RACING Marsh might complete rare cups double

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32803, 31 December 1971, Page 7

RACING Marsh might complete rare cups double

The Press” Special Service

AUCKLAND.

The history-making achievement of E. J. Didham in taking the Melbourne Cup and Auckland Cup in the same season promises to.be repeated by R. B. Marsh with a win on Anne Gable in the $40,000 two-miler at Ellerslie tomorrow.

Didham rode Baghdad Note to win the 1970 Melbourne Cup and within two months collected the Auckland Cup on Artifice. Marsh won at Flemington on Silver Knight almost exactly two months ago and would be the probable favourite tomorrow. Now six, Anne Gabie has been highly regarded since her early four-year-old days: and twice she has been accorded a nomination for; the Melbourne Cup. For one reason or another. Anne Gable never got to I Australia, and she missed} racing altogether last season. As a four-year-old she strung; together seven wins in only; 13 attempts, the last five in! succession, and made a great name for herself in the central districts of the North Island. Her trainer, W. McEwan, of Hawera, certainly one of the cleverest, seems to have

brought Anne Gable to her] peak again at exactly the right time because the marel won two of her last three; races and finished second in the other, even though right ! out of her distance in the; mile Christmas Handicap last! Monday. The more recent of Anne Gable’s successes was over do| furlongs at Wanganui on December 8 and the other one was over 11 furlongs at Levin. She carried Bst 61b at Wanganui and has one pound less in the cup. Besides being the trainer,! McEwan has a share in the ownership of Anne Gable, the other partner being .he breeder. Mr P. J. B. Smith,! of Wanganui. Anne Gable is one of four 1 mares in the cup and it seems[ probable that two of the; others, Sailing Home and Breathalyser, will he the! hardest to beat. Sailing Home, the top-1 weight with Bst 91b, finished} second in the cup before last! and made another attempt last January but without any! success. Sailing Home, a six-year-old from Riccarton, and Breathalyser, a four-year-old from Awapuni. have been stabled at Takanini this last week or two and they have completed their preparations most pleasingly. Each has a thoroughly accomplished■ rider for the big race. After being freshened a bit [ by rain early in the week, the, track at Ellerslie has become[ very firm. Any further raini today could only improve the[

footing. In the event of a wet spell Wiremu is one runner which would come

sharply into favour. He is a resolute stayer but much! more comfortable on easy i ground than on the much' more usual hard surfaces of: the summer. New Moon, another visitor: to Ellerslie, remains an early favourite for the $12,000 Railway Handicap, the second leg of the cup double, in spite of her bad luck in

drawing all but the extreme outside starting position, a marked disadvantage at the six furlongs. Ajasco and St Crispian seem the most notable

opponents for New Moon, with Patrida another prospect. Fields are:— Noon— GRAFTON HIGH-WEIGHT, *2000: Ilf—Royal Chick < 14) 9-13; La Rochelle i7> 9-12; Puerto Rico (121 9-5; Dyak <3) 9-4; Too Big (17) 9-3; Jay Gee (4L Vola Mena (11) 9-2; Arctic Heists (5).' Captain General 16), Caacy (2). D’Arragon (8). Sleepyfield (10).

Winlocke (16) 9-1; My Chance <9l. Sunset Star (1), The Saint (15), Trojan (13) 9-0. 12.45 p.m.— RESOLUTION HANDICAP, $2000; If.— Bonnie Honey (9> 8-2; Point of Order (14) 7-13; First Son (3) 7?11; Tufan (6i 7-10; Grandioso (13>, NouveUe <lo> 7-9; Even Star (7i, Fair Likely (5), Roberta Belle (4) 7-8: Bonnybard (12), Gai Soigner (11). Head Ruler (2). Lord Myth (15), Tempest Rose <8), Vice-Courier (1) 7-7. 1.25 p.m GREAT NORTHERN FOAL STAKES, $6000; 6f—Bootlegger • 3), Fables (8), Gold Ducat (9). Long Fella (5), Midnight Chief ;(I>, Pontresina (2), Poseur (4i, Rishon (7), Supreme Lord (15) 8-10; Battle Maid (10), Chantille , (6), Fairece (16), Henry’s Sister (11), Kay (13), Vaporetto (14) 8-7. Bracket: Fables and Fairece. Scratched: Royal Derby (12). 2 ’midsummer HANDICAP, $2OOO ; s£f. All Eyes (7) 8-8: j Fencourt Lass (5) 8-4; Pancho (13) 8-1; Full Praise (12) 8-0;; Sweet Belle (2) 7-11; Donna. Margaret (15). Merriemont (3). Paso Robies (8), Puck (1), Showy Countess (9). Tricadee (14). Voiidaiu, (18i 7-9; Showreign (6) 7-8; Gold Peri <4», Lady Centaur til), Teena (16) 7-7. Balloted out with right of reentry; Rainsong (19) 7-9; Prince Centaur (10) 7-12. Scratched: Spanish Armada. (17).

