Monfair looks best of moderate field

Press, 14 August 1976, Page 19

Monfair looks best of moderate field

PA Wellington Monfair may be the best of a moderate field which will line up for the first leg of the T.A.B.

double at Eoxton today, the 54500 Stevens-Bremner Handicap. Monfair spent most of his career with Garth Ivil but now races from Alan Stratton’s stable. He made his first show of form for his new trainer on the last day of the old season, when he ran Hunting Chief to a short neck at Marton. If he handles the sandy going equally well, and that is a proviso applying to many horses which race at Foxton, Monfair will be a winning chance. Most of his best form is a fair way behind him but he has shown himself a capable horse in winter conditions. Lover’s Dream has tailed in his last two starts but neither of those might mean much. The first was a 1600 m race which was not as long as he has been jused to in recent months, and [the other was the Taumarunui Cup. in which he covered extra ground on an unfamiliar right--handed track. Before that his form had been quite sound in races similar to this. The distance. 2000 m. is well within his grasp and he has the early speed to take advantage

jof a handy draw at a barrier iwhere that, is important. I Wild Irish is in good form. He won over 2112 m at Hawera late [last month and ran a great race jto beat all but Willem Barendsz [at Levin after that. Fie has idrawn wide but usually races 'back. Cloudy Lease has run two good races in the last few days. At Marton he was third, a short neck and half a length from; Hunting Chief. Over 2000 m and over the same distance at Hastings on Saturday he was a use-j ful fifth after running in front.; He also has a good draw’ and plenty of early speed. FIFTH AT MARTON Heckle’s Choice has shown ! form quickly since resuming! after a rest. Though he missed i at Levin he had earlier run] second at Wanganui and at hisi last start ran a fair fifth at Mar-: ton. He has won on the track. Arbor Prince has not fulfilled; in his last two starts the hopes] he raised earlier, hut he is capable of better form. It may be: significant that his best recent; race was at Wanganui early last’ month and Wanganui is the one i track which is said to have some-] thing in common with Foxton's' sandy texture. Noir Dore won this race last, year with 50.5 kg and carries 53; this time. He would not need to j improve a lot to he a major) threat, having run a couple of' fifths lately. FAST THREE-YEAR-OLD Three-year-olds traditionally: find it exceptionally difficult to win the Robinson Handicap at! Foxton but. in an odd sort of! field for today's second leg.: Smart Fella, the lone secondseason runner, is one of the leading chances. His major problem seems to be a wide draw and because of that, one older runner. Style, makes more appeal. Style’s form is mixed. In June she was doing very well but her form was not so good last month. She showed improvement, in her last start, however, to finish fifth to Karu at Awapuni. She ran on strongly in that and it is possible that the distance. 1600 m, suited her better than today’s 1200. That is a distance, however,; which will be ideal for Smart’ Fella, a Young Brolga colt, trained by Bruce Cowan. Though[ he was not one of the star two-| year-olds last term he turned in an excellent performance in the l Ryder Stakes on July 21 to finish third to the brilliant Zermatt.; Thai was after lie made the nace. as he often does, arid if he can overcome his draw he might easily break the long standing Robinson jinx.