RACING Distant Blaze should take steeplechase

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33534, 15 May 1974, Page 9

RACING Distant Blaze should take steeplechase

If previous form on the course holds good Mexicano will have the slimmest of chances of beating the Wingatui-trained Distant Blaze in the Haast Steeplechase at Riccarton today.

Distant Blaze and Mexicano are last-start winners in the first steeplechase of the year in Canterbury. The fact that Mexicano’s victory was achieved at Trentham might assure the Washdyke grey of backing heavy enough to make him favourite today. Distant Blaze’s last-start win was at Wingatui on Anzac Day. A year ago he was the steeplechase star of the Canterbury May circuit, winning both the Amberley club’s Kowai Steeples at Riccarton and the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Haast Steeples, over the same

course, four days later. Mexicano opposed Distant Blaze in both races for a third in the Amberley race i and a fourth in the Haast | Steeples. Worse off Fourteen lengths separated Distant Blaze and Mexicano in the Haast, yet Mexicano will go into today’s race against the Wingatui jumper 1.5 kg worse off. On that ! method of reckoning Distant ] Blaze could be expected to I again beat Mexicano easily] today, but things are never that easy for the students of form and weights and measures. There will be forecast betting on the steeples and quinellas on the other races. The T.A.B. concession double will be on the May and Westport Handicaps, and there will be a course concession double on the first and second Russley Handicaps. Fields for the doubles races are:— 2.25 p.m.— MAY HANDICAP $2200; 2000 m. 1 0323 TOTARA MAID (11) 55.5 (6 m Ribotlight—Princess Kate, M. Jones, Washdyke). Racing very consistently at present and would have to be included among the brighter hopes. M. Skelton 2 5331 SUDDEN CHANGE (12) 54.5 (5 g Mellay—Magic Casement, J. Tomkinson, Riccarton). Capped off some sound form with a stylish win in the Amberley Cup on Saturday. Always a chance over a bit of ground when the sting is out of the ground. G. Mein 3 4274 SAILING IN (14) 53.5 (6 g Massowa—Lady Juriste, C.

: Lang, Rangiora), Looked a bit unlucky not to finish ■ closer than fourth in the I Amberley Cup on Saturday. ] Honest and consistent. Certain to have a big following. K. Morton 4 8062 WARLIGHT (5) 53.5 (6 g Freelight—- Warfare. R. Pankhurst, Invercargill). Solid effort to run second to Sudden Change in Amberley Cup. Mixes his form a bit but one of peak runs would be good enough to get him into the finish. E. Low j 5 0543 HIS BESTONE (9) S 3 (4 j h Monitor—Suzy Burford, P. Jones, Riccarton). First home in Caltex Handicap at Nelson last time out but relegated after an inquiry. Seems to be close to his best again which is very good. W. Skelton 6 1698 FLUSH (3) 51 (4 m Stunning—Minnie Mouse, J. Randle, Riccarton). Drifted quickly after being close up till turn In Amberley Cup. Would need to improve con-] siderably on that run to have! I a winning chance here. ] G. Gullery] ! 7 7135 ASH (1) 50.5 (4 b Fraxinus—Myree, J. Morton,] Otaki). Graduated from) lower grade on this course! last month and raced well] enough in open class at! Blenheim to be rated sound! light-weight chance. D. Reed I I 8 9456 BETTYLYN (13) 50.5 (51 i m Kurdistan—Cadillac, B. i i Jones, Washdyke). Ran fair races at Blenheim and Nelson but would still need • to improve to match some of better performed rivals here. 9 9520 KAI TAK (4) 50.5 (5 g Ribotlight — Amandel, D. Thistoll, Riccarton). Weak effort on final day at Blenheim but would be big chance here if he repeated his Marlborough Cup run. R. McCann 10 5212 MICHAEL FRANCIS (6) 50.5 (6 g Kurdistan—Red Elm, M. Billington, Washdyke). Has been racing solidly in the lower grades and might not be out of here if he strikes footing to suit. Prefers soft going. D. Holden II 2171 MY MELLAY (8) 50.5 (6 h Mellay—Pride of Woodlands, Dennis Bros, Woodlands). Has compiled a fairly impressive record in the lower grades in the last month or two. Last start win was at Wairio but was also successful on this course last month. 12 6367 ROYAL GRACE (7) 50.5 (5 m His Grace—Gracious Lady, D. Thistoll, Riccarton). Capable on her day but latest efforts do not raise much hope of a victory close at hand. L. Mollov 13 5670 RUSSELL (2) 50.5 (5 h Jekyll—Otaio Lass, R. Marsh, Wingatui). Latest racing has been over sprint distances but has been out of form too long to be rated much of a chance. P. Julius