2.50 p.m.— (T.A.B. doubles closes 1.20 p.m.) (T.A.B. closes 1.40 p.m.) AUCKLAND CUP, $39/500 and $5OO gold cup; 2m. j 1—4213 SAILING HOME (1) 8-9. One of the real stayers in’ the field with a background! of recent form that is most! impressive. Running on at! the finish of the Queen Eli-} zabeth Handicap on Monday: and has 21b less here.|

Worked brilliantly Takanini yesterday. J, Riordan. j 3 6112 ANNE GABLE (7) 8-5. With two firsts and a second' in her last three starts, hasi come back to peak form at' the right time. Ran away} with middle-distances at Le- 1 viij and Wanganui, and meanwhile fast-finishing sec-i ond, one mile, in Christmas! Handicap on Monday. Looks; the part. Almost certain: favourite. R. Maroh. 4—1420 JOHNNY CASH (16) 8-5. i Finished third in this race! last year with 8-3 and also! previous year, with 8-L Fine} middle-distance runner butvery likely at his best up; to mile and a half. Disap-; pointing on Monday when' he faded to eleventh ini Queen Elizabeth Handicap but has worked impressively i meanwhile. Each-way pros-l pect. D. Peake. 5 1190 QUETTA (20) 8-5. Came north with a big reputation: but badly beaten in Queen 1 Elizabeth Handicap when, to I all appearances, not happy! going right-handed. Two re-j cent wins were IJm at Riccarton and Ilf at Trentham., Perhaps worth another , chance but hard to fancy! much on Monday’s form. L., Canton. 0 1810 EVENSTEAD (13) 8-0.; Looked the makings of a stayer when easy winner over lOf at Hawera on December 1. In the meantime scored well at Te Awamutu but one of the badly beaten lot when only tenth Queen Elizabeth Handicap. Has the dash to be very prominent for the first mile or more

and as an A.R.C. Easter Handicap winner has a good deal to recommend him. A. Alexander. 7 3484 SHARIF (15) 8-0. Ran promisingly when fourth in Queen Elizabeth Handicap after getting up near the pace with half a mile to go. Earlier fourth was over Ilf at Otaki on December 11 and won over lOf at Feilding in November in good style. Should be very promin-j ent most of way but stamina; for two miles in question.; D. Harris. 8 1440 WIREMU (8) 8-0. Looked a real stayer as autumn • three-year-old and confirmed the promise when good winner over Ilf in Avondale 1 Cup last month. In three! starts since fourth in Waikato Gold Cup. W.F.A. lOf Te Awamutu and twelfth | Queen Elizabeth Handicap,! had poor run last time and failure best forgotten. Looks a real prospect, especially if the track eases. G. Willetts. 9 0050 PAPAHU (19) 7-13. A solid stayer last summer, which looked on the way back to good form when running on two starts back over Ilf at Te Aroha. Badly beaten, however, in Queen Elizabeth Handicap. Wet footing was given as explanation. Surely capable of much better but would have to improve out of sight. G. Edge. 11 0091 DUNMOY (14) 7-11. j After succession of poor 1

