TROTTING Garcon Roux Will Attract Interest

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31942, 20 March 1969, Page 4

TROTTING Garcon Roux Will Attract Interest

The appearance of the record-breaking three-year-old, Garcon Roux, and such well-performed pacers as Cardinal Garrison, Co Pilot, Chief Command, Allakasam, Lordship, Monsignor and Selwyn Hanover, will ensure the three qualifying heats for the Easter Cup on Saturday provide the keenest racing seen at Addington Raceway this season.

The heats, which will be run over 10 furlongs, have drawn even fields and betting will be fairly well spread. The club’s decision to run two sets of three qualifying heats has been well justified with two fields of 13 and one of 12.

The field for the $lO,OOO final on April 5 should be the finest obtained by any club for a long time, and it should prove to be a great draw. Garcon Roux has drawn the first heat, which is the second leg of the on-course concession double. This field looks to be possibly the weakest of the three, but it includes such well-performed runners as Co Pilot and Chief Command. Garcon Roux took a mile record of Imin 59 3-ssec in a special time trial at Hutt Park last month. He is undoubtedly the speediest pacer of his age this season. He has already proved his ability under invitation conditions with a win at the expense of Tobias, Revel Time and Loyal Knight at Alexandra Park on February 1. In that race he was near the tail of the field until the straight entrance and then he unwound a brilliant burst which gave him a length victory.

Garcon Roux will start from 12 yards, alongside such proven open handicap performers as Co Pilot and Chief Command, which are certain to make him work hard to preserve his winning sequence, which at the moment stands at four. Co Pilot, a winner at Hutt Park in January, won twice at Forbury Park early in February, finishing with a win in the Dunedin Festival

Cup Final. He has not raced since then and was not produced at the trials last week. However, he is certain to be close to his best and he should be capable of a fast 10 furlongs.

Smart Sprinter ) Chief Command, too, has great sprinting ability. He! failed in the Festival Cup| final at Dunedin and the New I Brighton Cup at his two! latest starts, but before that i his racing was of a very high! standard, his wins including the Rangiora Cup. Lords is capable of a smart sprint, and a forward show-; ing is expected from Beat Time, which has shown his! best form as a stayer. However, he went well enough, at last week's trials to be given a great chance in this field. Vantage and Lustre Scott | are two others expected to | show to advantage. Port Boxer is the only North Island horse in this field. He was disappointing at Alexandra Park recently; when seventh was the best he could do in his two starts. He will have to improve to be much of a threat, but one of his peak runs would give him a chance from the limit. Fine Chance Selwyn Hanover is "The! Press” selection in the sec-1 ond heat, which is the first! leg of the T.A.B. double. He j was a winner on the course! on February 15 and was most impressive at the trials last! week when he beat Allakasam from level marks. He' worked well on Tuesday; morning and should strip a very fit horse. He has never; met a field approaching this! class, but he should not be I out of his depth. Double Cross showed she had recovered well since she!

I failed on two nights at Forbury Park last month. She, | too, won at the trials last week, but was in the slowest heat of the free-for-all. Double Cross should be capable of a smart sprint and ; she could run Selwyn Han- I over to a close decision. ; Allakasam can never be left; out of calculations, especially from the luxury mark of 18 yards. She won the New' Brighton Cup at her last!; start, and although she would j; be better served by a longer: distance, she might easily!! win.

Chequer Board, too. pleased at the trials last week and if he begins cleanly, he should go well. Monsignor is certain to be among the favourites. He has not raced since November, but he went well recently at trials in the Auckland area. In the past he has been inclined to drift at the start, which might be against him in a sprint heat. Even so, he should be prominent. Chaman, Byebye Bill, Snowline, Norlight, Stylos and James have all shown sound sprint form at times and bold showings are expected from them.

Strong Fancy Cardinal Garrison, winner of the Auckland Cup in record time and the fastest

four-year-old racing in New ! Zealand today, will be a commanding favourite for the !second leg of the double, the. third heat of the Easter Cup. II |He has not raced since he! ■finished seventh in the Easter Cup in January, but he was 'not at his best that night. He!, ; is reported to have freshened; pleasingly and a bold sprint is ! i expected from him. ! Meadow Bank, a stylish winI ner over two miles at Auck- ! land last Saturday after some . most consistent racing before-; hand, should be the pick of ! the horses on the limit. He • seems to be racing most gene- ; rously at the moment and he , might make Cardinal Garri- ■ son work hard for a win. ; Lordship, from 24 yards, is;, nearing the end of a fine ; career. He showed plenty of ; dash when he won at the trials!, last week and if he races as ; generously again he will be ! close up at the finish. ; Happy Hal might upset cal- ! culations. He has 2min 1 1-5 . sec to his credit over one;; mile and from his handy bar-, rier position he should be ■ capable of a smart 10 fur-; longs. Royal Fame, too, is a smart ; sprinter. He was fourth in ; the Ashburton Cup on Boxing , Day at his latest start. Glenda Hanover, which is, to be auctioned next Monday, . will carry the hopes of a host;; of Southland supporters. She , was second over two miles ath Forbury Park at her latest!; start. !> Loyal Knight will heighten!; the prospects of a North Is- ; land win. He has already < done well at Addington Race- j way this season and he should J be ready to show to advan- < tage after placings at Auck- * land earlier in the month. ; Torrent was a winner at < Alexandra Park last week, but! j she would be preferred over!; more ground. She looks took close in the handicaps to Car-jj dinal Garrison, which win.