Guilty Party fancied in first leg of Westport T.A.B. double

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32902, 28 April 1972, Page 1 (Supplement)

Guilty Party fancied in first leg of Westport T.A.B. double

By

J. J. Boyle

The turning Westport course is hardly tailor-made for a horse of the size and characteristics of Guilty Party. But the big Mystery gelding from Riccarton has other appealing qualities that should make him one of the top contenders in the MorleyBrown Two Thousand Handicap, first leg of the Westport Jockey Club’s TAB. double tomorrow.

Guilty Party is assured of solid backing after his sound win first time out in open company in the Nelson Cup last week. But it is clear that he will have plenty to do to contain the likes of Funny Way and General Boy, two nippy gallopers with a liking for the turning courses. Funny Way was unplaced

at Nelson, but his Westport prospects might be more accurately represented through his two seconds at the Marlborough meeting, one behind Gay Harmony in the Cup, the other behind Ayub Khan.

Levin, but he qualifies as a course specialist after a win and a second in his two starts at. Westport a year ago. He beat Jay Ribbon with a bit to spare on the first day but failed by half a length when carrying one pound more than the Wingatui mudlark on the second day. 1 Silver Head, like Guilty ' Party, does best with plenty ■ of room. He followed a third 1 in the Nelson Cup with an 1 unlucky fourth in the corresponding race on Mon- i day. i Meneleus has been out ■ only once (he was unplaced) i since his close second to Centre Gallery at Oamaru. < He looked highly promising j staying material last spring, | and has youth on his side to j fulfil that promise. | Sony and Prince Magundi, I two industrious and competent campaigners on the < Marlborough-Nelson circuit, ; are two of the stronger i chances in the second leg, 1 the Nelson High-weight. i

General Boy, twice third in races won by Gay Harmony at Blenheim, won at Cromwell earlier in the autumn. He has assembled a useful record at middle distances on the provincial courses and will be high on the short list of fancies. Bold Cavalier comes from

Sony, a stablemate of Guilty Party, won twice as a hurdler, and it will be no new situation if he resumes on the flat with heightened keenness after his jumping. Prince Magundi has been markedly consistent in his recent racing from J. Lalor’s stable, mixing flat and hurdle racing fairly competently. Japita’s form has slumped since she won the corresponding race at the North Canterbury meeting before Easter, but she will not be the least of the chances if the track is easy or worse. Ngatea’s Dream, from Cambridge, and Planet Junior, from Carterton, widen interest in the race, although both might have to find some improvement in form.