ZARNIA LOOKS HARD TO BEAT ON OAMARU FORM

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33577, 4 July 1974, Page 8

ZARNIA LOOKS HARD TO BEAT ON OAMARU FORM

Zarnia was in irresistible form when she won at Oamaru last month, and a run of equal merit will give her a second-to-none chance in the H, H. Fraser Memorial, first leg of the South Canterbury Jockey Club’s TA.B. double on Saturday.

Zarnia won the; Oamaru IfiOO-metre race by four lengths underi ■>7kg. the weight she will carry again over the ( same distance at Washdyke. *. - .j This time the field will be: bigger, and possibly stronger,! while the footing could also! be different. But if Zarnia': wins again, those who might have looked elsewhere for something to beat her will fyid small comfort for looking for something other than the obvious. Annenic, the closest "to Zamia in the weights, and a meritorious third behind the Orari mare at Oamaru, should spearhead the southern challenge for this one.

TRAFFIC PROBLEMS Annenic was tried over I more ground in the Donald (Grant Memorial on the first (day of the meeting but was (unable to make any headway i from a tight spot down on the inside. Maclane had better fortune than Annenic in the Grant Memorial, and showed he was on the threshhold of winning form by finishing third two noses from Kai Tak.

A week earlier Maclane finished third against the sprinters at Ashburton, so he can lay fair claim to versatility. OLD AND NEW Butch,'the only three-year-old in the field, and General Simm, a sprightly 10-year-old from Southland, will be others on the short list of fancies. Butch “blew out” near the home turn when reappearing after a fresher on the first day of the meeting. Tn almost everything he

did earlier, Butch shaped as ;tf he is destined to take high; ranking next season. A good (run in this field will bring ihim into reckoning for the (Winter Cup next month. General Simm is long past; the improving stage, but it' • Is a matter for some wonder ■ (that he is still performing as .well as he has done through | the last few weeks. He was fourth against the (sprinters at Washdyke last week. A fortnight earlier he, was a respectable fourth behind Zamia at Oamaru. i There are several in this field:

with less attractive credentials than this tough veteran. SECOND LEG Better Light, My Jet and. Blue Diamond, from Canter-1 bury, Mairee from WingatuiJ (and the Southland pair.; Ayshire Prince and WillieIbank. will come in for solid backing in the Beaconsfield Handicap, second leg of the: double, A capacity field seems cer- • tain, and it will be an uncom-; Ifortably large one for the (track,-so the race seems cer(tain to produce the usual! I crop of hard luck stories.