for victory.

Honey Belle in the Flying Handicap, is almost certain to be at a short price. Although she is only three, she is impossible to go past In what is otherwise a fairly ordinary field. Honey Belle probably will have too much pace for her opponents, the best of which

could be Dunraven. He is racing on his home track where he has done well before. Furthermore he has had a chance to freshen since his hard racing at Trentham in July and he usually goes well in this condition.

Of the remainder, none appeals more than Morning Dew which has put together a fair record in easier class, mainly on the Wanganui course. Selections:— 11.30 a.m.—Putlkl Handicap: Anxious Moments, Long Blow, Iranian. 12.10 p.m.—River City Plate: First Division—Brazil, Sandon. Second Division —Jack of Hearts, Chi Chi. 12.55 p.m.—Okehu Hurdles: Hice Peter, Gave All, Lerwick. 135 p.m.—Tally-ho Steeplechase: Royal Admiral, Conspirator, Coalseam. 2.20 p.m.—F. F. Newman Handicap: Messene, Monastic, Pasa Doble. 2.5 p.m.—Ourie Handicap: Phar Lace, Count Kereru, Cantostan. 3.50 p.m.—Flying Handicap: Honey Belle, Dunraven, Morning Dew. 4.35 p.m. Intermediate Mile: Superior Star, Ima Martian, Royal Tudor. Fields, with form, for the T.A.B. double races are:— 2.20 p.m.— F. F. HEW HAH HANDICAP $2400; lim. and 55yds.

st lb tm cu» <«> »• 8 10 0021 Lucky Bebel (7) ». 8 7 3429 Automaton (3) ». 8 6 7411 Astral Blue (4) ». 8 4 0143 Pasa Doble (111 .. 8 4 0518 Autobe (13) .. >. 8 3 0032 Hessen* (5) 7 11 2224 Mystery Man (12) .. 7 11 2340 Monastic (2) 7 10 9652 Supa (8) 7 10 9754 Lightning Ridge (1) 7 9 0030 Surf Boy (9) 7 8 0087 Pink Sari (14) 7 7 Scratched: Ironbark (10). 330 p.m.—

FLYING HANDICAP $1800; 6Jf. and 44yds. st lb 6210 Empyreus (8) 9 0 5044 Dunraven (10) 8 12 4289 Fans (13) 8 12 8857 General Myth (11) 8 2 7747 Raidan (7) 7 12 4900 Parlez d’Amour (3) 7 11 1213 Honey Belle (2) 7 10 0033 Rikki Tikki (6) 7 10 1248 Tudor Lad (9) 7 9 0860 J avion (12) »•> 7 0149 Morning Dew (1) 7 7 They Told Me (5) .» 7 7 3050 Unsurpassable (4) .. 7 7