Show Gate-Battle Heights clash a drawcard

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33480, 11 March 1974, Page 8

Show Gate-Battle Heights clash a drawcard

From Our Own Reporter

WELLINGTON.

l nless something unforeseen happen s to Show Gate meantime, her clash with Battle I (eights at weight-for-age in the Port Nicholson Stakes at I rentham tomorrow should be a big draw on the second day of the Wellington Racing Clubs autumn meeting.

Show Gate's owner-trainer, G. B. ThomMin. has also paid up for the mare in the Courtnay Handicap, but he is keen to start her in the first leg of the T.A.B. double.

“I will only run her in the sprint if 1 feel, as I did on Saturday, that she is not 100 percent fit,” he said. But yesterday there had been no sign of a recurrence of Saturday's sudden scouring attack, and Show Gate seemed to be thriving.

When Show Gate and Battle Heights were campaigned at Trentham in January, they were seen : n different roles. Show Gate beat a high-class field of sprinters brilliantly in the Telegraph Handicap, and Battle Heights won the rich Wellington Cup, then went on to win the weight-for-age Trentham Stakes (2400 metres).

There are no doubts at all about Battle Heights's ability to get 2000 metres, the distance of tomorrow’s race — and that, combined with weight of Waikato money, will almost certainly assure him of favouritism. Trainer’s view Although Show Gate has few peers as a sprinter-miler, she has yet to prove herself over a little ground There was a good excuse for her failure when tried for stamina in the Inter-island Handicap at Riccarton last month. That race was run only six days after she had been badly galloped on at Trentham. If victory goes her way this time, she will but vindicate the opinion of her: owner-trainer — and that is,' she will stay. I

Although the Port Nicholson Stakes has attracted only seven acceptors, all the material is there to provide a first-class contest.

Beside Battle Heights, the Waikato will be represented by an in-form Peg’s Pride. Last time out. this Cam-bridge-trained mare was the runner-up to Battle Heights in the Waikato International Stakes at Te Rapa, and the time before she won the Wellington Racing Club Handicap at Trentham on January 26. The Hawera colt. Fury's ; Order, is almost certain to -have stronger backing than 'Count Kereru or Kaukapakapa. both from middlei districts stables, or the In- | vercargill-trained Lomax. Fury’s Order Fury’s Order, this season's Two Thousand Guineas and New Zealand Derby winner, will settle the question of. favouritism for the New' Zealand St Leger Stakes next Saturday if he wins or even runs very close. Taking a line through his Waikato: form—he was the best be-1 hind Battle Heights and Peg’s Pride in the Inter-; national last time out —he must be rated a great chance. Guest Star, Saturday’s President’s Handicap winner, will give his St Leger prospects another boost if, as expected, he wins the Strathmore Handicap, second leg of the double.

Other strong chances in this event for class TI and 111 stayers are likely to be the Riccarton-trained Jury (a close fourth behind Guest Star on the first day) and Au Fait, which faded to tenth after pacemaking in the same event, but was galloped on early in the contest. Selections are:

’ 11.15 a.m.—Karori Highweight: Orangeman, Tey Top, Native Guide. J' 11.se a.m.—Pacific Handicap: . Anaghdown, Indian Star, Showman. 1 12.25 p.m.—Brooklyn Handir cap- Gold Kin, Meandarra, Kawa Reka. e I.S p.m.—First Oriental t Maiden: Kopara, Wishagain, l Flight Tracer.

1.45 p.m—Courtnay Handicap: Grey Way, Carlinka, Turtcutter. 2.25 p.m.—Port Nicholson Stakes: Battle Heights, Show Gate. 3.5 p.m.—Second Oriental Maiden: Dark Top, Moondah, Tom's Mate. 3.45 p.m.—Strathmore Handicap: Guest Star, Jury, Au Fait. 4.25 p.m.—Khandallah Handicap: Flowalong, Tambulam, Ella Vannin. 11.15 a.m.— KARORI HIGH-WEIGHT 52200; 2200 m. 7955 Orangeman 18) 64.0

3051 Red Ghurka (3> M. Gillies 60.5 4134 Decree <61 59.5 0239 Reprint <2i 58.5 8435 Arrowtown (13> E. Jones 56.0 6220 Wiata HO) 58.0 9261 Mayana (13, 57.5 8207 Native Guide <91 57.5 8804 Toy Top (7) 57.5 1088 Colonel Buzz rib 57.0 5390 John Porteous (4) 57.0 6586 Raharuhi (5) 57.0 0440 Sidgrae (15) 57.0 4573 Arkoi (1) 57.0 8657 Open Sesame (16) M. Donoghue 57.0 57.0 0698 Fully Tested (12) 11 50 a.m.— PACIFIC HANDICAP S2200-. two-year-olds: 1200m. 4151 Anaghdown (8) 60.0 1416 Showman (18) R. Skelton 56.5 4121 Sanyo <6' A. Tweedie 56.0 3221 Gold Luck <12) 54.5 31 Indian Star i4> W. Skelton 53.5 4414 Kashmir Belle 110) 53.5 4561 D. Peake Boulder Block «2) 52.5 N Harris 52.5 0195 Ismay (20) 7321 Sabre Prince (1) 52.0 3157 K. Reggett Peka Prince <9) 51.5 M. Burridge Lover's Dream (3) 49.5 5. 4450 Bon Appetlt (21) Head Prefect (11) 48.0 48.0 04 India (14) J. Walker 48.0 48.0 00 Baltic Star i7) 2440 Sobieski (22) 47.5 380 Marachino (5) 47.5 80 Maple Prince (131 G. Phillips 47.5 Balloted out in order of reentry 7908 Fupry's Eulogy (16) G Clutterhuck 47.5 47.5 000 Aye Kay <15> 9407 Rich Mahal (19) 47.5 5436 Karu 117) 47.5 1245 pm.— BROOKLYN HANDICAP $2200; 1400m. 6632 Gold Kin (2) 51.5 4901 0430 Kawa Reka (8) R. Skelton Meardarra (4) W Skelton Far Post <31 51.0 50.5 50.0 0078 Flight O'Fancy (6.) G. Clutterbuck 49.0 49.0 7528 170 Periphial (5) G. Phillips Moon Call (7) 49.0 Test Girl (1) G Willetts 49.0 1.5 p.m.— ORIENTAL MAIDEN NO. 1 4624 $1700: 1200m Wishagain (4) 57.0

