STRONG FIELD FOR GOLD CUP AT TE AWAMUTU

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32050, 26 July 1969, Page 6

STRONG FIELD FOR GOLD CUP AT TE AWAMUTU

“The Press’* Special Service AUCKLAND. Te Awamutu should be packed for the Taumarunui club’s meeting today. The §5500 on offer for the Taumarunui Cup has drawn one of the best middle-distance fields for years.

It was the best decision for everyone when Taumarunui decided to quit its home property and race on the Waipa Racing Club’s course. Such a stake as the one today must argue strongly against unnecessary duplication of racecourses and their expensive facilities,' a bane of racing in New Zealand. The stake for the Taumarunui Gold Cup has risen steadily since the club took up racing again at Te Awamutu, 16 years ago. It was $9OO and a trophy valued at $5O in that year. Twelve months ago it was $3700 and a $3OO gold cup. Hardly one of the best Auckland and Waikato middle-distance horses has been left out of the big race today. The runners will include two previous winners, Roganne and Clarendon, recent notable gallopers such as Ruakiwi Lass, Lord Cheval, Com--ridable, Fm-nn

mendable, Foxonewa, Cambridge Fair, Sunwarm, and Our Grace, and visitors such as Royal Theme and Free Pass, from Woodville, and Escameno, from Ashhurst. Just which will be the favourite is anybody’s guess. A weight of T.A.B. bets is bound to make the visiting horses well backed. Free Pass, being R. J. Skelton’s mount, might well be the popular fancy. JUST BEATEN Free Pass just failed to take the TSumarunui Gold Cup last year, Roganne beating him by a head. He is a

free galloper which runs close to the pace, and is well up to getting 10 furlongs. Ruakiwi Lass, a fine sprinter recently turned to middle distances, Commendable and Lord Cheval might be the hardest for Free Pass to beat.

On the only occasion she has raced further than a mile, Ruakiwi Lass finished third at Rotorua on June 21. Meanwhile she has had a second and a fourth in sprints at Tauranga and Trentham.

Commendable won impressively over seven furlongs at Avondale at his last attempt, three weeks ago, and has already shown himself able to run 10 furlongs and more. He looks better than ever this winter and very likely to collect a big race like this one. Lord Cheval has been one of the best three-year-olds and, after being let up for a time, he looked very close to his best when he finished fourth over 11 furlongs at Trentham on July 12, in his last race. Ramlegh and Sunwarm distingiushed themselves last time out with wins at Trentham, and Foxonewa, the champion hurdler of the year being set for the Grand National Hurdles, will also attract much attention. The second leg of the

T.A.B. double has a more moderate field and will probably go to Claudius or Chenab. Both are three-year-olds racing well.

The weather has been mainly fine, but the track is certain to be soft.

Selections:— 11 a.m—Matapuna Hurdles: Misty Fair, Mr Softy, Matanuku Blue.

11.45 a.m.—Spiral Intermediate: Red Pepper, Impartial, Patsy’s Joy.

12.25 p.m.—Ruapehu Malden. First Division: Robin Royal, Silex. Second Division: Everite, Banba.

1.5 p.m.—King Country Steeplechase: Rocky Lane, Daring, Hoa. 1.45 p.m.—Turangl Malden: Ajar. Investigate, Fine Quality.

2.25 p.m—To Kultl Handicap: Eskimo Princess, Hoble Lady, Lady Zena.

3.5 p.m.—Taumarunul Cold Cup: Ruaklwl Lass, Free Pass, Lord Cheval.

3.45 p.m.—Tongarlro Handicap: Yogi Bear, Coronla, Golden King.

4.30 p.m.—Stewards’ Handicap: Claudius, Chenab, Bostock.

Fields for the T.A.B. double, are:

MATAPUNA HURDLES, >1200; Um—Mr Softy (6) 9-12; Misty Fair (11) 9-8; Matanuku Blue (4) 9-6; Final Guy (7) 9-3; Top Rebel (5) 9-2; Banditti (9), Copenhagen's Courage (10), Little Stranger (1), So High (3), Tenterhooks (8), Wood Robin (2) 9-0. 11.45 a.m—

SPIRAL INTERMEDIATE, 82000; Im—Patsy’s Joy (6) 8-12; Burland Star (11) 8-10; Rockfield (2), Sea Dream (17), Sunny Italy (1) 8-8; Impartial (8) 8-7; Gay Colleen (4), John’s Joy (14) 8-4; Dark Arrow (3), Redpepper (12), Ujinx (16) 8-2; Datura (15), Man o’Man (13), Mycet (10), Youanme (9) 8-1; Great Companion (5), Libya (7) 8-0.

12.25 p.m— RUAPEHU MAIDEN, 8700; sif First Division: Wilego (6) 8-8; Silver Land (9) 8-7; Albrick (8), Brookby Sal (14). Darkle Dee (16), Snuggles (17) 8-6; Fair Look (3) 8-5; Robin Royal (2) 8-4; Lancelot (18), Reinui (22), Silex (7) 8-1; Amber Star (21), Antenor (10), Lady Limerick (4), Melana (12), Royal Doran (13) 8-0. Second Division: Everite (10) 8-7; Absolute (6), Banba (14), Maree (7), Wynnum (21)

8-6; Belle Royal (IS), Crackman’s Comet (3), Gold Bel (5), Indian Lake (11) 8-5; Defensive Lad (13), Game Prince (9), Shield Bearer (£) 8-1; Kapai Boy (1), Lotus Eater (18), Royal Claddah (19). Twist and Twirl (12) 8-0.