I races burst right back into I form with easy win in Queen Elizabeth Handicap over l}m on Monday. Showed earlier promise of being a good ■ stayer and seems to have i come through Monday’s race in good order. With only 21b more must be rated one of the top prospects. B. Andrews. 12 3043 BREATHALYSER (4) 7-7. Unlucky in recent races and struck trouble early in yueen Elizabeth Handicap so third placing in the circumstances a fine effort, following game finish for third over Hi at Te Aroha. Looks fit and thoroughly seasoned. Has to be considered. R. Skelton. 13 2057 FORT STREET (9) 7-7. Reached high peak of form 1 at Waikato spring meeting! ■when close second behind ■ Bardall in Foxbridge Plate and behind Mamselle in Waikato Gold Cup. Races mean-| while, however, have been; disappointing.- G. Chitty. | 14 5241 WALK ALONG (21) 7-7. Capped several very sound! middle-distances with narrow! but impressive win at Roto-' rua on December 28. runner-, up to Anne Gable over Ilf at Levin three starts x back and fourth behind her next start at Wanganui. Worth consideration as long shot. 15 00»3 Rt BEAU DEE (10) 7-6. Showed consistently good form in late winter and early spring but has, been! disappointing lately. Fair eighth on Monday in Christ-

mas Handicap but outclassed on Wednesday behind Bard-; all Perhaps a chance on soft; footing but hard to fancy, otherwise. 16 1479 MONTY 7-6. Recent win! was in intermediate mile-at, Te Rapa last month. Meanwhile fourth in same class, at Ellerslie early this month ■ and intermed Ilf Paeroa and ninth over lOf on Wednesday. Has ability but looks 1 I out of his depth in this! company. 117 5606 NIPAWIN (3) 76. Has, come up with some impres-1 i sive middle-distances, running on strongly, but on much softer footing than is likely this week-end. Made a good deal of ground when I sixth in Queen Elizabeth Handicap and will very likely be running on again in this one. Would be greatly helped by rain. D. Wyatt. 18 5380 POLE STAR (17) 76. Showed good form in South Island last autumn, but efforts since coming north not greatly impressive. Always well back when thirteenth in Queen Elizabeth Handicap. Two starts before was creditable third over Ilf at Te Aroha. Certainly capable of better than he showed on Monday. N. Riordan. 19 5005 STYLEMAN (11) 7-5. Once a really good stayer with third in 1969 Auckland Cup and win over x 2m at Trentham. But form lately miles below that level. Fair! fifth, however, in Queen Elizabeth Handicap and i looks to have done well i meanwhile. Each-way prospect at good odds. J. Molloy. 20 0636 LORD SYNTAX (12) 7.4. Useful sprinter at best which; has only lately begun to run the longer distances. Last start was over lOf at Te Awamutu when not impressive. Hard to allow a chance. R. Holden. 21 1200 ZORBA (2) 7-4. Has turned in some impressive middle-distance form, running on in great Style, but in much weaker company than this. Likely to be long way back early and will find it difficult from there. Scratched: Colorado Boy (4), Pep (15).

3.35 p.m.— KING'S PLATE, $4000; Im.—| Bardall (4) 9-5; Patrida (9) 9-2; |

Hi-Bing f 10) 9-0; Rich Return (5) 8-11; Beau Dee (2), Codeene (3), Kaukapakapa (7), Mr Sovereign (6) 8-9; Second Chance (1), Stop Watch (8) 8-3. (T.A.B. closes 3.10 p.m.) 4.20 p.m.— RAILWAY HANDICAP $12,000; 6f. 1 1222 PATRIDA (8) 8-9. Brilliant sprinter-miler and an Ellerslie specialist which ran well again when second behind St Crispian over 6f on Monday. On such a run of form, two firsts, two seconds in last four starts that he has to be rated one of the best prospects. J. Harris. 2 411 AJASCO (4) 8-8. Well performed visiting sprinter which nearly always races well at Ellerslie and second this race last year. In top form again with wins last two starts over mile and 6f at Riccarton last month. Working well and real prospect. R. Marsh. 3 2554 PRINCE AMURA (10) 8-3. Speedy colt which showed fine form in spring, but has been bit disappointing lately. Probably would 1 appreciate softer footing.

