MATAMATA DOUBLE

Press, 13 August 1976, Page 15

MATAMATA DOUBLE

150 p.m.— JOHNSTON MEMORIAL $4000; 2030 m. 1 1512 SHAITAN (4) 59.5. One of the top middle-distance runners this winter and in fine form still with last-start second behind ■ Optician over I 2000 m in Taumarunui Cup. Has to be the first considered. R. Skelton 2 1314 CORNELIUS (2) 55.5. Decisive winner two starts back on this course and dis- ! tance with 54.5 kg. and fair I fourth in the Taumarunui J Cup under 55kg. Has the pace to be in it all tire way. G. Hughes * 0521 HAPPY WILLIAM (7) 54. Full of life still, as he showed when coming awa.v to win clearly over 2200 m at Pukekohe last Saturday. Up 2.5 kg and this is tougher. Each-way chance all the same. W. Robinson 4 4130 KANDY KING (22) 53. Looked good winning three starts back over 2200 m at Avondale on July 3. Failed this course and distance following week, then eleventh in Taumarunui Cup. Has ability, but would need to Improve on last couple of attempts. A. Tweedie ■ 5314 SAKATA (1) 53. Holds some very good winter middle distance form and won gamely enough start before last over 2200 m at Paeroa. Only fair next time, when sixth in Taumarunui Cup. This is a bit easier. J. Grylls 4 4073 FAIR MONTANA (6) 52. Ran fair race among beaten 10l behind Happy William at Pukekohe last Saturday in first glimpse of form for a while, but would need to do better this time.

J. Riordan 7 00 MUNCHEN (1?) 52. Has failed to show anything in two starts since back from Australia. Finished twelfth of 18 last time over 1600 m at Matamata. Hard to allow a chance.

• 0301 DOUX VOLE UR (17) 51.5. Small but a handy stayer when in top form as he showed last start when winning a C2 1600 m event finishing strongly. Place chance even in this stronger company

R. Vance ♦ 0058 ALL HANDS (24) SI. Looked on the way back to good form when fifth two starts back over 1600 m at Te Rapa, but no chance last Saturday behind Happy William at Pukekohe. Up against it from so wide R. Marsh 10 9832 GREYSUN (15) 51. Showed best form when second behind Happj William at Pukekohe last Saturday after pacemaking. Previously third in a C2 2100 m event at Te Rapa Has speed which will probably get him prominent again K Reggett 11 0424 NELSON'S ORDER (31 51. Racing creditably, but has not vet fui fill cd the pro-1 mise he showed about this time last vear Onlv fair! fourth behind Hnppv William! last Saturday. Previously second behind Sakata at j Paeroa 12 0560 DAWN CREST (*i 50 5 Verv smart up to 1600 m hut

has failed lately when trying middle distances. Only tenth behind Happy William last Saturday and little chance on that showing. Might be helped by firmer ground

J. Jones 13 3501 BOLD WARRIOR (11) 50.5. Won easily last start in a C 2-3 2100 m event at Te Rapa and successful on the same course over 2200 m

last May. On home track here could be up to another Sood showing. 009 CRYSTANNI (12) 50.5. Showed up during tlie winter with a second behind Shaitan over 2200 m at Ellerslie in May, but other efforts this year not nearly as good. Well beaten last Saturday. K. Aitken 15 0125 FINAL TAX (18) 50.5. Followed solid form lower in grades with fair effort behind Happy William last Saturday. Won intermediate 2030 m event on this track three starts back.