Balloted out with right of reentry, first division: Dame Hilda (13), Royal Romany (11), Fair Frances (19), Kura Star (5), Fair Tri (1) 8-0. Second division: Set (2), Sliver Hope (18) 8-5. Brackets: Albrick and Banba: Darkie Dee and Maree; Snuggles and Wynum; Gold Rel and Robin Royal: Indian Lake and Lancelot; Sliver Hope and Antenor; Game Prince and Amber Star; Shield Bearer and Fair Frances; Defensive Lad and Fair Tri; Kuru Star and Lotus Eater; Melana and Set; Royal

• Doran and Twist and Twirl: , Royal Claddah and Royal Romi any; Belle Royal and Brookby Sal; Cracksman's Comet and I Fair Look. I Scratched: Harley Street (20), I Ironical (20), La Chateau (17), Puerto Rico (22), Royal Heath

(4) 1.5 p.m— > _ KING COUNTRY STEEPLECHASE, 92000; 2im.—Rocky Lane (5) 10-2; Hoa (11) 10-0: Daring (7) 9-13; Trlller (10) 9-1; By Plane (8), Denby’s Leggett (2). Kllarn (3), Mister Peen (6). Moranti (9), Triplicate (4) 9-0. Scratched: Gave All (1). 1.45 p.m.— TURAHGI MAIDEN, S 700: Im.— Ajar (19) 8-10; Fine Quality (14), Investigate (10), Sir Stanley (15), Slenderella (1), Taniko (2), 8-6; Contractor (7), Donny Boy (13), Garentors (5), Gold Action (9), Maintask (12), Midnight Se-

renade (17), Mingl (16), Miss Hinuera (11), Rua Bard (4), Shyloe (B>, Simon (6), Tatler (18). Taxi (20), Wynvato (3) 8-5. 2.25 p.m— TE KUITI HACK HANDICAP, 81200; 71.—Eskimo Princess (13), Lady Zena (23) 8-0; Barbado (15) 8-6; Argohead (4) 8-5; Bernly (5). Mataililli (11). Teleost (12), Tere Toki (24) 8-2; Beau Dee (1), Coled (22), Con McDevitt (20), Just Coo-ee (9), Noble Lady (12), Superfield (19) 8-1; Devon Land (7). Diomede (8). High Commissioner (18), Supreme Quality (25), Zebrina (2) 8-0. Balloted out with right of reentry: Racoon (16), Kukri (17), Jack of Hearts (3), Jealous Mate (10), Harleigh March (6). Boland (14) 8-0. Bracket: Supreme Quality and Zebrina. 3.5 p.m.— TAUMARUNUI GOLD CUP

Fields:— 11 a.m—

Brackets: Angellcum and Forebrace, Greenstone and Tino Arikl. Gay Marilyn and Mr Charlie. 3.45 p.m.— TONGARIRO HACK HANDICAP, $1400; »m—Red Mantle (14) 8-10; Yogi Bear (19) 8-8: Golden King (17), Ruth’s Beau (6) 8-6; Spray Dpone (1) 8-4; Rose of Erin (8) 8-3; Napoleon (10), Papagayo (5) 8-2; Coronia (11), Dario (2), Parameter (20) 8-1; Fair Fighter (15), Happy Lu (9). Herewinl (3), John Drake (4), Just Honey (12), Kia Epi (16). Sinless (7) 8-0 Scratched: Red Flush (18), Vinnaren (13). * 4.30 p.m.— STEWARDS’ HANDICAP 63000; 7f.

KUROW TROTTING CLUB NOMINATIONS CLOSE NOMINATIONS for the Kurow Trotting Club's Annual Meeting to be held on the Oamaru Racecourse on Saturday, August 9. 1969. close with the undersigned on Monday, July 28. 1969. at 4 P ' m ‘ M. J. LEONARD, Secretary. P.O. Box 78. Telephone 8109. Telegrams: Satellite, Waimate. —Advt

85500; lira. St. lb 7311 Whakamoa (27) 8 12 2176 Proud Chief (5) .... 8 10 3000 Royal Theme (4) 8 10 1324 Ruakiwi Lass (11) .. 8 10 2323 Escameno (19) 8 9 4107 Cambridge Fair (25) 8 6 0115. Golden Summit (12) 8 6 1504 Roganne (21) 8 6 1820 Inside Story (15) .. 8 5 2261 Commendable (29) .. 8 4 7044 Lord Cheval (8) 8 4 1231 Foxonewa (7) 8 3 0347 Blue Winter (16) .. 8 2 2578 Clarendon (18) 8 2 7582 Free Pass (10) 8 2 0461 Ramlegh (1) 8 2 4574 Reoffered (24) 8 2 8072 Our Grace (23) 8 0 1231 Sunwarm (6) 8 0 0042 Greenstone (9) 7 10 0852 Tino Arlki (13) 7 9 Balloted out with right of e* entry:— 5164 Olwyn Ann (2) 7 13 9220 ForebTace (22) 7 12 0009 Tom Jone's (3) 8 1 5900 Mr Charlie (14) 7 8 0007 Gay Marilyn (20) .. 7 8 2907 Angelicum (17) 7 12

St. lb 0130 Lady Defence (8) . 9 1 1238 HonOurbright (3) . 8 8 4413 Claudius (12) . 8 7 0003 Bostock (11) .. . 8 4 4133 Chenab (6) . 8 4 0001 Gray Knight (10) . 8 4 1448 Ganet (9) . 8 2 0800 Head Off (8) . . 8 1 4070 Arnvederci (7) . 8 0 0000 Rohe Potae (1) . 8 0 0894 Royal Fair (4) . 8 0 3130 Sentry (2) . 8 0 Bracket: Claudius and Sentry.