TROTTING Chief Command Picked In Festival Cup

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31907, 7 February 1969, Page 4

TROTTING Chief Command Picked In Festival Cup

(From Our Own Reporter)

DUNEDIN. Chief Command is selected to win the S6OOO Dunedin Festival Cup Final, to be run over two miles at Forbury Park tomorrow evening.

The son of My Chief has been a model of consistency since being trained this season at Belfast by C. S. Donald, who races him in partnership with Mr P. Van Der Looy, of Christchurch. •

Chief Command was a stylish winner over 13 furlongs last Saturday, fighting on gamely in a true test of stamina with the backmarker, Lordship. Then, on Wednesday, he went a fine race in the sprint, finishing third after having to work hard to obtain a challenging position near the three furlongs. The distance should not trouble him in a select field, which will meet under the same handicaps as they did over 13 furlongs last week. The Ashburton Cup winner, Lords, and his older brother. Lordship, will form a strong bracket Lords lost his chance at the start of his heat last Saturday, but showed his best form on Wednesday when he went under by only a head in a battling finish with a dogged stayer, Allakasam. Lords appeared to be well beaten outside the final furlong, but he came again and in a hard finish he made up ground on the winner close to the post. Lords meets Allakasam on 18 yards more favourable terms over a distance which might suit the Methven mare better. However, Lords has proved himself a fine stayer when caught in a generous mood and he could make a bold bid to win. Beat Time makes strong appeal. He finished fast from the tail of the field racing to the straight for third behind Double Cross on the first night, and on Wednesday he came at a great rate towards the finish for a close fourth to Co Pilot. Most Points Co Pilot, the top points scorer in the heats, has a placing in the last New Zea-

jland Cup to recommend him. 'He is very fit at present and he will not be a forlorn prospect A bold showing is expected from Atanui, which looks to be improving. She came home well for her third behind Allakasam on Wednesday and should be even fitter tomorrow.

Allakasam and Lordship share the back mark of 30 yards. Both have outstanding records as stayers. Their form in the heats has been good enough for both of them to have sound prospects, particularly Allakasam. Lordship was mulish at the start of Wednesday’s sprint and he lost all chance. The same starting point will apply tomorrow and it remains to be seen whether he will begin quickly. He will be bracketed with Lords and the combination must appeal. Double Cross was a shade disappointing when she tired to fifth in Wednesday’s sprint. However, she is a better stayer than a sprinter and if restrained back in the field, she could run on more strongly than many in the event Meadow Bank and Atlee complete the field. Meadow Bank has the ability to take up and maintain a prominent position and this earned him second place in the Wellington Cup last month. Meadow Bank has raced generously in the heats and his chances of reaching a place at least must be good. Atlee might find the class a little rich.

The Airways Handicap, a 2:16 class race over 13 furlongs, makes a rather unattractive second leg of the double. First Venture, Upper Class and Sam Again form a likely trio, but there is plenty of room for a surprise. Improved weather is forecast and the track will again be hard and fast Selections: — 630 p.m.—Visitors’ Handicap: Waitaki Elect, Dark Sun, Whippet. 7 p.m.—Mornington Handicap: Final Donn, Someday, Fambill. 7.30 p.m.—Festival Cup Con-

solation Race: Glenda Hanover, Stereo Scott, Tyrone. 8 p.m.—Plunket Handicap: Early Frost, Chevalier, Moomba. 830 p.m. Festival Cup Final: Chief Command, Lords, Beat Time. 9 p.m.—February Handicap: Briganelli, Shady Maid, Magic Time. 9.30 p.m.—Wanaka Handicap: Ghandi, Willow Brae, Wairimu. 10 p.m.—Airways Handicap: First Venture, Upper Class, Sam Again. 10.30 p.m.—Forbury Three-year-old Stakes: Sheer Delight, Prince Forbes, Monarrg. FIRST LEG OF ON-COURSE DOUBLE 630 p.m.— VISITORS* HANDICAP $1300; 2:17 class; mobile start; lit.

