Racing and trotting Nigel Craig not to start at Auckland next Saturday

Press, 21 December 1977, Page 19

Racing and trotting Nigel Craig not to start at Auckland next Saturday

Although Nigel Craig appears as an acceptor for the E. G. Bridgens Memorial Handicap at Alexandra Park on Saturday, he will not be a starter.

• Nigel Craig returned home on Monday after a decisive win over one mile at the Thames meeting on Saturday. “There doesn’t

seem to be much chance that he will be racing at the Auckland meeting,” said his part-owner and trainer, Bevan Heron, yesterday.

“I would like to start him in the $25,000 Trotters’ Championship on December 30, but it seems impossible to obtain suitable transport. I could get the horse up there, but it seems unlikely he could get back before January 5,” said Heron. If transport cannot be arranged Nigel Craig will stay in Canterbury and contest the Canterbury Park Cup on January 2 and a free-for-all at Washdyke later in the I month. In the meantime Heron will drive at Motukarara and then travel to Westport for racing next Monday and Tuesday.

The southern representation at the Auckland meeting will be strengthened by Nimble Yankee, Ascot Fair, Power Cut and Mighty Lee, all of which will be driven by Fraser Kirk.

Kirk will return south for the Ashburton meeting on Monday when his drives will include American Chief in the Ashburton Cup and Playman. Felix Newfield is taking a

sizable team to the Westport meeting and will drive at Motukarara. He will return home after the Reefton meeting for engagements at Addington Raceway on December 31.

Santoza is another fresh Canterbury horse down to race at Auckland. He was a last-start winner at Addington on December 3. No driving engagement has been made for him on Saturday. Patrick O’Reilly, jun., is not travelling north. He has engagements at Motukarara and Westport.

Lauraine Hanover will not fulfill her engagement in the Royal Ascot Free-for-all at Alexandra Park. She will be one of three runners from Jack Smolenski’s team in the Motor Corporation Handicap at Motukarara. Smolensk! will drive Jayex in that race and is undecided whether Jack Carmichael will drive Lauraine Hanover or Majestic Major, both of which have strong form backgrounds. Motu Princess, Motu Prince, Balgove, Belmer’s Image and Stanley Rio are other southern horses listed among the acceptors for the Auckland meeting on Saturday.