TROTTING Manaroa Likely In Hororata Event

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32078, 28 August 1969, Page 5

TROTTING Manaroa Likely In Hororata Event

Manaroa and Rossini form a likely favourite combination for the TA.B. double at the Hororata Trotting Club’s annual meeting on Saturday.

Both races have drawn small fields, but a number of runners in each leg have strong form backgrounds and there will be support for a number of horses. Manaroa is a surprise acceptor on 48 yards in the Hororata Cup. If he produces one of his peak runs he should be much too good for most of his rivals. As he will start on his own, he will probably make a much better beginning than when started among other horses. The Morano gelding took no part in his race at the Methven trials on Tuesday, but performed well when given several starts immediately afterwards. Manaroa gained his third successive win when be was successful on the first day of the national meeting. He bear Waitaki Elect by half a head and paced the 13 furlongs in the very fast time of 3min 27 3-ssec. If he approaches that effort, most of his rivals; will be left struggling over the final furlong.

Bramble Hall and Croydon Avenue will be the hardest for Manaroa to beat. Bramble :Hall became badly placed inside the final half-mile of the race won by Rhinegolde last week at Addington and he was pushed back until he was nearly last in a strungout field starting the final quarter. In the circumstances he did well to finish fifth. Bramble Hall has had two races this season and they should have brought him close to his peak for this event Croydon Avenue, too, will have plenty of support. He was a good fifth over a sprint distance on the first day of tiie national meeting, and he improved to finish second, half a length behind Rhinegolde, at the end of two miles last Saturday. He did not receive a good run. Croydon Avenue is a fine stayer. Melitza Korjus is a sound stayer, possibly at her best on grass tracks. She looks particularly well at the moment and should be a sound place chance. Bethel, a disappointment

so far this season, Julienne, which pulled fairly hard at Addington, and Vandal complete the horses on the limit. Vandal might do best of them. He shaped like an improver when he finished eighth last Saturday. Rhinegolde must be given a chance, even from 24 yards, a mark she shares with True Averil and Jacquinot Bay, both of which should make a bold showing. Jacquinot Bay received a poor run last week and ran off at the straight entrance. He should go better here, but will probably find Manaroa more than he can contend with. Rossini and Fortunate should be the pick of the three-year-olds in a disappointing field of 11 down to meet in the President’s Challenge Stakes. Rossini will probably be a dominating favourite after his game finish for a close third to Boy Friend and Fortunate in the Canterbury Stakes at Addington Raceway last Saturday. Rossini did not receive a smooth run between the twofurlong post and the straight entrance and he made up much ground over the final 150 yards.

He should master the 13 furlongs better than most in the race.

Fortunate made most of the pace and it took a top youngster in Boy Friend to shade him last week at Addington. His latest efforts have deI served a better fate and he 1 should go close to winning. ; His handicap of 36 yards might not stop Drummer Boy taking part in the finish. He showed fine form against much stronger fields last season and even if in need of racing, he could be good enough to take a prominent I part in the finish of a race in which many of his rivals are still eligible for maiden events. Fantastic has not raced quite as well as expected. A high opinion is held of him and he should be prominent. Amiri and Waiata have shown ability in maiden events and they could take part in the finish, while Athe--Ist will only have to race kindly to take beating. He is ivery speedy, but is inclined jto pull himself out.