RACING Count Kereru likely in Easter Hep

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32879, 30 March 1972, Page 7

RACING Count Kereru likely in Easter Hep

‘The Press” Special Service

AUCKLAND.

One of the others would need to come up with something very special in training today to lessen the dominance of Count Kereru and Sheralee over the field for the Easter Handicap at Ellerslie on Saturday.

Count Kereru has been a favourite since last Saturday and Sheralee since her brilliant training gallop a couple of days before.

Count Kereru will have achieved something very special if he wins, because his 9-4 is more weight than has been carried successfully in the big mile for 24 years since Sleepy Fox took his fourth Easter under 9-13. Count Kereru is built on the lines of a good weightcarrier and he is equipped with all the speed that a good showing in the Easter demands. At weight-for-age over seven furlongs at Tauranga last Saturday he was a class above his opponents. All through the summer and autumn his form has been of a high standard.

He has had nine starts this season for four firsts and four minor placings. He failed at Te Rapa on February 22, over seven furlongs. Under his Easter weight he came sixth but it was the soft track more than anything that beat him. After being a champion three-year-old through last spring, Sheralee had to be set aside for a time. She resumed racing less than a month ago and already looks right back to her best again. Her 1-12 for six furlongs in training last week looked a winning gallop for any company.

Three-year-old winners in the Easter are uncommon. Those of Count Kereru’s age, too, have found success difficult, only a couple being in the list of the past 20-odd winners.

Hi-Bing was a bit too keen when he ran against Sailing Home and company at

: Tauranga last Saturday yet he managed a fifth placing. He was unlucky the time befor not to win at Awapuni over a mile. Altogether he is beginning to look very good. Rich Return is a fine mare capable of much better than she showed at Tauranga last week-end. While not wholly an excuse, the fact of her being galloped on could have had something to do with her failure. Their extreme pace makes Nunui, Miradou and Prince Anima the most attractive prospects for the second leg of the T.A.B. double, the Huia Handicap, of six furlongs. To go with his speed each has a pretty favourable barrier position, so there promises to be a great battle for the pace-making. If the fine weather continues until Saturday the track will provide excellent footing and, not unlikely, a spate of fast times.