Fort Hagen fancied at Manawatu

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32798, 24 December 1971, Page 6

Fort Hagen fancied at Manawatu

“The Press" Special Service WELLINGTON. After finding winning form at his last start, the promising stayer. Fort Hagen, may win again in the $6OBB Mono* wato Cup at Awapuni on Monday.

Fort Hagen’s last-start win, achieved after a series of good races, was at Otaki. He did not beat a field as strong as he will meet this time, but Won well and with 7.10—-51 b more—still has a weight well within his crim pen Duty Free, which has done relatively little racing this season, may have improved with Ms encouraging ran last week, when he finished fourth to Hamua. He has dropped a pound to the same weight as Fort Ham. Spa’s last start was over a mile and he ran it well when he went under narrowly to Ayub Khan at Masterton. He might have won had be not run greenly, and he should do better over three furlongs more. Habanita was unimpressive last week at Awapuni, but her earlier form made it clear that

she is a good deal better than that. She is likely to improve. Purdie was an apparently disappointing fourth in a moderate field at Masterton. but it was found that he had run a nail into a foot during the race, so the form is best disregarded. He commands respect even with the top weight of 8-5-Red Sovereign’s first two runs in open class have given him the appearance of an early winner, and he might get his first success in the grade in the second leg, the Festival Handicap. Bed Sovereign has pace to burn and with appreciable weight relief since leaving hacks he should be dose to the lead throughout. Madiera’s performance last week was impressive and even with 91b more he looks a danger, but he has drawn much wider.

Fields for the T.A.B. doubles: (T.A.B. double closes 1.20 p.mJ 1 (TAB. closes L4O p.m.) 2.50 pjn.— i MANAWATU CUP $6000; Ilf. i 1 1464 PURDIE (5) 8-5. Useful i stayer whose failure last time was caused by a nail in a foot. Likely improver. H. Rauhihi. 2622 S MONASTIC (IS) 84. Former top-line galloper j which appears to be regaining form and could be a danger. J. Messent. 3 5130 HABANITA (7) B*o. Failed on this course last week but should improve if her earlier form is a guide. P. Kempton. 4 0150 ARISTOC (3) 7-13. Useful performer at best but seems to have lost form in last two starts. M. Campbell. 5 9102 SPA (16) 7-13. Highly promising stayer which ran strong mile last time and will prefer this distance. 6- 1204 TOPSY (10) 7-11. Has ■ been racing well at mile this term and despite failing 1 at her only middle-distance start should see this out 1 strongly. D. Harris. ■ 7 1344 DUTY FREE (♦) 7-l». ■ Bold efforts in few starts 1 this term suggest he will be near best for this. . B. Compton. 8 2451 FORT HAGEN (14) 7-10. Potential top stayer which won impressively from , weaker field last time and should be toughest to bowl here. G. Clutterbuck. j 9 0581 SIMON DE MONTFORT s (8) 7-9. Scored handily from s weak field last start. t 10 1050 PEP (11) 7-8. Went amiss when winning in • spring but has shown signs ; of succeeding in his comeback in last two starts. 11 9427 RIBALDO (4) 7-7. Fair effort in similar company last week gives him better than outside chance. N. . Harris. 1 12 1753 RIVERVIEW (13) 7-7. Promising performer which has won over this distance r in weaker company and went { keenly last week despite , pulling hard throughout. | 13 1140 BALLYCASTLE (6) 7-5. Has been unlucky in two starts since coming out of . hacks, where he showed outstanding form. N. Eastwood. 14 8826 FOXTAIL (2) 7-5. Has not shown best form since ’ she won this race last year

but has hinted at improvement in last two runs. S. Hammersley. 15 MM LORD EX (17) 7-5. Needs to improve. M MM SPRINGLO (12) 7-5, No anneal. W. Candwell. . 17 MMSTAR TROUPER (1) 74. New to open company and went keenly for a mile over this distance last week. Out-

side,chance. (T4UI. closes 3 p.m.) 4.10 pun.— FESTIVAL HANDICAP $2500; 7f. 1 3 COUNT KERERU (9) g-9. Has not raced for a while, but goes wen fresh. J. Massent. 2 0 HIGHLAND REBEL (17) 8-8. . Stayer which looks well out of this. P. Kempton. 3 6 ASTRELLA (2) 8-7. Improver after useful run at Napier Park. ,D. Wlthington. 4 Ml HAGEN'S PLEASURE (13) 8-4. Good sprint win at Otaki and could go well again. M. Campbell. 5 1723 DOLAPAL (3) 8-3. In form and looks a top chance. N. Harris. • 21M VITI VITI (11) 8-1. Has the pace to trouble. 7 7871 MADIERA (15) 7-13. Good win last u’eek and must be top hope again. *B. Compton. 8 2890 ANTICIPATION (16) 7*12. Not racing at top. 18 97M MAREBELLO (5) 7-7. May be chance after good fourth at Masterton. 9 2023 RED SOVEREIGN (10) 7-7. In form and must be close to first open win. D. Harris. 11 09M PAKISTAN PRINCE (8) 7-6. Speedy but not running his races right out. S. Ham13 mTbLJUE RAIDER (4) 7S. Well back last week and would be better on .soft

track. 12 3138 HIMSELF (1) 7-5. Light weight’s chance at best. 8a 6559 KARATE (14) 7-5. Has ability, but is happier on easy ground. 14 05 GAY CINDY (7) 7-4. Fair run last week and could upset. 15 0084 GOLDY GIRL (12) 7-4. Smart race at Otaki and has been working well. ' M. Burridge. 16 6 GRAND GIFT (6) 7-4. Handy two-year-old last season which may be all the betttr for her race at Wanganui. Bracket: Anticipation and Karate.