AUCKLAND DOUBLE

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34129, 15 April 1976, Page 1 (Supplement)

AUCKLAND DOUBLE

2.55 p.m.— ’’r EASTER HANDICAP $20,000; 1600 m. 1 2142 CHRISARDA (21) 56.5. Fast, consistent and right at liis best again. A runner-up last time behind Grey Way over 1400 m at Hastings and won earlier over 1400 m at Trentham. Up in weights now though and has the disadvantage of a wide draw. 2 6131 TONIC TIME (8) 56. Won well at last start over 1400 m at Pukekohe. Third beforehand was behind Tudor Light at Te Aroha. Always 3 UU ha TUDOR LIGHT (14) 56. Outstanding in her brilliance and consistency. Won over this distance at Tauranga. Certain to be with the pace and must be hard to beat. W. Robinson 4 7394 BLUE BLOOD (4) 55.5. Fine sprinter with an A.R.C. Railway and two W.R.C. Telegraphs to his credit. Was badly checked behind Grey Way at Hastings last Saturday. Has yet to prove himself over 1600 m but it is not too late for him to do so. G. Edge 5 1132 COPPER BELT (1) 55.5. Won well over 1600 m at Trentham and meanwhile ran third over 1400 m at Hawera and second to Grey Way at Awapuni. He usually runs on well and seems right up to this company. G. Phillips 6 1854 BATTLE EVE (1) 55. One of the best mares up to this distance. Failed over 2100 m two starts back in the Stars Travel and battled for fourth meanwhile behind Tudor Light over 1400 m at Te Aroha. Should be held bv Tudor Light again. G. Hughes*

7 5525 MELODY BELLE (11) 55. Beaten behind Grey Way at Hastings last Saturday after running stcond to Tudor Light over 1400 m at Te Aroha in April. Meets Tudor Light 3.5 kg better than the last time and on that score has to be considered. Holds good form on this track. B. Andrews 8 4726 CURLY WAVE (1) 54.5. Has raced over longer distances but showed himself still capable of a good 1600 m when he ran fourth four starts back at Tauranga. A fair run last Saturday over 2200 m at Hastings. He might lack the early pace for this. B. Compton 9 3613 SYNDROME (7) 53.5. Came back from a fair spell to finish third at his last start behind Grey Way over 1400 m at Hastings last Saturday. Will probably give away a lot of ground to the early leaders, but is fairly certain to be running on. A place chance. J. Jones 10 7410 KOPAROA (3) 53. Good at best and won over middle distance at Waverley two starts back. Has raced over longer distances than this and could have some difficulty coming back to 1600 m in a field of such quality. 11 1173 PATRONIZE (1) 523. Showed his class over this distance when winning A.R.C. George Adams Handicap. Seventh next time in the Wellington George Adams and came back after a spell with a promising third at his last start over 1400 m at Pukekohe. Reasonably weighted and a good chance. H. Tweedie 12 7211 HAPPY UNION (6) 52. Won the N.Z. St Leger and the Tauranga Stars Travel. Last won over this distance in intermeidate company at Avondale. Classy so he might revert to this shorter course with a good showing. R. Skelton 13 8511 ORANMORE (1) 52. Brilliant front runner which scored easily from end to end over 1200 m at Avondale last Saturday. Won previously at Ellerslie. Probable pacemaker. Whether he will last the distance is the question. 14 0934 SOLILOQUY (15) 52. Unlucky behind Tonic Time last start after losing lengths at the start. Previously third behind Oranmore over 1200 m. at Ellerslie. Not too big but fast and looks fit. Yet, however, to shine over 1600 m. 15 7443 MARINOTO (5) 51.5. Has raced over middle distances at her last few starts. Won the last A.R.C. Railway Handicap. A close third behind Suleiman in her last attempt at Hastings. 16 2388 LADY MARILYN (17) 50.5. Failed to run on sufficiently well at her last two attempts. Hard to fancy unless the track softens considerably. 17 7609 DUMAR (22) 49.5. Came back after a four month spell when weakening behind Tonic Time at last start at Pukekohe. Developed excellent form last winter and the early spring. Worth watching when the ground softens.

