TROTTING Royal Ascot looks best for Easter Cup Final

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33205, 19 April 1973, Page 8

TROTTING Royal Ascot looks best for Easter Cup Final

I he Mount Hutt trainer, C. J. McLaughlin, went for years without winning a trophy, but since the days of the “cups” specialist Allakasam, he has enjoyed a remarkable run. So far this season his successes have included the Auckland Cup with Royal Ascot, and that same horse could add to his record in the $12,300 Easter Cup final on Saturday at Addington Raceway.

Royal Ascot’s racing this season has been marked with outstanding performances, his placings including seconds in the Inter-Dominion Championship Grand Final and Miracle Mile at Harold Park. Sydney.

He became the favourite for .Saturday's race when he won his free - for • all qualifying heat with ridiculous ease.

However, he fell from favour a little when he could do no better than seventh from 36 yards in his 13furlong heat last Saturday. His failure was not surprising because the heat he drew was run at a slack pace in the middle stages and, coasting along near the tail of the field he had no chance of catching the leaders in the sprint home.

Royal Ascot is a died-in-the-woo! stayer, and even from his awkward mark of 36 yards, his chances look sound.

The stable will have a worthwhile second string in Manawaru. which recorded a fourth and rather unlucky third in the qualifying heats? The two miles will not worry him no matter how strong the pace. Robalan is noted more as a sprinter and middle- i distance performer than a, two-miler, but his placing in: the last New Zealand Cup showed that he could master the distance of Saturday's race. If he can be reserved until the final quarter and he can unwind the sprint which marked his win last Saturday, he should take beating. Arapaho looked likely to improve with each race in the heats in which he returned a< second and a fourth. He was third in this race 12 months ago. and should make another bold bid. Veteran Rauka Lad. the veteran of the field at eight years, won the race from Robalan 12 months ago. Like the latter he will start from 24 yards He looks to be returning to his best and should be ready to run his best race of the season. There will be support for the four-year-olds Armbro' Free. Hi Foyle, Tonton Macoute and Lightsey, and the showings of Royal Belmer. Globe Bay, and even Bomber I Bill were good enough to see them taking a prominent part, in the finish if breaks in the tunning come their way. Philemon has won' with such ease over 13 furlongs under invitation conditions on the first two nights of the

meeting that he will be at; cramped odds when he! attempts to win the New! Zealand Trotting Champion-! ship for the second year. He is a proven stayer, and in his present form he looks almost unbeatable. The Black Frost-Marius! bracket, Good Admiral—l which will be bracketed with! Precocious—Fri, Tunza Time, and Bambi appeal most of the others. Fields for the T.A.8.1 doubles races are:— (T.A.B. doubt* doses 1 p.m.) (T.A.B. doses 1.20 p.m.) 2.30 p.m.— EASTER CUP FINAL $12,300: 2:11 class: 2m. 1 3102 TONTON MACOUTE (1) It <4 g Armbro Del—Karanoi. Fought on famely for second to Armbro Free last Saturday. Smart young pacer fac-l ing his most serious test., Should show up R. Cameron. 2 SOW HI FOYLE (2) It (4 h Hi Do’s Forbes—Golden Legacy). Paced sound races in! qualifying heats. Impresses as a potential stayer of note and conld be close up. P. I G a Ilegher,

3 4243 MANAWARU (3) It (6 g Prince Charming — Flying Mile). Came with a fine stay- 1 efs run for third to Armbro I Free last Saturday. Looks to; be close to worthwhile form and should get into the finish. A. Harrison. 3A 217 ROYAL ASCOT (1) 34, (5 g Prince Charming—Morsell. Dashing winner on first] I night of meeting. Came fast! but late for seventh last week. Stays well and in spite of handicap will take beating. F. Newfield. 4 4053 LIGHTSEY (4) It (4 g Local Light—Pennyfare). Did well after a slow start to] finish third to Robalan last! Saturday. Unknown quantity over this distance, but will be aided if the race develops into a sprint home. M. Holmes. 5 4941 ARMBRO FREE (5) It! <4 g Armbro Del—Charm). Fought on well for easy win after pacemaking last Saturday. Stays well and by no means a forlorn chance. F. Holmes. 4 4519 BOMBER BILL (4) It (5 h Robert Dillon—Whippy] Jean). No danger last Saturday after first-night win. Others preferred over this distance. D Townley. 7 5442 ROYAL BELMER (1) 12 (5 m Thurber Frost—Lady, Belfield). Has paced two fine! races so far at the meeting: and must be given a chance)

of getting into the money. D. Jones. 8 24 ARAPAHO (1) IB (5 g Bachelor Hanover — Dusky Bay). Came strongly from mid-field for fourtli to Robalan last week. Looks to be

ready to run a great race. D. Mangos. , 9 8039 RAUKA LAD (2) 24 (8 g King Creed—Raukapuka). Received a poor run last Saturday. Looks in great heart and should be hard to beat. R. Nyhan. 10 71 ROBALAN (1) 24 (6 g Lumber Dream—Elsinore). Gained a runaway win on second night. Has shown his best form up to 13 furlongs, but must be respected in this field after his win. D. D. Nyhan. 11 26 GLOBE BAY (1) 30 (6 g Johnny Globe — Baylight). Fought on well for sixth to Armbro Free after fine second a week earlier. Looks ready to make a bold bid.

J. Carmichael. Bracket: Manawaru and Royal Ascot.

(T.A.B. Closes 2.40 p.m.) 3.50 p.m.— N.Z. TROTTING CHAMPIONSHIP $5000; 2:13 class; 2m. 1 4 BAMBI (1) It (7 g Forward —lkawai). Showed something of his true form when fourth last Saturday. Rough chance. P. Gallagher. 2 1205 MARIUS (2) It <9 g Morano—Little Liza). Made a late bid for fifth on second night. Not too reliable, but capable of surprising. J. Nordqvlst. 2A 4502 BLACK FROST (4) It (10 g Thurber Frost—Mantilla). Fought on gamelv for second to Philemon last Saturday Sure to go well again. M. Nordqvist. 3 0800 ABOUT TIME (3) It (4 g Bachelor Hanover—Worthy Scott). No appeal. G. Shand. 1 4 0848 MIGHTY DOLLAR (5) It] (7 g Court Martial—Bever-! ley’s Song). Fair races onlv: so far at the meeting. Out-; side chance. L. Clark. 5 5753 FRI (6) It (8 g Light Bri-I gade—Tralleborg). Has trot-1 ted two splendid races at the meeting and must be given a chance of surprising. G. Adamson. 6 7030 TUNZA TIME (7) If (5 g Goodland—Why Hurry) Disappointing race last week after sound first night placing. Good enough to get into the finish. D. Jones. 7 97 LE CHAR (8) It (8 m Forward—Fontanil. Encouraging run for seventh last week. Is at the improving stage, but will find this difficult. L. May. 8 3120 GOOD ADMIRAL (9) 't (5 g Goodland—Bonny Rachael). Received a shocking run on second night. Fine second to Philemon a week earlier. Stays well and should be prominent. D. Townley. 8a 09 PRECOCIOUS (1) 30 (10 m Johnny Globe — Dauphine). Fair races only so far at the meeting. Stays Well, but will have to improve considerably to be a threat. J. Carmichael. 9 4400 ARONMOT (1) 12 (10 g Court Martial—Star Maid). No appeal. O. Quinlan. 10 4211 PHILEMON (1) 24 (7 g Sun Chief—Judear). Has won so easily on the first two nights that it is hard to see him beaten. J. Hampton. Brackets: Marius and Black Frost; Good Admiral and Precocious.