93 Rohance (8» 53.0 52.5 26 Koparoa i]4> 4243 Flight Tracer <5) 52.0 J, Walker 7903 Valier (15) 52.0 8400 New Dianna ,2) 51.0 3030 Petunia (11) 51.0 2900 Hill View (17) 50.5 848 Royal Cadiz i|0) 50.5 4000 Tri Pal (1) 50.5 7 Axis (3) 50.0 00 Forest Park 116) 50 0 G. Phillips JuSt <7) 50.0 9 Nui Dat (12) 50.0 Red Diamond (6) 50.0 000 Tenant (91 50.0 0 Trigger (16) 50.0 1.45 p.m.— COURTENAY HANDICAP $4000; 1400m. 6011 Show Gate (12) 58.5 R. Marsh 1181 Grey Way <4) 54.5 U. Skelton .3123 Bartelle (2> 51.0 M. Burridge 0926 Mr Dan (7) 50.5 W. Skelton 3222 Carlinka (11) 50.0 0033 Mexiquenna (5> 49.5 0352 Turfcutter (6) 49.5 987 Nomada (13) 49.0 G. Clutterbuck 1505 March On (9) 43.5 R. Skelton 805 Meduno (8) 48.0 3123 Ross Hagen (1) 47.5 D. Peake 3077 Intuition (10) 47.0 0093 Weber (3) 47.0 FIRST LEG OF T.A.B. DOUBLE 2.25 p.m.— PORT NICHOLSON HANDICAP $6000: weight-for-age: 2000m. 1191 Battle Heights (3) 58.0 G. Willetts 3182 Count Kereru (5) . 58.0 N. Harris - ■2349 Kaukapakapa <4> 58.0 R. Skelton 1254 Lomax (1) 58.0 M. Skelton 2812 Peg's Pride (7) 55.5D. Harris 6011 Show Gate (2) 55.5 R. Marsh 1723 Fury's Order (6) 52.5 3J p.m.— ORIENTAL MAIDEN NO. 2 $1700; 1200m. 32 Red Vesta (15) 53.0 52 Dark Top (6) 52.5 B. Thomson. 2 Moondah (11) 52.5 7264 Tom's Mate (5) 52.0 0968 Gina Royal (3) 51.5 0704 Blinky Bill (9) 51.0 0749 Alla Tonda (10) 50.5 R. Skelton 3680 Mark James (7> 50.5 48 Shelby (12) 50.5 Avrak (H 50.0 G. Willetts 000 Cosima (4) 50.0 0807 High Romance (14) 50.0 W. Skelton Kentucky Flier (16) 50.0 G. Clutterbuck 0 Princess Harleigh (8) 50.0 0 Saheeda (13) 50.0 050 Trapani (2) 50.0 SECOND LEG OF T.A.B. DOUBLE 3.45 p.m.— STRATHMORE HANDICAP $4000; 2000m. 4131 Guest Star (11) 58.5 R. Skelton 4361 Ash (3) 53.5 D. Peake 5230 Au Fait (J4> 53.5 0502 Falsetto (1) 53.5 3664 Jury (10) 53.0 0300 Bonny Campfield 059a Paris Lad (12> (15) 51.0 51.0 9780 First Strike (8) 48.5 3056 Ari (4) 48.0 B. Thomson 4818 Jack Daniels (9> . 48.0 3615 Davlyn (5) 47.0 9000 Trogonidae (7) ' 47.0 0746 Melva Jay (6) 47.0 6100 Morgangeba (2i 47.0 5301 Mahal (13) 47.0 4.25 p.m.— KHANDALLAH HANDICAP $3200; 1600m. 2713 Flowalong (3) 57.0 R. Skelton 2101 Tambulam (9) 56.0 1212 Elian Vannin (1) 54.5 0531 Just Dianna (10) .. 54.5 G. Phillips 95 Kathey's Crown (8) 53.0 B. Thomson 6317 Cosh Queen (11) 51.5 G. Willetts 0624 Henselite (7) 51.5 W. Skelton 51.5 6143 Kronenbourg (5) R. King 542 Tricky Boy (4) 51.0 8510 June Carter (12) 50.5 0055 Flying Tor (2) 50.0 5660 Lord RizziO (6) 50.0 B. Andrews 50.0 3780 Sonora (13)