Monastic in Stakes field for Saturday

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32567, 29 March 1971, Page 9

Monastic in Stakes field for Saturday

"Tht Press’’ Special Service AUCKLAND. The committee of the Bay of Plenty Racing Club hat secured the Wanganui slx-year-old, Monastic, for the *15,000 Stars Travel Invitation Stakes at Tauranga on Saturday. This followed the withdrawal of two of the original 14-horse Held, Aristoc and Artifice, neither of which raced well enough at Awapuni on Saturday to convince their connections they were worth sending north. Monastic had been -One of the first invited, to compete in the prestige . weight-for-age. event but because die Is a bad traveller his owners, Messrs M. J. Kelly and F. M. McCarthy, and trilner, D. Grubb, regretfully declined. Now, as a result of a renewed effort by the Bay of Plenty committee, Monastic will be a starter and will be ridden by W. D.' Skelton, who had the mount when Monastic finished second to Game in the Awapuni Gold Cup on Saturday. The three-year-old. Dare Devil, for which a start had been in doubt, will run and be ridden probably by N. D. Riordan. The probable field, with weights and probable riders, Is: Bardall, 9-2 (G. R. Edge); Game, 9-2 (R. B. Marsh); Gene, 9-2 (K. Reggett); Monastic, 9-2 (W. D. Skelton): Papahu, 9-2; Spectre, 9-2 (R. W. Taylor); Tomray, 9-2 (H. N. Rauhlhl); Dare Devil, 8-6 (N. D. Riordan); Jan’s Beau, 8-8 (R. W. Taylor); Kir-

rama, 84 (G. F. Hughes); Panzer Chief, 84 (G. N. McLiesh): Breathalyser, 84; Kia Marea, 84 (J. W. Walker). From a northern angle, the wonderfully consistent Te Rapa five-year-old, Spectre, must have gained a number of admirers for the event when he won handsomely In the Japan-Bay of Plenty trophy on the first day. at Tauranga on Saturday.

Of the two Stars Travel rivals (Tomray and Gene) among the 20 he beat, it is doubtful whether Tomray lost friends because of hia failure to do better than ninth. Gene will, however, be one of the least backed next Saturday. Spectre, after enjoying a perfect run in fifth place, finished too well for Dunmoy after the pair had come on terms in front at the furlong. Arragon Lad, the outsider but one on the place machine, battled past the distressed Tama for third. The rider of Spectre, R. W. Taylor, after the race made the pertinent comment that his mount, for all the decislvenesa of his win, was a trifle above himself in condition. “He should be even better next week,” be said. Tomray, hemmed on the rails throughout, got into much bother. After the race it was found he had been galloped on, and he bumped the rail at least a couple of times. His trainer, W. McEwan, said, however, there was no cause for alarm. Tomray would ba himself again next Saturday.