Racing and trotting Show Gate given 63kg (9.13) in Winter Cup

Press, 29 July 1976, Page 20

Racing and trotting Show Gate given 63kg (9.13) in Winter Cup

Show Gate has something of a “’chaser’s weight” of 63 kg (9.13) in the $12,250 Winter Cup. which will be run at Riccarton next week. Mr Gordon Thomson’s brilliant Gate Keeper mare has more weight in the feature metric mile than all but two of the entrants for the Grand National Steeplechase, a race with a 7kg higher minimum than the Winter Cup. Show Gate is on the comeback trail after being sidelined for about 18 months after fracturing a sesamoid bone.

It will be a daunting test fresh up for the mare which was being compared with Leilani in her all-conquering spring campaign of 1974. But the old-timers point to some great weight-carrying performances of the past by talented mares in the Canterbury Jockey Club’s feature race.

One was Soneri’s feat of carrying 11.4 (71.5 kg) in her second Winter Cup victory in 1947. The minimum for that race was 8.0 (51 kg). Now it is 50 kg, or 7.12 on the old scale. Two years before Soneri’s great weight-carrying feat the Southland-bred and owned mare Royal Flight won under 10.1. or 64 kg.

This year Show Gate is rated half a kilogram above Shifnal Chief. Then there is a sharp drop to Kowhai Glen and Lynda Mary, both on 55.5.

As was expected, Tdunno is the Grand National Steeples top-weight. He has been given 66 kg, or 2.5 kg more than he carried when he won the Wellington Steeplechase by 20 lengths.

Sharzan. the Homeby Steeples top-weight with 63.5 this week, has Ikg less to carry over 1600 m more in National.

Weights for the first day and the Grand National Hurdles on the third day of the C.J.C. meeting are:

TRIAL HURDLES HANDICAP, $1980; about 3000m.—Lomond Note 68; First Wood 64; Willoughby 63.5; Guess Who. Minicorf 61.5; Able Card, B»nnelong, Kew 60.5; Deep South. El Salvador, Glandovey 60; Grogan, Koiro Kurt, Melded 59; Kurwood 58.5; Maclane. Master Quetzal 58; Brave Mell, Good Nip, Lomax, Montarel, Moonmist, Roylyn, Whistling Cloud 57.5; the rest have 57.

CASHMERE PLATE, $1780; about 1400m.—Colada 59; El Towk 57; Jim Bob 56; Justaz Wealthy. Rocky Leigh 55; Silver Coast 55; Tow Bowling 54.5; Dictation, Fashion Lover, Unic 54; Waronui 53.5; Dancing Eva, Jivan, Kiikerry Lad, Stoney Topaz, Wandering Jim, War Jet 52.5; Callahan. Moutere Gold 52; Clair Etoile. Early Gold, Falcon Lass 51.5; the rest have 51.

ENFIELD STEEPLECHASE HANDICAP, $2325: about 4000 m. —Terex 64; McGill, Scenic Reserve 62.5; Bronze Boy 62; Thornhill 61: Brobon 60.5: Balmaha 60: Cobble O. Kilmore, Melded. Purdo. Shirley’s Last 59; Deep South. Laome 58.5; Gourmet 58; Elvin Spark, Paalborough, Richneil. Rustikhan, The Pine 57.5; the rest have 57.

SYDENHAM HURDLES, $3225; about 3200 m—El Viento 68.5; Owhata Chief 67.5; Thun 65; Lomond Note 63; Charger, Jack Johnson 60; Bleu Streak, First Wood. Koiro Scott 58.5; Willoughby 58; the rest have 57.

STEEPLECHASE, $15,500; about 5600 m—Idunno 66; Burglar Bill 64; Sharzan, Sir Stanley 62.5; Blason, Thun 61; Mexicano 60.5; Terex 59.5; Cheeky Fella, Douglas Haig, Foreign Aid, Little Rebel 59: Bob’s Luck 58; Ballymore, Thornhill 57.5; Balmaha, Blazing Peak, Brobon, Cobble O, Deep South, Gourmet. Kilmore, Laome, Melded. Richneil, Shirley’s Last. Supple Jack, Young Surveyor 57.

WINTER CUP, $12,250; about 1600m.—Show Gate 63; Shifnal Chief 62.5; Kowhai Glen, Lynda Mary 55.5; Princess Eulogy. Wellineas 55; Just Tops. Trochee

54.5; Binkie, Kauere Lad, Kenann 54; Te Pango Nui, Zarnia 53.5; Optician 53; Good Lord, Heidsieck. Karu, Sudden Change, Unlucky In Love, William Brown 52.5; Lone Hand 52; Butch, Lover’s Dream, Marebello 51.5; Elcano, Fiery Filou, La Foudre, Marenostro, New York 51; Alwick, De Lomond, Duntroon, Entice, Fore Dollar, Zebak 50.5; Antinous. Aubrey, Battle Joy, Beau Trie, Cock Your Ear, Gate Man, Mr Chisholm. Mr Richmond, Scotch William. ShowBeau, Sky 50.

AKAROA HANDICAP, $1680; about 1400m.—William Leigh 57; Country View 56.5; Boy From Dundee. Crestina. Rock Lover, Videlco 56; Bright Linda, Charlson. Funfui, Grand Country, Kaimoto 55.5; Bellcaska, Bold Mellay, Empress Dial. Glencourt, Jan’s Lady, Red Jekyll. The Elms 55: Buckingham, Cortes, Khurasan, Noess, Orpheus, Osceola 54.5; Aiacer, Finalea, Greig Road. Lord Fable. Miss Lomond. Party Goddess, Southern Hostess, Southern Light. Watch Willa 54; the rest have 53.5.

PAPARUA HANDICAP, $3025; about 1400m.—Kowhai Glen 58; Princess Eulogy 57.5: Red Student 56.5; Karnak 55.5; Europium, Marebello 53.5: Marenostro, New York 53; Alwick, Candyboy. Zebak 52.5; Divine Cloud, Ruy Lopez. Unna Qwayiss 51.5; the rest have 51.

AVONHEAD HANDICAP, $1680: about 1600m.—Jet Setter 57; Brown Dod, Don Carlos 56.5; Dirleton, Goodall 56; Watelse, Will Bee 55; First Tuesday. Godsend 54; Bactrim, Jack Hobbs, Sally Deming 53.5; Flash It. Raumai Rerenui 453; Emcee. Tiger Hunt 52.5: Bahunda. Bogside, Caladam, Custodian, Dusky Satchel. First Pick. Galapan. Heratio, Markus. Scale Fee 52; the rest have 51.5.

N.Z. GRAND NATIONAL HURDLES. $10,050; about 4200 m. —EI Viento 67.5; Owhata Chief 66.5; Thun 64; Lomond Note 62; Charger 59.5; Cheeky Fella, Jack Johnson 59; Bleu Streak, First Wood, Foreign Aid, Koiro Scott, Sharzan 57.5; Able Card, Bally Lucky, Bennelong, Blazing Peak, Brave Mell. Deep South Glandovey, Good Nip, Grogan, Guess Who, High Chief. Idunno, Jimlon. Kew, Kurwood. Laome, Little Rebel, Master Quetzal, Melded. Minicourt. Moonmist, Red Willie, Royal Mai], Tainui, Willoughby 57.