TROTTING Johnny Gee should top $60,000 tonight

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32848, 23 February 1972, Page 10

TROTTING Johnny Gee should top $60,000 tonight

The fourth prize of $llO in the Vodka Handicap at Hutt Park this evening will be enough to advance Johnny Gee’s stake-winnings to beyond the $60,000 mark.

His handicap of 18 yards is unlikely to prove enough to keep him out of the finish, hut the size of the field is almost certain to create problems for him. Johnny Gee is fresh from two splendid wins over

mainly North Island opposition at the Manawatu meeting last week. These brought his record to 26 wins and 49 placings worth $59,290 for his Templeton trainer. W. R. Butt, who has raced him on lease throughout his career—firstly I from Mr J. H. Parsons, of Christchurch,'and later from' his estate.

In spite of the rise in the class of the opposition in tonight’s race. Johnny Gee is selected to win. He will again be bracketed with Tony Bear, which was rather disappointing at the Manawatu meeting where he returned a fifth and a third. He is better than these runs suggested, and from 12 yards he should make a bold showing. The Johnny Fling-Deodatus bracket. Arita. Precocious and Aronmot are South Island horses sure to go well, and 1 Paulette. Easton Light, and Kings Up should give the North Island worthy representation.

An open field of three-year-olds will contest the Cardigan Bay Stakes—the first leg

of the T.A.B. concession! double. Ar Miss, Van Glory, | and Barbara Dell form a I likely trio. Particular interest will! I centre on the two heats of : the Champagne Stakes foi four-year-olds over one mile i from behind the mobile bar-! rier. The Templeton trainer, J. I W. Smolenski, looks almost ; certain to produce Arapaho I to win the second heat, and i he will have the popular (choice. Royal Belmer, in the 'first heat. Royal Belmer, too, I looks the probable winner, I but she will have to contend! I with strong challenges from! ; Vanadium and Via Tanza. I

>The last-named has a big reI putation in Auckland, and is confidently expected by his admirers to measure up to the best from Canterbury. Noble Lord is the only runner likely to offer more than i token opposition to Arapaho iin the other heat. Noble Lord has been placed in two starts recently, and he should be near his peak. He looks capable of a mile in two minutes or better, but few expect him to put Aragaho to the test over the last 0 yards. The on-course concession i double will be run on the i Lyall Bay Handicap and the [York Bay Handicap.