ASHANTI MILE PICK

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32565, 26 March 1971, Page 1 (Supplement)

ASHANTI MILE PICK

“The Press’* Special Service WELLINGTON. The most spectacular of the four principals in a magnificent fourway finish at Trentham, Ashanti may go one better in the Manawatu Mile at Awapuni tomorrow.

Ashanti came from a long way back to run second in a mile at Trentham, finishing only a nose behind Star Quest and a nose in front of Long Shot and Silver Blue, which dead-heated. Of these four Star Quest is the only one not in at Awapuni and among the remaining trio Ashanti looks the best bet despite a wide draw. He has already won over the course as a hack and seems to be back in the form which

won him a double at Trentham in January. The top-weight, the Awamutu visitor, Grizzly, is a top miler at best and he appears close to that now. He has missed once in his last four starts but apart from that has not been farther back than fourth. Last start he ran on very late at Pukekohe and ran Kalgoorlie to a neck. Kaukapakapa, like Ashanti, is a three-year-old. Also, like Ashanti, he has as yet made no attempt to demonstrate stamina, but he has proved himself among the better second-season runners up to a mile. FAST RUN He ran the distance very fast in winning a special three-year-old race at Tauherenikau in January and at his last start won at six furlongs at Trantham in 1:8J. Igloo is another three-year-old. He too is a sprint win-

ner at Trentham. Two starts back he went well for fourth behind the stars, Panzer Chief, Game and Sharivari in the North Island Challenge stakes. He was fourth again over seven furlongs last week and will find a mile more his distance.

Angel’s Smile will be the major threat if she is back to her best form. But whether she is remains to be proved. After a bad trip to Te Aroha she ran disappointingly there for the first time in months While that could have been discounted, her failure last week was not so easy to overlook. She did, however, work well on Tuesday. TSARGO FANCIED Tsargo’s seconds in his last two starts, and the engagement of R. J. Skelton to ride him, make him a leading prospect for the second leg at Awapuni, the Adderstone Handicap.