Inter-Island hopefuls to clash today

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33775, 22 February 1975, Page 8

Inter-Island hopefuls to clash today

The outcome of the first leg of the T.A.B. double races at Awapuni and Wingatui today could have a bearing on favouritism for the Benson and Hedges Inter-Island at Riccarton next Tuesday.

Three members of the North Island team — Guest Star, lechyd, and Fort Hagen — will top off their preparations for Tuesday’s $15,000 feature race in the Rangitikei Cup today. Four Leaf, another which will represent the north in the Benson and Hedges Inter-Island, dropped out of the first leg of the Rangi-

■ tikei Racing Club’s T.A.B. double yesterday. Although the Wellington ' correspondent of "The ' Press” does not seem very ; enthusiastic about the : chances of any of the InterIsland horses in the “big” i race at Awapuni it will come i as a surprise if Guest Star, i lechyd and Fort Hagen fail ' to acquit themselves well. It was expected that three

of the south’s Inter-Island contenders would be rivals in the Otago Racing Club’s Wingatui Handicap. But that number has been reduced to two — Warlight and Red Ruby — because of the death of Magic Touch’s partowner, Mr I. R. Kincaid. With Magic Touch out of the way Red Ruby, whose recent record has been marked by consistency, should be a “good thing” in the first leg of today’s T.A.B. double. The result of the Dominion Handicap at Wingatui could also have a bearing on favouritism for the Canterbury Challenge Stakes on Tuesday. Trade Secret and Sharon Jane will strengthen the prospect of an Otago victory in the Canterbury Jockey Club’s $5OOO feature race for two-year-olds if, as expected, they are heavily involved in the finish of today’s. event.