Pleasant Command may test Joe Charles

Press, 18 September 1976, Page 17

Pleasant Command may test Joe Charles

Special corres. Auckland

Joe Charles and Pleasant Command seem likely to dominate the betting on the Takanini Free-for-all, first leg of the T.A.B. double on the first night of the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting at Alexandra Park tonight. They are both talented four-year-olds and it will come as a major surprise if either fails to take the honours. Pleasant Command beat Joe Charles by two lengths the last time they met, at Cambridge, on August 31. Three nights later, at Alexandra Park, Joe Charles won by seven lengths. Pleasant Command was not in the field and the opposition was not very strong. But Joe Charles won like a really good horse. He showed he had made fine progress when he finished second to the north’s top pacer, Captain Harcourt, at a matinee meeting at Pukekohe on Wednesday. While Joe Charles and Pleasant Command stand out, there are several others in the field capable of a bold showing. The smart Clevedon three-year-old Greg Robinson. is sure to have a good following, as are Star

Chance, Mamma Cass and Dawn Prince. The second leg, the Royal Oak Handicap, is notable for the reappearance of the country’s champion trotter, Easton Light. Easton Light looks very leniently handicapped on 20 metres. Although he has not had a run at a matinee since he resumed following a spell, he looks as if he has done plenty of work. However, over a sprint distance Easton Eight may find it difficult to give starts to Diogenes, Best Bet and _ Van Lome, all of which are on the front, and Uteena, which is on 10m. Tuteena won impressively at a matinee at Pukekohe on Wednesday. Diogenes, second to Tuteena, also shaped attractively. It is a pretty open race but the toughest to beat may be Tuteena, Diogenes and Easton Light. Much interest is being taken in the form of the New Zealand Cup hopefuls, Captain Harcourt. Sole Command, Ripper’s Delight and Final Curtain in the September Handicap. The withdrawal of Bolton Byrd has left a field of eight, but it is a select line-up and the race should be one of the highlights of the night.