Faded from pacemaking when fourth last start over 6f at Rotorua on Tuesday. 4 442 TAUPORAE (9) 8-3. Speedy and game with a good record in nbrthern sprints. Just beaten over 6f at Rotorua on Tuesday in third race after a spell and obviously getting close to peak form again. Easing of the track would help. W. Skelton. 5 3352 PESHAWAR (11) 8-2. Model of consistency and battled on bravely when second to Simple Simon over 6f at Ellerslie on Wednesday. That was seventh placing in as many starts this season. Will probably go well again, although wide barrier position a big disadvantage. B. Andrews. 6 26 TASHI (1) 8-2. Fine galloper at best which did not run on as well as expected when beaten over 6f at Ellerslie on Monday. Previously had highly promising first-up second over 6f at Te Aroha. Certainly worth another chance. 7 0300 MR SOVEREIGN (12) 8-0. Would have to improve on recent efforts. D. Weatherley. 8 0103 MOLTEN'S PRIDE (7); 8-0. Determined finisher, which would have been; closer with a bit more luck; last time over 6f at Ellerslie!

on Monday. Won well two starts before over 6f at' Avondale. Lacks the pace of some in this field but will! probably finish better than most. Easier track would; help. D. Peake. j 9 2125 PINOT AGE (14) 8-0. Game finisher but faces a' stiff assignment from such a wide barrier position. Latest form reads w’ell with first and two seconds in last I , four starts. •10 0931 LICKETYSPLIT (13) 7-13. I Earned a start by narrow j hut meritorious win over 6f I at Rotorua on Tuesday. Pre-; i viously good third over 6f ; at Paeroa on December 21. | Capable but would need to; t excel herself from her difficult barrier position. R. Skelton. II 3) ST CRISPIAN (3) 7-10. Good strong galloper which has come back to top form very quickly after long layoff. Sound third over 6f at Te Aroha on December 11 and meanwhile won over 61 at Ellerslie on Monday with impressive finish. From favourable barrier position must be a good prospect. G. Chitty. 12 1111 NEW MOON (15) 7-7. With five runau’ay wins in as many starts, most in very fast time, is obviously a fine sprinter. Made a big impression at Ellerslie on November 16 when winning a barrier trial and has trained on very satisfactorily. Brilliant beginner which could lead all the way even from so wide. J. Harris. 13 9084 POLPERRO (5) 7-5. One of the smarter two-year-olds of last season which has so far failed to do as well this term. Last-start fourth over 6f at Ellerslie on Monday represented a big improvement, however. R. Holden. : 114 579 GLAD EYE (6) 7-4. Speedy but has been unable to last sufficiently well in! three sprints so far this'

season. 15 04 REOFFERED (2) 7-4. Even: at peak form would be very hard pressed to make a showing in this company. 16 1107 SHIFON (16) 64. Very fast and had little chance to show her best over 6f at Ellerslie on Monday after being badly checked near home turn. Beaten by wide barrier position time before. Is up against it here from so far out.

5.5 p.m.— QUEEN'S PLATE, $4000; Im.— Veracious (8) 8-11; Orcades (7) 8-5; Fair Share (20), Red Day (15) 8-4; Sherwood (9) 8-1; Paddy’s Sister (24), Timon (12) 7-13; Everleigh (5), Glengarnck (21) 7-12; Donegal Lad (4), Hasty Min (16), Henry Tudor (26) 7-11; Dilettante (13) 7-10: Ail Dash (2), Dashing Dee (1), Valiant Warrior (6) 7-9; Village Oak (17) 7-8; Mr Smooth (28), Taporo (11) 7-7; Jack Entoe (27) 7-6; Cobbler’s Last (3), Raw Courage (14). Sago (10), Eastern Clouds (25) 7-5. Balloted out with right of reentry: Sedco (22), Persian Guard (18), Fearless Fred (19) 74. Brackets: Jack Entoe and Cobbler’s Last; Raw Courage and Sago; Eastern Clouds and Sedco; Persian Guard and Fearless Fred. Scratched: Better Times (23). .