D. Peake 18 2064 GLENGARRICK (16) 49.5.

Lacks early speed but he usually finishes strongly. Third place-getter in the last A.R.C. Railway Handicap. Ran on at Avondale last Saturday. 19 1202 LITEN HEST (24) 49.5. Holds a fifie record over 1600 m on this course. Was just beaten by Basque last time and won previous one. A close second last start over 1400 m at Pukekohe. Good light-weight. 20 6340 PINKERTON (2) 49.5. Best form has been Over longer distances than this. Seems to prefer the soft ground and will probably be outpaced under present conditions. Balloted out in order of reentry: 21 9328 GAY TIPLER (23) 49. Fair second two starts back behind Tonic Time over 1400 m at Tauranga. Form is fairly patchy. Even at best he would probably find this too tough. 23 3520 SHIFNAL'S PRIDE (20) 49. Finished second two starts back over 1600 m at Tauranga behind Tudor Light. Due to meet Tudor Light 10.5 kg better. On those figures a light-weight prospect. 24 0380 SOVEREIGN'S DREAM (13) 49. Seems to have lost form again but easier ground could be a help. 22 1511 SHAITAN (12) 48. Right back in form with two recent wins and a dead-heat for first in intermediate company. Down Bkg from last Saturday when equal first at Avondale. ——_ 4.15 p.m — PRESIDENT'S HANDICAP $5000; 2000 m. 1 1351 TIMON (3) 60. Wellington Cup winner in 1975. He is right back in top form with a last-start win over 2200 m at Pukekohe. Latest previous win was at Tauranga. Successful at this meeting last year but is now much higher in handicap. W. Robinson 0005 CATTLE KING (7) 55.5. Classy middle-distance runner when in front but is hard to fancy much in only her second race after a long spell. No chance when resuming at Te Aroha. B. Compton 3 3312 ORIENTAL PRINCE (9) 55.5. Racing very solidly and followed his Tauranga win with a close second behind Rosie’s Girl at Avondale last Saturday. Entitled to. be the favourite.

B. Andrews 4 0045 EXECUTE (10) 54. Remarkably versatile and at best would be thoroughly capable of winning or going close, especially on a soft track. Having his second race after a spell when he was fifth behind Timon at his last start over 2200 m at Pukekohe.

5 1008 FREE GOLD (12) 54. Once consistently good up to this distance. Won four starts back over 2200 m at Paeroa but her form meanwhile has not been too encouraging. Well beaten last time at Pukekohe.

6 0057 KUTATI (15) 52. Had second race after a spell ' over 1400 m at Pukekohe. Not dangerous but could improve quickly. At her best she would certainly go close. R. Skelton 7 0794 AKE AKE (16) 51.5. Not fancied. J. Grylls ' 8 0633 DRAW 'N' SHOW (6) 51.5. Racing well and was only' narrowly beaten at last start. In the same form would have a real chance. G. Edge 9 1 008 BASQUE (1) 50. Di& appointing and would need! to stay on a lot better to| win this one. R. Vance 10 7767 ST CRISPIAN (4) 49. Up handy to home turn at Avondale last Saturday but showed little dash in the run home., Hard to fancy on that showing. 11 6004 CRYSTANNI (11) 48.5. Wins are few and far between. Not fancied. K. Reggett 13 1540 BIG HUSH (2) 48. Looked promising through the intermediate classes but failed two starts back in the N.Z. St Leger. A place chance perhaps if the ground fairly firm. D. Peake 14 7429 SAMPAN (14) 48. Second over 2000 m at Dargaville. Stopped quickly at Avondale last Saturday. Hard to back with much confidence. 16 0109 TOFFEE APPLE (8) 48. Won three starts back at Pukekohe but not dangerous since. Hardly likely. Balloted out in order of reentry:— 15 0000 TAGERTY (13) 48. Could not be considered on latest efforts. 12 8070 ALCINDOR (5) 48. Needs to show a remarkable improvement.