Southern stablemates out of C.J.C. feature race

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33776, 24 February 1975, Page 8

Southern stablemates out of C.J.C. feature race

Warlight, originally one of the reserves in the South Island team, emerged as a real prospect for tomorrow's Benson and Hedges Inter-Island event when he won by five lengths over 2400 metres at Wingatui on Saturday. ’ -

Red Ruby did not satisfy her Gore trainer, R. J. Cochrane, with her so-so third behind Warlight, and she was withdrawn yesterday from the field for the inter-island race.

Cochrane also scratched Bonny Alouise. and it will be left to Warhght and Magic Touch to represent Southland.

The Riccarton jockey, Max Skelton, who had drawn Red Ruby, will now switch to Warlight. The failures of Fort Hagen, Guest Star, and lechvd to reach places in the Rangitikei Cup on Saturday,! further clouded the picture for tomorrow’s $15,000 race, j

And there was some uncertainty at the week-end whether ’ the Riccarton-[ trained Rebel Lad would get a start. He had some painful swelling near a knee after his gallop on Saturday, and! was under treatment yesterday. There were signs of improvement after he did trott-j ing exercise yesterday morn-! ing.

Light week-end rain at Riccarton further confused the issue of favouritism for the race, but the Otakitrained Black Rod showed that the ground had not been markedly affected by sprinting 1400 metres on the trial grass yesterday in l:2o.Bsec, the last 800 m in 50.6 sec. Black Rod arrived from the north on Saturday morning with Four Leaf, another Otaki-trained stayer in tomorrow’s feature race. While there must be some doubt, from this distance, about the footing for tomorrow’s race the strongest case should be made for an inform all-weather horse. One such as Guest Star, a big winner on top of the ground and in the soft this last year for the veteran Takanini trainer, Ivan J. Tucker. Fields and form for the T.A.B. double are: 3.5 p.m.— BENSON AND HEDGES INTER-ISLAND $15,000; 2500 m.

1 4726 FURY'S ORDER (5) 56 <4 h Indian Order—Our Fury; L Gestro and W.' McEwan. Hawera). Unbeaten’ in two starts on the course,; winning the New Zealand. Cup on his last appearance; here in November. Some-' what disappointing in international race. at Avondale' last time out, and much; depends on whether he has' freshened in the meantime. His elass will be respected. B. Thomson 2 2812 DUTY FREE (4) 55 (8 g Bourbon Prince—Orgonetta; I Mrs A. Fogden. Otaki). Won; this race two years ago. and after a rewarding patch of summer form will command; respect again. Win two starts back was at Riccarton i February 8. W. Skelton 3 2100 GUEST STAR (12) 55 (4l g Crest of the Wave—Queens' Navy; I. J. and I R. Tucker, Takanini). Doughty stayer! on left-handed courses, and; was seen at his best at Teen-, tham In January when he ; won over 241)0m after a close second to Timon in the Wei-' iington Cup. Has winning form on soft tracks as well. R. Skelton 4 1141 MAGIC TOUCH (13) 55 <«! m Kurdistan—Magic Mirror;; E Winsloe. Gorei. Carried 57.5 when she won CJ.C.i Midsummer Handicap last! time out. This harder, but; respected in her present; form A. Robinson 5 8815 TIMON (6) 54J <6 g Oak-ville-Catalan; F. Philips,' Matangii. Carried 52kg when he beat Guest Star by a nose, in Wellington Cup. Will; meet Guest Star half a kilo better off this time, so; should go close if he runs; up to his Cup form P. Johnson * 1062 BLACK ROD (16) 53.5 (5 g Ancidium —Precede; C.j Bowry. Otaki i Has shown more than glimpse of the I form that made him look sol. good at three years two sea-l sons ago Latest placing was; as a sprinter Won at weight-1 forage at Pahiatua meeting! tn January before falling in Wellington Cup. Looks fit], for this one. || N. Harris;[ 7 0160 lECHYD (3) 52.5 <4 hj Fraxtnus— Dorothy Mav; M. j Griffin. Awapuni). Winner!; over 2000 m at Wanganui

tnree starts back. Failed in Rangitikei Cup on Saturday. G. Willetts ♦ 358 FORT HAGEN (6) 503 (7 g Copenhagen—Blue Fort; M Smith. New Plymouth). Unplaced favourite in

