Mr Ay Bee appears at Wingatui today

Press, 28 April 1978, Page 3 (Supplement)

Mr Ay Bee appears at Wingatui today

Special correspondent Dunedin Mr Ay Bee and Take Your Leave could provide a topweight’s T.A.B. double on the second day of the Otago Racing Club’s meeting today. Mr Ay Bee has done well since he easily won the Great Autumn Handicap carrying 3kg less than his 56kg in the Grandstand Handicap. Michael Mein rode him from the back in the Great Autumn. Today Raymond Meads, who is apprenticed to Mr Ay Bee’s Wingatui trainer, Tony Prendergast, has the mount. Jack Dugan is an in-form front=runner which could make it difficult for Mr Ay Bee. Jack Dugan followed up two high-weight wins at the C.J.C. Easter meeting at Riccarton with seconds to Judge Obadiah at Beaumont and Invercargill, then won easily over 2000 metres at Wyndham last Saturday. Loma Lass, which came within inches of winning on the first day, when second to Top Secret, should be a formidable contender at 2200 metres. She won the Dominion Handicap (2000 metres) on the second day of the C.J.C. Easter meeting. A deterioration in the weather would bring Ambrose Lodge into contention. He has won five races on heavy tracks at Wingatui. Two sprints in a fresh campaign should have helped bring him along nicely. Ths track was soft yesterday morning after overnight rain but dried during the day and could become firm.

Take Your Leave, a stablemate of Loma Lass, was a winner over 1200 metres at Beaumont three weeks ago and seems to go best when kept fresh. Colada, a winner over 1400 metres at Riccarton on Monday, and Ernest, third in the same race, warrant attention.

Arcello, which is starting

afresh, and Wee Redlo, placed at Wyndham and Beaumont in his last two starts, could make their presence felt. Arcello rounded off some sound form last winter with a win in the Selwyn Handicap (1400 metres) on the second day of the grand national meeting.