CHANCE FOR SOMELIGHT TOMORROW

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32459, 20 November 1970, Page 8 (Supplement)

CHANCE FOR SOMELIGHT TOMORROW

“The Press” Special Service

INVERCARGILL. The front-running Some light will be in his element in the Edgar Smythe Handicap, the main event at the Southland Racing Club’s summer meeting at Invercargill tomorrow.

He was seen in characteristic role in the Metropolitan Handicap at Riccarton last Saturday when he forced a solid pace from the outset.

Although he faded to fourth he was responsible for the winner, Watallan, running a course record. The big Freelight horse has run most of his best races as pacemaker and with the benefit of the recent racing, he has returned to the form which won four successive races for him last season, including the Invercargill Gold Cup and the Wyndham Cup in Southland record time. Somelight has always proved a difficult horse to beat when he gets to- the front early and he will find the Southland opposition tomorrow a good deal below that which he struck at Riccarton.

Stranger and a promising hack stayer of last season, Atomic Flight, should fare best of the others. Red Sash, which downed the Stewards’ place-getter, Shewetta, at Wyndham at her last start, will be the one to beat in the second leg, the Grandstand Handicap. A top sprinter a couple of seasons back the big Bellborough mare looks right back to that form. There was no doubt about

the merit of her Wyndham performance and she should win again. This is Red Sash’s last season of racing as she is to be mated with Hampton Lodge Stud sire, Charicles. If Red Sash is to be beaten. My Boa is one which might bring it about. She is a top sprinter and one with a very good record. She made a fresh start at Gore last month when she finished a creditable fifth, and in the meantime was a winner at trials last week. The two-year-olds in the Southland Breeders Stakes promise to attract some interest. For the first time in Southland a two-year-old race has to be run in divisions.

The Mellay filly, Jade Wood, which has shown excellent form and is the most seasoned runner in the field should not have any problems in the first division. If she is beaten, a firststart runner, Tino Kaha, a Mellay filly, might bring it about. She is particularly smart. On the strength of her second behind Princess Mellay at Riccarton, Caledonian Lass should win the second division and give Lomond his first winner. She will be opposed by the form runners, Budget Night and Smart Mellay, both of which have also been placed in their only .two appearances.