Rangitikei Cup after being forced over a lot of ground.; Good run at Avondale the time before. D. Peake 11 1147 TOTARA MAID (15) 4»3 17 m Ribo tlight—Princess; Kate: M. Jones, Washdyke). Fourth in this race last year when the distance was 2000 m. No appeal over more ground in this company. * MeArj 12 0232 FOUR LEAF (2) 4» (4 h Sobig—Shamrock Queen: J. Didham. Otaki). Form on firm tracks this season has been highly consistent. Ran Guest Star close at Trentham last month, and runner-up in Woodville Cup last time out. B. Andrews 13 7387 BEL CAVALLO (11) 48 <5 g Fountainhead —Murietta; D. and L. Thistoll, Riccarton) Showed nothing in two starts at C.J.C. summer meeting. S. Ching 114 8005 BETTYLYN (10) 48 (6 m Kurdistan — Cadillac; B. Jones. Washdyke). Beat only; two in middle distance race at Wingatui on Saturday. Right out of form. R. McCann 116 <436 REGAL RATION (1) 48 (7 g Bourbon Prince—Ration Time; D. and L. Thistoll, Riccarton). Slim chance even at best. Not running his races out strongly. 117 5161 WARLIGHT (17) 47 (7 g Freelight—Warfare: R. Pankhurst, Invercargill). Easy all-the-way winner over 2400 m at Wingatui on Saturday. Thives on racing and might be South Island’s best. M. Skelton Scratched: Bonny Alouise (9), Red Ruby (7). 4.25 p.m — SUBURBAN HANDICAP $2500; 1400 m. 1 3312 GREY WAY (11) 60 (4 gi Grey William—Waybrooke;! E. Corboy). Won over this!

distance on the course Feb. 6. then 2nd to Rebel Lad 1600 m at Wingatui. Should be pick of this field if track is drv. J. Dowling 2 3337 PAKISTAN FLIGHT (10) 54.5 (4 h Pakistan H—Central Flight; E. Wtosloe. Gore). Weak run at 1600 m at Wingatui last time out, but was placed over less ground at C.J.C. summer meeting. J. Pankhursi 3 3175 SUB INDIAN (5) 52. (4 g Resurgent — Never Again; C. Walsh, Riccarton). Weakening fifth over 2000 m at Riccarton earlier in month, but should be a greater force at this, his favourite distance. W. Skelton 4 6044 SURGE AGAIN (2) 52 (5 g Rseurgent — Never Again; D. Thistoll. Riccarton). Retains his speed, but bogged down on near misses since his win at Pahiatua meeting in January. 5 2110 THE BLUES (4) 50.5 (5 9 Tromba — Blue Night; Mrs V. Harris, Riccarton). Failed this distance on soft track in last start at Wellington Cup meeting. Impressive wins at Wingatui and Washdyke beforehand. S. Ching i 1351 ZEBAK (1) 50.5 (3 g Afghanistan — Pango; R. McCann, Riccarton). Beat 3-year-olds over 1600 m Riccarton, Feb. 8. Prospects likely to brighten further with easing of the tracks. R. McCann 7 4210 BALTIC BLUE (9) 50 (6 g Copenhagen II — Lady In Blue; J. Tomkinson, Riccarton). Lost chance when checked this distance, Riccarton, Feb. 6. Win two starts back was at Kurow. G. Mein 8 7974 SCOTCH WILLIAM (3) | 50 (5 h Grey William—Alloa; L. Molloy, Riccarton). Im-

proving fourth behind Rebel; Lad over 1600 m at Wingatui; last time. Soft track would ; suit. L. Molloy 9 2547 SENATOR KENNEDY (7) 49 (4 h Senator Jack — i Totara Lass; C. Walsh, Ric- ; carton). Should be all better for his latest race, his first ; for several weeks. 10 2198 -HAVN (I) 4$ (6 g Copenhagen ll— Queen’s Fair; J. ; Tomkinson, Riccarton). New-; comer to this class. Others. preferred. i I. Grant 11 1506 REVELL'S ROAD («) 4$ (6 g Sedgewick — Table-; cloth; R. McDonald, Rangi-j ora). Beaten in weaker field! at Wingatui last time out.’