'l4 7314 THREE SEVENS (10) 50.5 i (6 m Bellbnrough—British Pride, J. Lalor, Ashburton). I Middle,distance winner in j the lower grade at Westport I two starts back. This is | harder but usually runs her I races out well. P. Goslin I 3.35 p.m.— j WESTPORT HANDICAP $2000; 1400 m. I 1 1342 SHUDUP (2) 57.5 (3 c I Final Orders—Natter, J Tuti ton, Riccarton). Latest' placI ing was behind New York I at Amberley on Saturday, j Weight could now be proving problem but should still take beating. 2 7821 ENTOURAGE (6) 54 (3 g Faux Tirage—Miss Rhondda, J. Tomkinson, Riccarton). Rounded off successful campaign at C.J.C. autumn meeting with stylish win over this distance in Waltham HandiI cap Looks one of stronger chances. 3 1481 NEW YORK (10) Grey William— Belle York. L Pratt, Orarl). -.Won open sprint in style at Amberley on Saturday. * Usually runs ner races out strongly so big- ■ ger course should cause her no worries. D. Reeri 4 9222 SHIFNAL KING (8) 54 (7 g Shifnal—Winning Move, - Kennealy, Invercargill). Has been performing well over sprint and middle-dis-tances lately. Second, two starts back, was behind En- _ * on tHis course 5 5519 SURGE AGAIN (4) 54 (4 g Resurgent—Never Again, D. Thistoll, Riccarton). Speedy type which won open sprints at Rangiora and Blenheim last month. Has had time to freshen since his Marlborough campaign so should go well. , R - McCann 6 1504 BALTIC BLUE (5) 53.5 (5 g Copenhagen ll—Lady in Blue. J. Tomkinson, Riccarton). Could not easily be counted out after fair race for fourth in sprint at Amberley last Saturday. 7 6133 WIND VALE 52 5 (4 g My Pal—Windvale Girl, M. Jones, Washdyke). Has been third in each of two starts in a fresh campaign. Should be close to winning form, especially if the going is soft. W. Skelton 8 2151 SCOTCH WILLIAM (12) 52 (4 g Grey William—Alloa. B. Jones, Washdyke). Recent form in the lower grades was first class. Made grade at first attempt against the open sprinters at Nelson.

L. Moilov 9 1633 SENATOR KENNEDY (7) 52 (3 g Senator Jack—Totara Lass, W. Kennedy, Ikamatua). Looked the makings of a top sprinter-miler when twice successful here in February. Seems to prefer the roomier tracks. Skelton 10 5210 ANITA KAY (3) 51 (3 f Mellay—Magic Casement, C. Jones, Wingatui). Very smart filly which has looked well above average at times. Won Tasman Plate for three-year-olds here last month. Might not be out of her depth in this field. K. Morton 11 4054 BEV LEIGH (13) 51 (6 m Eastern Nip—Lorna Leigh, B. Finlayson, Riccarton). Fair efforts only in two starts at Blenheim and Nelson when beginning fresh campaign. Should be improved by those runs but would need soft going. 12 8558 CONDOR (9) 51 (6 g Golden Plume—Limmat, D. Wild, Riccarton). Comes, up with a good run now and again but not consistent enough to be recommended with confidence.

P. Julius 13 7746 SIR RIBOT (11) 51 (& g Ribotlight—Smuggler’s Bank, G. Murfitt jnr, Riccarton). Made a little ground for sixth at Rangiora last Saturday but would still need to improve quite a bit to win here. P. Goslin