Another chance for Tokorangi

Press, 11 December 1976, Page 21

Another chance for Tokorangi

Special Correspondent Auckland Very unlucky on the first night of the Thames Club’s meeting at Alexandra Park last week,

.Tokorangi will make another bid (tonight to earn a C 9 assessment land so be virtually certain of a (Start in the $50,000 Auckland' I Trotting Cup on December 30. Tokorangi is engaged in the Thames Trotting Cup, which has a front mark of C 7. The distance is 3200 m and Tokorangi has to give a start of 20 m to three good stayers. Helen Of Tara, Maverick and Ritch Hill. Sharing the 20 m mark with her are Hill High and Young Tennesse, both talented pacers and further back Eclipse and Classic Move, both on 40, and Sole Command on 50 make up a pretty good field. Tokorangi deserves to be the favourite. From a wide barrier draw sire did exceptionally well to finish third in a flying mile last Saturday. The race was run in 2min I.7sec and Tokorangi was forced over a considerable amount of extra ground. At her previous start, Tokorangi won over 3200 m in a shade worse than 4:11, which emphasised just what a grand stayer she is. Helen Of Tara was in form the last time she raced at Alexandra Park, scoring a brilliant win and finishing an unlucky fourth. Her trainer G. Noble and driver J. Noble invariably do well on Northern campaigns. Helen Of Tara will be confidently expected to uphold their good record. Hill High could be a threat. He failed to show anything like his best form at the New Zealand Cup Meeting last month but that was mainly due to his dislike of the very hard surface. He was never stretching out freely, according to his driver. Baek to Alexandra Park, the scene of most of his wins, Hill High could be a different proposition. Maverick and Ritch Hill shaped well enough last week to warrant strong consideration and Young Tenessee w ill also have a good following. BACK TROUBLE Considerable interest will be taken in Sole Command's showing. Before he went amiss in October, Sole Command gave promise of being one of the top New Zealand Cup contenders. A spell of three weeks coupled with treatment for muscular trouble in the back worked wonders and he could not have been more impressive when winning at a matinee meeting at Alexandra Park last week. He may need a race before regaining top form but he could still be a danger if the pace is slack. The first leg of the T.A.8.; double, the Reg Rhodes Flying Mile promises to provide a duel I between Best Bet and Petite Evander, both of which won! against the toughest opposition in the country at the New Zealand Cup Meeting. Barley Bree, a stablemate of Helen Of Tara, makes considerable appeal in the second leg, the Tairua Handicap. He has been racing unluckily and success for him would be well deserved. His main opposition is likely' to come from Captain Pete, Sly I Brewer and Kancho. I