TROTTING Manaroa And Hakim For Double At Addington

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32220, 12 February 1970, Page 5

TROTTING Manaroa And Hakim For Double At Addington

Manama and Hakim form a likely combination for the T.A.B. concession double at the Canterbury Park Trotting Club’s summer meeting on Saturday at Addington Raceway. Both were last-start winners, Manaroa at Forbury Park last Saturday and Hakim at Addington on January 28.

Manama's performance from behind the mobile barrier in the 10-furlong Canterbury Park Free-for-all will be followed with tremendous interest.

His inability to, begin clear ly and muster early speed from a standing start has at times come under official not ice. but from bebind the mobile barrier he should be capable of maintaining a prominent position all the way. His superior speed should enable him to work to the front fairly early in proceedings. and, as was the case at Forbury Park last Saturday. he might well lead for a greater part of the race. Manaroa should be capable of a merry 10 furlongs in these conditions and it is difficult to imagine him being beaten if he shows the same dash as he did when he burned off all opposition with apparent ease in the Festival Cup.

Chief Command is on the road hack to his best form and after his second to Manama—even though it was a distant one—at Forbury Park last Saturday he will be a firm second favourite. He has shown fine sprinting prowess in the past and numbers the New Zealand Free-for-all last .November and the 10-furlong Rangiora Cup in December. 1968. among his successes. He looks the one most likely to trouble Manaroa in this race. Track conditions at Forbury’ Park were against both, James and True Averil. which were sadly beaten in sixth and seventh position respectively. Both have outstanding sprint efforts to their credit. James having had three successes in a little more than the last month, the most recent being over! 11 furlongs on the middle night of the Dunedin Festival Cup meeting, while True Averil won over one mile ini 1 58 3-5 at Addington on January 2. James is one of the hardiest and probably the mosttravelled pacer racing in NewZealand today. He has had a strenuous time lately, but he should be capable of another bold showing. Two Platings

True Averil was placed fourth and third on the first two nights of the Dunedin Festival Cup meeting. He appeared to be a shade unlucky in both events, and, should appreciate his return to a mobile start. His effort in this event will show- whether or not his recent exertions have taken the edge off his brilliance. Our Smokey will be having his most serious test to date. His wins at the recent New Brighton meeting were clearcut and there is no reason why he should not get into the finish. He looked in great heart when exercised at Forbury Park last week. Stylos and Seafield Countess are others capable of reaching a place. Stylos finished sixth in the New Brighton Cup at her latest start after receiving a poor run. She has some sound sprint efforts to her credit earlier in her career and a bold showing would not be a complete surprise Seafield Countess was beaten a nose by Stella Frost on the first night at Forbury Park, but two rather dismal efforts followed. She is much more capable than those runs suggest and her placing behind Stella Frost might be a better guide to her prospects] in this race. Chaman and Lustre Scott!

are too far out of form at present to be given much chance of success. Great Speed Hakim, a member of the successful team trained at Papanui by C. McDonald, will probably be a dominating favourite for the second leg, the Melbourne Stakes. He has shown a preference for mobile starts and has been favoured by drawing the inside barrier position. This should enable him to be one of the leaders all the way and he might well attempt to run his rivals off their feet. This is well within his capabilities as at his last start he recorded the smart

l time of 3:22 2-5 for 13 furi longs when he won on January 28. Inky Boy broke through for an overdue win when he raced away from Upper Class over ■ the final stages of nis race at Forbury Park last Saturday. Inky Boy had been rac- : ing most generously but without luck before that. Now that he has struck top form, he should make Hakim work hard for another win. Sam Again, a pacer with an outstanding record behind the mobile barrier, has. unfortunately. drawn the second line His last three starts behind the barrier have resulted "in a win and two seconds. At New Year he started twice from the second line and that

did not stop him racing prominently. Another bold showing from him looks almost certain. Morano Lad has great speed and even from the second line, he should take beating. He won well at Forbury Park last Saturday and looks to be in great heart. Brigade's Advice. Bramble Hall, Alandria and Newport Maid all look capable of tak-i ing part in the finish, but they should be held quite safely by Hakim and Inky Boy. Horses Leave For Aust. Five pacers and a trotter which will represent New Zea-1 land at the Inter-Dominion Championships, which will open in Melbourne on Saturday night left Christchurch International Airport yester-! day morning on their way to Australia. For the horses and their attendants it would have been a long day. They were at the airport at 5 a.m. ready to be loaded on the A.N.A. DC4.! The flight, which left shortly’ after 8 a m . was expected to take a little more than eight hours. Stella Frost, Leading Light and Co Pilot were in the care of their respective trainers. D. J. Townley. D. G. Jones and G. Holmes. S. E. Harley, part-owner of Torrent, and G. Morrison, who owns MeadowBank. both travelled with their horses. The Cambridge-; trained trotter, Precocious. I was in the care of S. Mitchell. The Templeton reinsman J. W. Smolenski. who is to drive Torrent in her engagements! in Melbourne, will fly to Australia tomorrow. ' I Championship Fields (N.Z. Press Association) MELBOURNE.! The fields for the four teats! of the first qualifying division i of the 1970 Inter-Dominion I Pacing Championship at the! Melbourne Showgrounds on; Saturday night were announced; yesterday. Each heat will be run over 11 i furlongs and 36 yards. The fields, in order of barrier position, are: 1030 p.m. (N.Z. time)— FIRST HEAT.— Im at off, Waitaki Elect (N.Z.», Future. Intangible. Adios Court. Royal Society. Dollar Gift, Chief Attain It: Richmond Lass. Golden Alley, Garlion Roux <N.Z.) 12.

11.5 p.m.— 1 SECOND HEAT. Garrison ' | Call, Moonstone Bay.' Hi Efli- [ ciency, Gyration. Tara Meadow. Bar Adios It: Leading Light (N.Z.), Stella Frost f’N.Z.), Billy Adios, Blue Pennant 12. 11.45 p.m.— THIRD HEAT.— Joseph Scott, Meadow Bank (N.Z.). Peter Patrick. Deep Court, Bold David, Garry Rowan It; Dainty’s Daughter. Bold Ala bar, Lucky Creed, Teeny Rena 12. 12.50 a.m.— FOURTH HEAT.— Koala Frost, Roscott. Bylaw, Co Pilot ;The Rogue. Torrent C\ T .Z.) h: Fair Deep. Future Monarch, Bon Adios 12; Cocky Raider 24. I ~~ I Championship Betting j (N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON. The chairman of the Totalisator Agency Board (Mr R. ,j. .Rolfe). announced yesterday that the board would accept twin and place betting at all its offices on the semi-final heats land on the Grand Final, of the Inter-Dominion Trottmg Championships in Melbourne. The semi-final heats will be run on Saturday, February 21 and the Grand Final on Satin-: day, February 28. The fields for the semi-final heats will be received on Thursday. February 19. and selling on these four races win commence the next day. Selling will cease on the Saturday, at 7.30 p.m. at agencies for cash betting, and 0.2 S p.m. at branches and for all telephone betting. Selling for the Grand Final [will commence on the Friday • an l will cease on the Saturday at 7.30 p.m. at agencies for cash betting and at 9.25 p.m. at branches and for all telephone betting.