RACING Buza expected to be at peak for today

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32848, 23 February 1972, Page 9

RACING Buza expected to be at peak for today

“The Press” Special Service

HASTINGS.

After hits two good efforts at the recent Wairoa meeting, Buza will probably be the favourite for the Barry Memorial—the first leg of the T.A.B. concession double at Makaraka today, when the Poverty Bay Turf Club holds the first day of its summer meeting.

Several northerners are engaged, and Dollar Bill, which forms a particularly strong bracket with Star Bride, will be high on the list of favouritism.

On the second day of the Wairoa meeting, Buza ran to the lead on the turn in the Carroll Memorial, but was run down by both Chill and Golden Jester and had to be content with third.

In the Wairoa Cup, he tried valiantly to peg Chill back in the straight, but was still short of racing, and the mare fought on too well for him and beat him by a neck.

However, both his races were impressive when it is remembered that he last raced at the Hawke’s Bay summer meeting on New Years’ Day. Those two races at Wairoa would have fitted him nicely, so he should be at his peak today. Dollar Bill likes the course, and won the Syntax Stakes there at the last winter meeting and was second to Coronia in the Waihere Wines Handicap also on the course.

His best recent effort was a strong finishing fourth behind Too Bad, Fair Cloud, and Lord Thurteen in the Goldfields Cup at Thames. However, at his last start he was a failure in the Matamata Cup, in which Star Bride fell. Star Bride has never jet really lived up to her breeding, but she will find fewer weaker fields than this one, and she forms a strong bracket with Dollar Bill. Sea Chief was no danger in the Wairoa Cup because the track was too heavy. Back to firm footing he might cause an upset.

Lilac Fair won the Nolan Handicap well on the first day at Wairoa, but was weU beaten in the Wairoa Cup. She will never reach great heights, but is game.

Second leg Dual acceptors make the Tolaga Bay Handicap, the second leg of the double, hard to assess

but favouritism will possibly be disputed by Mr Smooth and Fair Dash.

Mr Smooth could not have been more impressive at Wairoa. From three starts he had three wins for more than $2OOO in stakes. He started the meeting with a win over six furlongs In the hack grade, and then took the two open sprints—one over seven furlongs and the other over six to complete his treble. He beat most of his opponents on the circuit today. Fair Dash is an interesting newcomers and she should sprint well. She too has won on the track and it would be no surprise if the well-bred mare was prominent at the finish.

Dinagh is speedy, and is near her peak, and Evenette is another with the speed to be handy at to finish. The Tauranga mare, Even Star is not without a chance, and Red Copy, with a last start third falls into the same category.

Selections:—

Noon. — Hikurangl Highweight: Worker, Man o'Man, Gentle Ben.

12.35 p.mFirst Wharekaka Stakes: Tom Moss, Silver Sovereign, Chandra.

1.15 p.m.—Walhau Hack Handicap: Calm Wind, Our Crest, Coquito.

1.55 p.m.—Second Wharekaka Stakes: Michelle, Evelyn Brown, Gold Linx. 2.35 p.m.—Barry Memorial: Buza, Dollar Bill. Sea Chief. 3.15 p.m.—Walapu Stakes: Julie Fair, Shah's Pride, Fearless Fred.

3.55 p.m.—Tolaga Bay Handicap: Mr Smooth, Fair Dash.

4.35 p.m.—Baach Memorial: Walter, Lord Grey, Don's Joy. 5.15 p.m.—Ngarimu Hack Handicap: Princess Eulogy, Able Irish, Harleigh Blows.