T. Williams U 3149 OCEAN MONARCH (20) 50.5. Not too good last time when well beaten behind Sakata over 2200 m at Paeroa, but previously sound fourth behind Cornelius over 2030 m at Matamata and first in an intermediate middle distance at Avondale. Stays well at best. L. Douglas 17 6403 SIR MICHAEL (10) 50.5. Ran best race for quite a while when close third behind Regal Tan and Inky’s Gold over 1100 m at Te Awamutu. Best form has been shorter courses than this. 18 0008 DONCAST (5) 50. Once promising enough, but latest form lacking. Finished -midfield last Saturday in a C2 1600 m event at Pukekohe behind Unna Qwayiss. Balloted out in order of reentry:— 19 8000 BARWYN (21) 50. Has been out of form too long to be rated any sort of prospect. Beat one last time behind Sakata at Paeroa. 20 5069 AHJAY (9) 50. Will be resuming racing after a spell of about eight months. Latest racing in the South Island. Once very good; too old now. 21 0246 MASTER SHOW (13) 50. Fair second three starts back over 2000 m at Avondale. Then fourth and sixth in intermediate 1600 m events at Te Awamutu and Pukekohe. 22 2121 EVELYN'S CHOICE (14) 50. In fine hurdling form. Ability to do as well this class is in doubt. 23 0500 BISCAY (16) 50. Impossible to allow any chance on latest form. Last home behind Happy William at Pukekohe last Saturday 24 1 036 BOLD BEN (2) 50. Won C 3 2200 m event at Ellerslie during the autumn and has had two starts after a let-up for a third over 1200 m at Matamata and sixth over 1600 m at Te Awamutu. Hardly like to make the field. iJEHU 3.15 p.m.— STEWARDS' HANDICAP $2500; 1200 m. 1 7700 ATHELLO (7) 53. One of the best performed candidates taken all round but form in last two starts fol lowing a spell, not too encouraging. Beat one last time over 1100 m at Te Awamutu. W. Robinson 2 0000 FLASH AFFAIR (3) 53. Showed up well this time last year but has failed in half a dozen or so attempts since back from a spell. Finished sixteenth last time behind Cornelius on this course and distance.

B. Compton 3 6224 CENTRE POINT (5) 52.5. Made promising return to racing after long spell when fourth behind Regal Tan over 1100 m at Te Awamutu after making pace. Likely to have improved with the run C. Brierley 4 7048 MOON ROCK (61 52.5. Smart but has been disap pointing lately in his failure

to run on. Faded quickly last attempt behind Prince No vello over 12G0m at Paeroa Needs to stay on better 5 9257 GUN POWER (2) 51.5. Finished second three starts back over 1200 m at Tauranga but was disappointing meanwhile and no threat last time behind Regal Tan at Te Awa multi. Top chance at his best.

4 5439 INDIAN COUNT (13) 51.5. Showed promise of inak ing a comeback to good form when close third behind Dumar over 1600 m at Ellerslie in June but well beaten since over 1600 m at T e Awamutu. Chance if in Ellerslie form 7 4455 NENA (8) 51.5. Highly promising last season and In eluded a win in Waikato's Lady Norrie Stakes in best performances. This will be first start since late March. One of the most interesting acceptors. R. Skelton 8 0440 PETER'S JOY (11) 51.5. Looked good early winter when winning at Gisborne. Te Rapa and Tauranga Foim seems to have slipped lately Well beaten last time at Te Awamutu 9 3100 AZTEC QUEEN (14) 51. Showed occasional promise last season but also often disappointing. Won a C 4 1600 m event at Ellerslie in April in best performance Has not raced since Mav. 10 8575 DIAMOND DOLLARS (9) 51. Form not good enough but includes last-start fifth behind Prince Novello over 1200 m at Paeroa. Would have to do better. J. Grylls 11 0009 HEAD BOY (1) 51. Won at Hawera last November but form over all nothing to enthuse over. Beaten off last two attempts at Levin and Te Rapa. Not on those showings. 12 4614 HEAD PLANET (12) 51. Smart and won easily last start of old season over 1200 m at Tauranga Fair fourth since over 1200 m at Hastings last Saturday 13 0099 KERENADER (15) 51. Has failed lately in weaker company. Weakened to finish behind middle last start over 1600 m at Pukekohe last Saturday. 14 1 070 NUN NEATER (16) 51. Won over 1200 m at Thames in January but not dangerous in two starts since com ing back from a spell at Tatiranga and Matamata. -15 8690 TOLVARI (10) 51. Lacks any sort of recommendation in the way of recent form. Beat one out of 18 last time over 1200 m at Matamata. 14 9051 TOP BEACH (4) 51. Has shown up promisingly tn intermediate classes and looks a likely light-weight Won nicely last start over 1200 m on this course. K Burke