RACING HAMUA PICKED TO BEAT TATUA

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31943, 21 March 1969, Page 5

RACING HAMUA PICKED TO BEAT TATUA

‘‘The Press’’ Special Service

PALMERSTON NORTH.

The clash between the Woodville stayer, Hamua, and the proven galloper, Tatua, in the weight-for-age Awapuni Gold Cup is certain to be the feature of tomorrow’s racing at the Manawatu autumn meeting.

Hamua recorded a magnificent performance last start when he carried 8-11 to an all-the-way win over 12 furlongs in the President’s Handicap at Trentham. Tatua has not raced since his weight-for-age win at Trentham in January.

Hamua is being prepared for the $50,000 Sydney Cup and this will be his first attempt at weight-for-age. Yet the. distance of 10 furlongs seems ideal for him. Tatua, the veteran of the field at nine years, is a prolific winner. He is the second biggest stake earner in New Zealand. Hamua will be ridden by L. K. Tinsley, who will have the mount also at Tauranga next week and in the big cup at Randwick. It is expected that R. J. Leggett will ride Tatua. which already has won the Awapuni Gold Cup once.

The artificial watering which has been done lately is likely to suit both horses, for each seems to prefer just the sting out of the track. Any rain at all would help them both. But a really dry track would favour the three-year-old Dolapal, which will face his first attempt beyond a ' mile. He looks an ideal type for 10 furlongs and his laststart third at Hawera on Wednesday was a first-class trial. The weight-for-age scale could perhaps favour the younger horse at this stage of the year, yet he will need to do everything correctly to beat Hamua and Tatua. The leading apprentice J. F. Harris will ride Dolapal. He knows the chestnut well, having been on him in most of his recent starts. DOUBLE EVENTS The first leg of the club's T.A.B. double wtll be the Manawatu Mile and here things are clouded a little by the list of doubtful runners. Quite a few may drop out unless the track eases. If he goes to the post General Myth should win decisively. He was runner-up in both the Thompson Handicap and Hutt Handicap at Trentham. However, E. Ropiha plans to run him in the A.R.C. Easter Handicap and he be-lieves another mile on hard ground would hardly improve General Myth’s Ellerslie chances.

Another top prospect likely to drop out on dry ground is Colorado Boy, and Honey Belle is not expected to start.

The leading first leg chance on dry footing is Carlsberg, which won the George Adams Handicap at Trentham in January. Last Wednesday at Hawera he was fourth in a smart sprint field.

In anticipation of General Myth’s withdrawal, H. N. Rauirihi agreed to ride Carlsberg. The second leg is the Epsom Handicap, in which Patrida looks a good chance. At his last start he almost beat Even One over the same distance at Trent-

ham with 7-8. He has 8-0 this time, but the opposition is not as strong. With Shelly Burford not certain to start, the Hawera winner, Belle Rina, might be the danger. She was quite Impressive on that occasion and she would need only to produce the same dash to go very clos* to a double. Of the others none appeals more than Fashion Plate, which will make a fresh start after an absence of almost 12 months. Just wishing and Togo are perhaps the best of the remainder. Selections:— 11.30 a.m.—Autumn Plate: Bridesmaid, Mess Time, RichJehu. 12.5 p.m.—Kalranga Highwelght: Rad Forest, Comrade, Tspmost.

12.4* p.m.—Cl*v*rl*a Handicap: Gilded, El Peso, Arrla. 1.15 p.m.—Te Wanaka Handicap: Kerry Dawn, Ina Caurt, Kandara. 1.50 p.m.—Awapuni Gold Cup: Hamua, Tatua, Oalapal. 2.3 S p.m.—Manawatu Mil*: Carlsberg, Frlnca Hagen, Bellameur.

3.10 p.m.—Lockwaad Handicap: Temray, Cannes, Derasi*.

3.50 p.m.—Epsam Handicap: Patrida, Fashion Plata, Bell* Rina.

4.25 p.m.—Adderston* Handicap: Aristae, Jen Hal, Royal Genius.

Fields, with form, for T.A.B. double:

2.33 p.m.— MANAWATU MILE HANDICAP *3000; Im.

st lb 3130 Carlsberg (2) . 8 9 5150 Bellamour (3) . 8 7 2305 Colorado Boy (18) . 8 5 96 Shut (9) . 8 4 0311 Tipperary Tom (5) . 8 2 2624 Yoshiko (1) .. . 7 12 5422 General Myth (8) . 7 10 4553 H-oney Belle (7) . 7 10 1111 Dormaranne (15) . 7 8 0087 Raidan (17) .. . 7 8 4344 Highbrow (12) . 7 6 5304 Prince Hagen (10 7 5 2070 Belle Rina (13) 7 4 000 Caruso (11) . . 7 4 1390 Constellation (7) 7 4 4395 Goldenise (4) 7 4 3575 Renegue (14) .. 7 4 1261 Republican (6) u .74 3.50 p.m.— EPSOM HANDICAP 81750; 6f. st lb 5411 Shelly Burford (7) . 8 9 3404 Togo (4) 8 6 5672 Just Wishing (1) . 8 1 2282 Patrida (5) .. 8 0 5616 Weenell (3) .. 7 11 2220 Ana Kildare (6) 7 10 4440 Tipperary Gold (12) 7 9 0333 Fair Ally (2) .. 7 8 Fashion Plate . (8) . 7 8 80 Abdication (10) 7 7 0701 Belle Rina (11) 7 7 Bracket: Togo and Tipperary Gold. Scratched: Archimede i (9), Prince Hagen (13).