Baccalla set for overdue success

Press, 23 June 1978, Page 4 (Supplement)

Baccalla set for overdue success

Special correspondent , Wellington The Foxton mare, Baccalla. has had little luck in her recent racing and she could pick up an overdue success when she tackles the Winter Handicap, first leg of the Hawke’s Bay double to be run at Hastings tomorrow.

Baccalla is a last-start, failure — she , only beat three home at Awapuni last Saturday. That race though was over 1600 m, and she may be at that stage of her campaign that the distance was too short for her.

Today she steps back up to 2200 m and over this journey will be much harder to beat. She was second over 2000 m at Awapuni on the first day and second the time before at Wanganui. That was on Wanganui’s second day. On the first she ran fifth, the time before second at Opaki, and if she did fail in the Foxton Cup. she still managed to run second, again, in the Cuddle Stakes at Trentham. There has been some success though in the Taylor Memorial, staged by the Marton Club, but run on the Foxton course. That was at the beginning of May.

Tomorrow she has drawn barrier No. 3. In spite of a busy programme, she looks the'one to beat.

The best of her opponents:' could be Westville. After j winning his way quickly ( from class 5 to the top ■ grade, he ran sixth in last b week’s Manawatu Winter! Handicap, ft was not a bad! run, as he lost his place a little on the turn and then ran on again late. He looks a galloper of i some promise and will be I hard to beat. Venleigh and Yell are gal-! lopers which have to be re-1 spected. Venleigh has, so far! this term, failed io find his | best, but as the winter drags I along, his form should start j to improve. He was sixth at ( Opaki two starts back, but I then faded when backed at ■ Awapuni on the first day. | Yell tackles class 1 opposition for the first time. He qualified for this chance byjwinning a class 3 race at! Wanganui at the Queen's! Birthday Week-end and then! in his only run at Awapuni; was fourth in similar com-) pany. He has always im-i pressed as a galloper of! some potential. Blintz is a capable mare.,! but in this campaign, she’ has not struck her best ( form. Uma Iti though is a! different, prospect. Her form in the north has been good;! she was placed al both Poverty Bay and Whangarei. I The chances of Chandos! and Stylish Sovereign have! to be respected as well.'

Chandos failed again last I week, but he is a good gal-l | loper at best, looks to be j coming to hand and is a course winner. I On his home course! ! Kanga’s Lad could take his share of beating in the sec- ! ond leg of the double, the j Mahora Handicap. He has j won something like three ! races on the Hastings track land his recent form is good. I He was a bandy fifth 'asi < time at Awapuni, and was j impressive the time before ! when beating Stevo at Rotorua. ! He is down to carry the top-weight of 58kg, hut the ! apprentice, Laurie Robinson, who will ride him, can ".’aim I three kilos and that should help his chances immensely. ! King Size looks an up and I coming galloper. His trainer, ! Dave Enright, has had a few ,'problems with him but he ( i showed his class two starts back with a fine win in I class 3 company. He was fourth in his first class 1 '(run at Wanganui and at Hawera on Wednesday finished ,! midfield. He is good enough '!to rate another chance. i The chances of Meed and, ,I Able Note also look good. | ; | Meed won the class 2j (Paeroa Handicap in May and J since has run useful races at J the Great Northern carnival Jat Ellerslie.