MIDSUMMER HDCP Totara Maid a top Riccarton fancy

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33454, 8 February 1974, Page 1 (Supplement)

MIDSUMMER HDCP Totara Maid a top Riccarton fancy

By

J. J. Boyle

Totara Maid is high on the short list of fancies for the Midsummer Handicap, first leg of the Canterbury Jockey Club’s T.A.B. double tomorrow.

The distance (2000 metres) is probably her best, and her recent form reads well. But something to give the form students pause is that she has long found a win at Riccarton elusive.

Totara Maid goes into tomorrow’s race with the best form from the Benson and Hedges Inter-Island race on the first day of the meeting. Her fourth behind the star three-year-old, Mister Pompous, and the two North Islanders. Sharif and Peter ■ Puckle, was achieved with a: dogged late run from the ruck. In some of her earlier races at Riccarton, Totara

[Maid had shown sharp J acceleration, but no sustained 'finishing powers. With her characteristics, careful [handling is clearly demanded, [and her chances will be best served tomorrow if she can be nursed for as long as possible for her cnallenge. Lomax, a decisive winner over more ground on Wednesday, might be shaded for speed at 2000 met res by both Audaciter and Town Major. Audaciter ran himself out pacemaking in the Benson and Hedges Inter-Island race when having only his third start this time up. If, as expected, he comes up better [for that run he should have 'many of the others extended [some way out. | Town Major failed to last put 2500 m on Wednesday, but his fourth held promise of I [early improvement to a record containing several smart [runs at 2000 m or thereabouts. I The efforts of the others [in this field earlier at the [meeting were not good [enough to inspire much confidence, although the youthful Nip O’Scotch, second on [Wednesday, might be regarded as one of the imIprovers.

I Funny Way and Gi-A-Rook, two newcomers at the meeting, might tangle some weak Riccarton form in the Craven Plate, second leg of the double. They dominated the two open sprints at the Vincent meeting last month. On the first day. Funny Way won handily, Gi-A-Rook filling second place. Two days later. Funny Way failed by a

nose to give the Gore sprinter skg over the dist- : lance of tomorrow's race. Baltic Blue’s fourth behind ■’Lovely Honey, Jury, and Condor in the Kingston Handicap. 1200 metres, a week ago represents the best form from earlier at this meeting, and it will assure him of solid local backing.