Dixie Belle likely at Taranaki

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

Dixie Belle likely at Taranaki

“The Press" Special Service NEW PLYMOUTH. The Taranaki Christmas racing circuit has been a happy hunting ground for northern horses in recent seasons and northern stables will have strong representation at New Plymouth on Monday and should win the T.A.B. double with Dixie Belle and Waioname.

The Te Rapa-trained Dixie Belle will contest the 11 furlongs C. B. Webster Memorial Handicap, the first leg of the T.A.B. concession double and will be at short odds after her bold run for third at Paeroa last Tuesday. She displayed sound hack form earlier this season, but has yet to win in open class.

However, her strong Paeroa effort suggests that the Test Case mare will have the measure of her opponents on Monday. Gold Whistle, Sea Chief and the top-weight, Yogi Bear, all northern horses, appear the dangers to Dixie Belle.

Waioname, owner-trained at Matangi by J. Singers, would only have to run up to her recent form to take the second leg, the Flying Handicap, six

furlongs. She has been seen to advantage in Taranaki in the past and bold races at Hawera and Te Aroha recently suggest she is close to her best again. Blue Nile, the top-weight with 8-10, is a class sprinter. He has the speed to test any sprint field and has been working well. Last time out at Te Awamutu he weakened, but he was not suited by the turning track and the fast that with Nunui in the field he could not work to the lead. The useful Goldy Girl appears to be working back to form and Red Copy, a South Island export, came up with a promising race at Paeroa when making his North Island debut. Fields for the double: — 2.5 p.m.— (T.A.B. double closes 12.35 p.m.) (T.A.B. closes 12.55 p.m.) C. B. WEBSTER MEMORIAL 51250; Ilf. 1 0030 YOGI BEAR (1) 1-10. Well beaten last time out at Te Aroha, but has a fine record on Taranaki tracks and is a sound stayer. Will be suited by the small field and should make a bold bid to win. A. Cotven. 2 IMO BLUE NILE (2) 5-3. Has great speed, but untried at this distance. A chance if started, but would appear better placed in the second - leg-Where likely to start. 3 3M3 DIXIE BELLE (8) M. Useful mare which came up with a bold race for third ■ at the Paeroa meeting last Wednesday. Would only have to return an effort in keeping with that performance to win. 4 WOO BIG VALLEY (4) «•#. Form has fallen away lately. Displayed no dash last week at Paeroa. Form during the winter and early spring was most promising. 5 03*0 CLIFTON LAD (10) 7-11. Is finding it hard to make the grade in the open class, but has been working well and could play an upsetting role if allowed his own rules in front. B. Stockman. 4 022* GOLD WHISTLE (7) 7-11. Good races recently ini intermediate class at both

Waikato and Franklin. Well beaten at Paeroa last week, but will be better suited in ’ this field. N. Holland. 7 481 REGAIL (3) 7-11. Impressive last-start winner in high-weight class at Wanganui. Has raced well before on the New Plymouth track and not iwthout a chance. M. Austin. 8 20 SANCHO (9) 7-11. Useful race fresh up fot the season in interemdiate class at the Northern Wairoa meeting. Well beaten by the sprinters at Hawera earlier this month and would have to improve. 9 8877 SEA CHIEF (4) 7-11. Has displayed some useful form on occasions and was not disgraced when meeting the weight-for-age horses at Paeroa last Tuesday. Should run a bold race here. 10 9570 WYOMING (5) 7-11. Two fair races in intermediate class recently, but a well beaten fifteenth at Paeroa. Should again be safely held. J. Grylls. 3.30 p.m.— (T.A.B. closes 2.20 p.m.) FLYING HANDICAP $1050; 6f. 1 1660 BLUB NILE (8) 8-10. Top-class sprinter which will lead this field a merry chase. Beaten last start at Te Awa-

mutu when he could not get to the front, but has been working well and will have too much pace for most in this field. J. Grylls. 2 5081 COTE D'AZUR (6) 8-7. • Recorded a real upset when he won at Hawera earlier this month. Prior form was not good, but has been working quite weU and has to be considered after such a good last-start effort. 3 0624 WAIONAME (11) 8-6. Useful sprinting mare which has now worked into solid form. Has her full share of speed and fights on well. Looks the winner. A. Colven. 4 THUNDERCLOUD (10) 8-3. Having his first start since* January, 1970, and would have to be taken on- trust. N. Holland, ft

5 ROYAL PURSUIT (12) 84. Very useful earlier in his career, but has been off the scene since April, 1968. Should be in need of racing. 6 8 REOFFERED (2) 8-1. Never a chance when resuming

after a spell at Paeroa. Has shown form in Taranaki in the past, but may need further racing. 7 5676 RED COPY (IS) 8-0. Former South Island galloper which produced quite a useful effort at Paeroa when having his , first northern start. Useful type which could test this field. 8 2040 SOLAR BOY (1) 8-0. Has run the odd good race lately, but has yet to prove he can beat open class horses. 9 0660 FLEETMAN (5) 7-13. Showed fine speed earlier in his career, but has been . more than a little disappointing lately. Would need to improve on his recent efforts. 10 1000 GOLD MAN (4) 7-13. Finished well back in the sprint at Hawera earlier this month and raced poorly since winning a hack six easily at Te Rapa late in October. A. Sheaf,

11 0084 OOLDY OIRL (3) 7-13. Came up with her best race for some time, at Otaki last time out. Seems to be close to form again and should get some of the stake. K. Mahoney. 12 7108 MONARKO (13) 7-13. Beat the hack sprinters recently, but has since failed in hack class at Hanfera. Raced weakly in the highweight at Wanganui. Makes only limited appeal. 13 2000 ROYAL TUSCAN (14) 743. A useful performer as a hack, but now having trouble in matching the open class gallopers. 14 600 SAMURAI (16) 7-13. Still shows a useful turn of speed, but has been stopping badly and ran last at Hawera earlier this month. 15 TOYTIME (9) 7-13. Has not shown any worth-while form for a long time. 16 9570 WYOMING (7) 7-13. Battling to find form. Would appear to have a better chance in the first leg.