Wheatson has appealing form in first leg at Washdyke

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33934, 29 August 1975, Page 1 (Supplement)

Wheatson has appealing form in first leg at Washdyke

Whcatson, one of three runners from W. E. Lowe’s team at Hinds in the I lighfield Handicap, will be a popular fancy for the first leg of the T.A.B. double at the Timaru Trotting Club’s spring meeting at Washdyke tomorrow.

Wheatson is a royally-bred four-year-old ,by Scottish Hanover from Grouse and he looks as though he will make a name for himself as an open handicap performer. He is the l.one last-start winner in this field and, as a result, he will be probably a firm favourite.

Wheatson’s win was gained at the expense of the hot favourite. Gay Stroller, over 2000 m at Addington Raceway last Saturday. He led fot the last 1200 m and fought back gamely when hotly challenged, to win narrowly. The extra 600 m in this race should suit him better.

Sidestep and Maple are stablemates of Wheatson’s in this event. Maple has been out of form for some time, but occasionally he has gone well enough to have a chance of surprising However. Sidestep makes more appeal even though he failed to begin cleanly in two starts at the national meeting. At times last term he showed useful speed and stamina. With a clean beginning he could run Wheatson fairly close.

Unpredictable In or Out is the problem horse in this field. Last season’s New Zealand Oaks winner has a mind of her own ,as she showed last Saturday, when she refused to move off on terms with her rivals. She swung round and lost so much ground that she was never a chance. In or Out is one of the most talented mares in New Zealand and should she decide to do thing correctly tomorrow, she could set her rivals a merry and almost impossible chase.

Young Darren advanced in favour for this race when he fought on gamely for second to Wichita at Addington last Saturday. That was his first glimpse of form for some time and it could have been the forerunner of an early success. Master Robert appeals more than any of the others in the race, with Confederate, Scottish Chief and Waitaki Hope all having chances of upsetting calculations after some fair efforts at the national meeting.

Second leg Cannel, Young Lass and Jenlight form a likely trio in the second leg, the West End Handicap. Carmel held on gamely for second to Gay Stephanie at Addington last week after forcing much of the pace in her race. The sprint distance at Washdyke should suit her admirably and she should go close to an overdue win.

Young Lass gained a deserved win at the Kurow meeting early in the month. The Oamaru-owned and trained mare has always shown much ability and now that she has struck form, she should carry on to a fairly tight assessment. Jenlight, second to Lady Wanaka at the Kurow meeting, drew badly at Addington on August 16 at her lone start since her placing She was always well back, but from No. 4 at the barrier she should be capable of holding a prominent position throughout. Ascot Chance, Stirling Holm and Panther Lopez are three others capable of adding interest to the finish.

By

G. K. Yule