RAGING Captain’s Command May Make Amends Today

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31871, 26 December 1968, Page 4

RAGING Captain’s Command May Make Amends Today

"The Press" Special Service

DUNEDIN. Summer Magic in the Dunedin Gold Gup, and Captain’s Command in the Publicans’ Handicap, will be a well-supported combination for the Dunedin Jockey Club’s T.A.B. concession double at Wingatui today, when the club will conclude its cup meeting.

Summer Magic, top-weight with 8-10, is a class galloper whose successes include an Invercargill Gold Gup and the Watkins Handicap at Trentham.

Three solid races at the New Zealand Cup meeting at Riccarton last month, including a close second to Master Brynn in the Metropolitan Handicap and a good second to his stablemate, Somelight, in the Dunedin Jockey Club Handicap last week were strong pointers that the Summertime six-year-old was close to his peak.

Success in today’s feature $3OOO event could mean another trip to Trentham for the Wellington Cup meeting next month.

Most opposition may come from his stable-mate, Red Siren, another proved stayer which showed his fitness by beating Shipmaster in the Hororata Cup earlier this month.

Shipmaster could not have! been more impressive in his winning bid in the James Hazlett Gold Cup last Saturday, but he has yet to be tested over a distance and the extra half mile today may find him out Good Wins Capasco has been one of the most consistent gallopers in Otago and Southland and was an impressive last-start winner on the first day of the Southland meeting last month. Blazing Stars debut in open company will be followed with considerable interest considering the easy manner in which he outclassed his opponents in his last two races under high-weight conditions. Second Leg Captain's Command, the! beaten second favourite in the Hazlett Gold Cup, could make amends in the Publicans Handicap, the seven furlong sprint. The Messmate six-year-old was well below his best last week and showed his discomfort by sweating freely before the race. On Tuesday he was restricted to three-quarter pace and worked kindly and was more settled. Gay Doctor led the chase home after Shewetta in the six furlong sprint last week and should be better suited by the extra furlong. Yipp has been running on strongly for a third at Beaumont and a fourth in the Flying Handicap and he too should appreciate more ground. The rain early in the week was only enough to take the fire out of the ground and the prospects are for a fast track. Fields are:

SUMMER HIGH-WEIGHT, $600: tm.—Gunga Din (9), 10-11; Blue Amber (7) 9-10; Sunny Filou (11) 9-9; Silver Savant (1) 9-4; Dime (2), General Joe (3> 9-3; Betty Mae (10), Golden Promise (S) 9-1; Cherokee Brave (6). Free Frenchman (4). Jock (5) 9-0. 12.10 p.m.— HOVICE STAKES, $500; It.— Antarctic Light (21), Attractive Light (3), Beginner's General (4), Big Bang (18), Colour Bar (1), Indian Lady (9), Miss Sheeny (17), Orphan Flight (2), Pioneer Star (11). Regal Count (14), You Listen (23) 8-7; Afghan Queen (15), Aidershot (8), Bellotama (7). Bill O'Groats (16), Campo Star (10), Double Note (12), El Shub (20). Haxton (19), Hour of Truth (22), Lady Peak (6), Miss Winks (13) 8-3. Bracket: Hour of Truth and Haxton.

Scratched: Auto’s Pride (5). 12.50 p.m ABBOTSFORD IMPROVERS' HAHOICAP, $600; 6f.— Bargain Hunter (14) 8-10; Lissom Lad (7) 8-9; Beau Coup (5), Camaro (6) 8-4, Miss Slick (4), Proud Celt (9) 8-3; Bell Cerne (12), Elvin Spark (10), Sandy Man (11), Tarata (3) 8-2: A-Okay (8), Fond Du Lac (13), Glendaloch (1) My Greatest (16), Pal Paigle (15). Shoe Tree (2) 8-1.

1.25 p.m.— CHAMPAGNE STAKES. $1000; sf.—Dax (5), Hitch Hiker (9), Mr Spock (7), Star Keeper (2) 8-6; Glowway (8), Golden Starlet (4), Indra (1), Princess Mellay (10). Renoll (3). Sue Ellen (6) 8-4. Brackets: Golden Starlet and Hitch Hiker. FIRST LEG OF T.A.B. DOUBLE 2.5 p.m.—

DECEMBER HANDICAP, $700: 7f —Dave’s Gift (10) 8-9: Bell’s Pride (7), Kurwood (9) 8-8;

Quene’s Birthday (3) 8-2; Kindle (4) 8-1; Beau Bevan (2), Footloose (6), Inns of Court (1) Sleeky Fox (5). Sliderule (8) 7-13. SECOND LEG OF T.A.B. DOUBLE 3.25 p.m.— PUBLICANS’ HANDICAP $1400; 7f.

4-5 p.m.— OTAGO HACK HANDICAP, $BOO. Ilf.—Mr Southland (5), Opstan (2) 8-7; Sand Dune (4) 8-4; Casca (10) 8-3; Mighty Red (8), Not Guilty (6) 7-12; winchman (3) 7-9; High Sierra (9) 7-8; Sierra Gold (7), Wenew (1) 7-7.

DUNEDIN GOLD CUP $3000; lim. 3202 Summer Magic (3) . 8 10 3281 Capasco (7) .. 8 6 6531 Red Siren (11) j. 8 5 3136 Cassbridge (8) ,, 8 3 3265 Middy (12) .. 8 2 0321 Shipmaster (9) 8 2 0022 Glocca Morra (5) k 7 8 1404 Sabel (1) 7 8 5411 Blazing Star (4) 7 7 1770 How Exciting (10) . 7 7 6508 Master Sheeny (6) . 7 7 1905 Submerge (2) 7 7 2.45 p.m.—

2217 Captain's Command <3> ... 9 0 1086 Red Copy GO) 8 4 80 Chango (6) ... L 8 3 9124 Mica (11) 7 13 8362 Gay Doctor (2) 7 9 7634 Yipp (12) 7 8 86 Bob’s Secret (8) k 7 7 0766 Combination (4) > 7 7 5938 Gay Coon (5) 7 7 80 Limbo (9) .. 9 Surgaway (1) 7 7 0040 Waterfront (7) k 7 7