Guest Star looks likely for Trentham first leg

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33750, 24 January 1975, Page 1 (Supplement)

Guest Star looks likely for Trentham first leg

By

J. J. Boyle

Guest Star should make a top-weight’s triumph of the Wellington Racing Club Handicap, first leg of the T.A.B. double at Trentham tomorrow.

I This tough stayer from [Takanini Is certain of favouritism after a gallant land unlucky second to iTimon in the Wellington I Cup last Saturday.

| He missed one of the most [ glittering prizes of the year jby only a nose, and would lhave certainly won by a J clear margin if it had been [possible to find a groundj saving inside run for him. [such as was enjoyed by his I conqueror.

Even if he had kept straight in the last 100 metres of the Cup Guest Star must have won by at least half a length.

! He will start from one of [the inside barrier positions in tomorrow’s $BOOO race and should have a smooth run within easy touch of the lead.

On the Wellington Cup result, Sobeit seems unlikely to come out ahead of Guest Star.

Sobeit was ridden with fine judgment by Bob Skelton in the Wellington Cup, but the Waikato mare could only plod into fourth.

She will meet Guest Star 2kg belter tomorrow', but that is not expected to give her an edge over last season’s St Leger winner, which will still be carrying less than his scale weight. GLAMOUR FIELD The George Adams Handicap, second leg of tomorrow’s T.A.B. double, offers the prospect of one of the most spectacular races of the year. That is a prospect that will almost certainly be realised if the race is run over a firm track. A talented band of recent winners in this field includes Kiwi Can, winner of the corresponding race at the Auckland Cup meeting. I Kiwi Can won the rich El-

lerslie 1600 metre race in the brilliant time of 1.33 2-ssec, w'hich is a track record. And a measure of his superiority was that he came out on top by a length although he had been one of the slow beginners. This time he will start wide, and on a track that will have the false rail out he will have to come up [with an exceptional gallop.

Form from last Saturday’s Anniversary Handicap will, it is expected, have some bearing on the result.

Auditor, the Anniversary Handicap winner, is engaged again. So is Bellota, whose fifth in her first start for some weeks held the certain promise of early improvement. Bellota did her spring racing in Melbourne, and one of tier best runs there gave her a second in the Victoria Racing Club’s George Adams Handicap. Bellota will be ridden by Gary Willetts, who won the Wellington Cup on Timon, and who has had a most [profitable partnership with Battle Heights. |