MORNINGTON HANDICAP, $1100; 2:18 class; trottres; 13f. —Bonny Lands (5), Cavil (2), Final Donn (3). Kilarno (1), Kimargo (4). Pleasure Girl (7), Say Diana (8), Someday (6) It; Clifford Bay (1), Flying Globe (2), Grange Lad (4), Pambill (3) 24; Conclusion (2). Melody Way (1) 48. Eliminated: Belmartlal, Dan Mack. Halberg, Magic Time. SECOND LEG OF ON-COURSE DOUBLE 7JO p.m.— DUNEDIN FESTIVAL CUP CONSOLATION RACE

8 p.m.— PLUNKET HANDICAP. SBOO. 2:19 class: Ilf.—Anjoeen (2), Chevalier (1). Clandeboye <9), Early Frost (3), Hallway (11), Ivanhoe (12). Lady Choice (6), Lucky Lord (4), Moomba (8), Paula Jane (10), Seven Chief (13), Show Girl (14), Special Mixture (5), Two Bob (7) It. Eliminated: Cainard, County Fair, Ratanui, Rippling Over, Undertone. West Cape, Dillight, Wairimu. Whippet. FIRST LEG OF T.A.B. DOUBLE 8.30 p.m.—

FEBRUARY HANDICAP, $2000; 2:15 class; trotters; 2m.—Bonny Strathair (2), Cardigan Lass (1), Laplander (6), Magic Time (4), Roytelet (5), Vapour (3) It; Briganelli (3), Global Hall (2). Kate Smith (1), Morven Lad (4). Stormy Petrel (5) 24; Shady Maid (1) 36. Bracket: Bonny Strathair and Cardigan Lass. 9.3® p.m.— WAN AKA HANDICAP, $1000; 2:18 class; mobile start; Ilf Charlie Kelly (10), Creditor (3), Credo (12), Dillight (5), Francis John (2), Ghandi (7), Mobelle (9), Our Conga (1), Sonetto (8), Vanene (6), Wairimu (11). Willow Brae (4) It. Eliminated: All Adorian, Double Luck, Falincia, Harvester, Mission Light, Raven’s Best, Stomp. SECOND LEG OF T.A.B. DOUBLE 10 p.m.— AIRWAYS HANDICAP $1600; 2:16 class; 13f.

FORBURY THREE-YEAR.OLD, STAKES, $1000; Ilf.—Advanced Fibre (2), Aero Circle (9), Bindy (4), Donna Charles (3). Freezer (11), Lady Ag (6), Moparrg (7), Night Chief (5). Staple a (8), Sheer Delight (1), Uncle Charlie (10) It; Prince Forbes (1), Rippling Over (2) 12; Jopaga (1) 24. Bracket: Donna Charles and Uncle Charlie.

7660 Balfour Chimes (11) .. It 8089 Boy Logan (4) It 12 Dark Sun (2) . It 4705 Golden Splendour (7) It 4406 Michaeloe (3) .. It 9293 Petite Dell (8) It 970 Prince John (6) ... It 5030 Quite Local (11 t.. It 6350 Solomon 10) It 2321 Waitaki Elect (12) It 2112 Whippet (10) .. It 0348 Zhivago (5) It

$2300; 2:11 class; 2m. 0608 Abbey Frost (5) . It 9 Adioway (4) . It 2268 Merry Morning (2) . It 8150 Vantage (6) . It 0045 Bass Strait (3) ■ . It 3686 Glenda Hanover (7) . It 9866 Major Bright (8) It 54 Stereo Scott (9) . It 1868 Tyrone (1) . It 0099 Jacobite (2) . 12 0977 Spry (1) .. . 12 Bracket: Merry Morning, way and Vantage. Adio-

DUNEDIN FESTIVAL CUP $6000; 2:11 class; 2m 8573 Atanui (5) Jt 9027 Atlee (6) . . It 7034 Beat Time (1) .. It 0413 Chief Command (2) It 1415 Double Cross (4) . It 1002 Lords (7) It 2232 Meadow Bank (3) . It 1441 Co Pilot (1) . 12 4351 Alakasam (2) .. . 30 3629 Lordship (1) . 30 Bracket: Lords and Lordship. 9 p.m.—

6854 Alpha Girl (9) .. .. It 1571 Bethel (11) .. It 0900 Blonde Sister (2) ... It 4075 Dawn Peterson (4) ... It 4221 First Venture (3) .... It

06 Flying Over (11) It 7370 Johnny Kawa (7) It 7509 Lord Avon (6) It 3600 Melitza Korjus (8) .. It 2321 Newella (10) It 0236 Sam Again (12) It

3111 Upper Class (5) 5300 Cingalese (1) ... fr-. It . 36 .. 36 7100 Vandal (2) 10.30 p.m,—