Sizzle looks a likely chance at Ellerslie

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33442, 25 January 1974, Page 6

Sizzle looks a likely chance at Ellerslie

'‘The Press” Special Service : AUCKLAND. | j Sizzle tailed to race up ikohe last Saturday but to expectations at Puke- . might be worth another chance in the W. S. Spence Handicap, first leg of the T.A.B. double at Ellerslie tomorrow. Sizzle two starts back was a J very respectable seventh in the I Centennial Auckland Cup. but his best recent race was at Rotorua on December 27, when lie ’(Overcame difficulties to .shade Rustaveli, which subsequenth went on to run a second and two firsts. The Zealandia Handicap com’ipletes the T.A.B. double. La -;Souveraine, a close fourth at . Pukekohe, should be the hardest to beat. Saturday’s distance is likely to . suit La Souveraine better than r the 1200 metres at Pukekohe. In I;her previous start, she was third . to leehyd and Shy Ways in the i 1600-metre King’s Plate, and before that, a grand fourth in the Rose Town Mile at Te Awamutu. Second Sovereign, which won i i this race last year then won : again on the second day. is bound to be hard to beat, while i Royal Clouds, not long out of ft the minor ranks, Ernader, and St Crispian are others entitled to respect. (T.A.B. double closes 1.15 p.m.) (T.A.B. closes 1.35 p.m.) 2.45 p.m.— W. S SPENCE HANDICAP $4OOO ; 2200 m. 1 4010 PETER PUCKLE (10) 53.5. Dropped out in Auckland Cup. but runaway winner over 2000 m at Ellerslie on December 28, One of top chances. j W. Smith

2 3421 TRCIMIST (1) 53.5. Impressive winner at Pukekohe • last Saturday. Looks capable of further top form. Likely i favourite. W. Robinson 3 7178 SIZZLE (12) 52.5 Only’ fair races at Pukekohe last ■ week and in Auckland Cup but won well at Rotorua in December. Worth another chance. G. McLiesh 4 7363 BRONZE LEGEND (3) 51.5, Only moderate form at Avondale but right back to. best with close third to Trie-’ mist at Pukekohe last Sat urday. Must be strongly considered. C. Freakley 5 3090 NOT AGAIN (5) 51. Does not lack ability but win would surprise after recent efforts. P. Roscoe 6 0729 LORD SYNTAX (7) 50.5 Moderate effort at Pukekohe last Saturday after improver's second at Stratford Might be worth one more chance. 7 0 ARROGANT BEAU (6) 50. This will be first race since November and only second since April. Not fancied. 8 6580 EVEN WREN (9) 50. Weak showing at Pukekohe i last week alter looking big chance on home turn. Some improvement would be needed. 9 9094 GOLD WIRE (14) 50. Solid effort for fourth at Ax ondale. That was first start past 1600 m since mid-Novem-ber. Could be tougher this time. G. Edge 11 5840 MIGHTY SUSAN (13) 50. Best effort in four starts on Taranaki circuit over holidays as fourth. Hard to fanev. 12 1855 SAHRANO (11) 50. Not far away at Pukekohe last Saturday. Sticks fairly well. D. Southworth 13 6700 TAMBELINA (2) 50. Form this season ha-$ been well below best standard, D. Withington 14 5180 VALIUM (4) 50. Fell on home turn at-Pukekohe last Saturday but well back at time Won like fair stayer at Ellerslie on January 2 10 0703 GRANDIOSO (8) 50. i Looked good again when

third at Pukekohe last Saturday after several failures i over more ground. Best form has been at 1600 m. (T.A.B. closes 2.55 p.m./ 4.5 p.m.— ZEALANDIA HANDICAP S 3000; 1400 m. 1 3132 ERNADER (2) 56. Form hard to fault. Beaten in last' stride at Pukekohe last week and grand third in Railwax Handicap on January 1. D. Weatherley 2 2371 ST CRISPIAN (3) 56 Advanced in years but still top sprinter Narrow winner at Avondale on January 12. W. Robinson 3 0418 SECOND SOVEREIGN (7) 54 Failed in Raiiwax Handicap at Ellerslie after good win in Newmarket Handicap on December 26. Freshened well, meantime W. Smith 4 1434 LA SOUVERAINE (9) 52. Close fourth at Pukekohe last Saturday. Usually at best this time of year. P. Johnson 5 0613 LORD MUSSETU (9) 52. | Two noses from first at Pukekohe last Saturday after shock win at Stratford. Hard to rate big chance in spite of improved form. 6 4775 ANTENOR (5) 48.5. Fought on well at Pukekohe I last Saturday. Chance on that effort. 7 0707 KAY (1) 48.5. Form moderate since winning Te Rapa in November. G. Chitty 8 04 GOLD JET (8) 48. Off scene since August Prefers soft ground and unlikely to show up here. 9 6206 ROYAL CLOUDS (4) 43 Weakened to sixth at Avondale on January 12 but close second at Tauranga last month. Looked smart in late spring and could be worth attention. Finished last at Thames Has 10 0079 SHOW'S PRIDE (6) 48. been well out of form thG season after being one of best two-year-olds 1 B. Compton