Racing and trotting Happy Union could atone in Gold Cup today

Press, 22 August 1978, Page 20

Racing and trotting Happy Union could atone in Gold Cup today

Special correspondent Auckland With Tono Bungay, Cornelius, Happy Union and Stipulwin in the field, the finish to the Bay of Plenty Gold Cup at Tauranga today could just about become the Taumarunui Cup all over again. Tarbela won the big race at Te Awamutu and Tono Bungay, Cornelius, Happy Union and Stipulwin were the next four, strung across the track almost in line.

Tono Bungay has not raced meanwhile and in one start apiece Cornelius finished fourth, Happy Union, eighth and Stipulwin, third. Except for bad luck at the

start Cornelius would have won his event, a middle-dis-tance at Matamata and the performances of the other two, at Te Rapa last Saturday. were not without merit.

Stipulwin made ground encouragingly behind Montana Girl and Happy Union

was only one of several horses outpaced by Smart Fella over the 1400 m of the Foxbridge Plate. From the Taumarunui Cup Happy Union is down half a kg at Tauranga and the other three will have a bit more to carry — Cornelius Ikg, Tono Bungay o.skg and Stipulwin I.skg. Happy Union had the extreme outside at the barrier for the Taumarunui Cup and as a consequence covered more ground than most. He has shown a liking for Tauranga, where he took the Stars Travel Stakes as a three-year-old, and altogether seems a top prospect. Happy Union has drawn in close this time and he should not have much trouble taking and holding a good position. Cornelius, if in his best form, will also be prominent around the first turn.

The presence of Carlaw, Teddy Doon and Ritual in the field guarantees the second leg of the T.A.B. double, the Bay of Plenty Sprint, special attention.

In top racing trim they would almost certainly be the hardest to beat, Carlaw even with his 6lkg.

But Carlaw and Teddy Doon have not raced since back jn April and Ritual has had an even longer layoff, since about mid-March. Carlaw was a winner in his last start, the Japan-Bay of Plenty International Trophy, over 1600 m at Tauranga on April 22 with a fine performance against tough opposition. Teddy Doon took high rating with his win in the Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes and Ritual, while gathering three firsts and four minor placings in his seven attempts last season looked a young horse of exceptional promise.

In the event of Carlaw, Teddy Doon and Ritual being not yet ready the best prospects might be Kiewa and Forty Love.

Cardsharp, another of the three-year-olds, showed plenty of pace for three wins in six starts last season so he is worth attention.

It was out of character for him when he was so far back to start with at Matamata, evidently caused by his rearing just as the gates were released.

Tono Bungay, a five-year-old from Feilding, showed Tauranga racegoers his worth when he won Bay of Plenty’s Winter Handicap over the 2100 m last June. That was with 51kg so he is not too badly off this time with 59kg. Able Note, from Awapuni, is one of the most intere s t i n g lighter-weighted horses in the Cup field and the prospects of Bruree and Extra Deal cannot be ignored. Able Note has been best as a sprinter but the wav he has often run out 1600 m suggests he will go further with success, perhaps even as far as today’s 2100 m. Buree failed when expected to do well in the Taumarunui Cup, her last race, but she is capable of much better. Extra Deal might not have beaten much when successful at Hawera last Saturday but he is, at least, a laststart winner.

Selections:— 11.35 a.mKaimai Hurdles: Bannaman, Roylyn, Pingalong. 12.5 p.m.—Kiwi Stakes: Vulcan Lad, Compradore, Black Marque. 12.40 p.m.—Maiden Sprint: First Division: Alrob, Le Preneur. Second Division: Because, Megan. 1.15 p.m.—San Bernadlno Handicap: Technician, Lady Ballarat, Sailor Go Home. 1.45 p.m.—Citrus City Handicap: Young Bing, Ross Hunter, Battle Ash. 2.20 p.mGold Cup: Happy Union, Cornelius, Tono Bungay. 2.55 p.m.—Cup Steeples: Captain General, Step In Line, Aegean. 3.25 p.m—Bay of Plenty Sprint: Ritual. Teddy Doon, Kiewa. 3.55 p.m.—Festival Handicap: Even Dollars, Devaney, Golden Key. 4.25 p.m.—Waire Handicap: Ariston, Innes Lad, Barry Stuart. T.A.B. TREBLE 1.45 p.m— CITRUS CITY HANDICAP $2000; 1400 m. 1 2364 Deerfoot (5> 55.0 2 313 Steve Austin (7) 55.0 3 4125 Young Bing (10) 55.0 4 01 Buzkashi (17) 54.0 5 06t Robin's Son (8) 54.0 6 091 Ross Hunter (14) 54.0 7 0926 Sonic Rulah (9) 54.0 8 2719 Battle Ash i6> 53.5 9 0090 Caesura (12) 53.5 10 918 Estella Dawn (4) 53.5 11 3100 Fair Interest (20) 53.5 12 0603 Impertinent (U) 53.5 14 0010 Royal Boy (1) 53.5 16 0000 Three Saints i 3) 53.5 17 0875 Twist Again (18) 53.5 Balloted out in order of reentry: 13 0050 Picasso < 10» 53.5 15 0306 The Looter 115) 53.5 20 000 Pretty Sweet (21) 53.0 19 5400 Miss Houston (13) 53.0 18 0000 Cleola (2) 53.0 21 0500 The Battler (16) 53.0 T.A.B. DOUBLE 2.20 p.m.— BAY OF PLENTY GOLD CUP $10,000: 2100 m. 1 6822 Tono Bungay (6) 59.0 2 7548 Happy Union (3) 56.5 3 8134 Cornelius (8) 55.5 4 1001 Extra Deal (10) 55.0 5 4053 Stipulwin <2i 53.5 6 0601 Eumenides (19) 52.0 7 0324 Stevie Wonder (13) 52.0 8 0102 Able Note (4) 51.5 9 2040 Albacore (10) 51.5 10 6123 Annasarzi (9) 51.5 11 0302 Bruree (5) 51.5 12 0000 Clang tl6« 51.0 13 5412 Glister (7) 51.0 14 2800 Make Mine Candy 111) 51.0 15 0415 Pinkerton (21) 51.0 Balloted out tn order of reentry:

16 0000 Reklaw (14) 51.0 19 0490 Flightman <2Ol 50.5 18 7396 Fleet Guy (18) 50.5 20 5690 George (15) '>o.s Scratched: Amazing Gra !), Sanderward (17). T.A.B. TREBLE T.A.B. DOUBLE 3.25 p.m.— BAY OF PLENTY SPRI $4000; 1200 m. 1 8431 Carlaw (3) .1.0 2 4317 Teddy Doon (3) j-1.5 4 0000 Redan (5) 53.0 5 2133 Ritual (4) 52.5 6 3576 Bahrain (14) 52.0 7 0002 Forty Love (1, 52.0 8 1447 Jaybeoh (9) 52.0 9 5452 Kiewa 112) 52.0 10 0007 Marceau (15) 51.5 It 0140 Arvalant <lOl 51.0 12 1145 Cardsharp (6) 51.0 13 5350 Daphalee (13) 51.0 14 0606 Knight Errant (2) 51.0 15 0095 Master Show (11) 51.0 Scratched: Alkyana (7). RACE 10 T.A.B. TREBLE 4.25 p.m.— WAITE HANDICAP $3000; 1600 m. 1 3417 Innes Lad (6) 58.5 2 800 Barry Stuart (2) 55.5 3 2537 Ariston (7) 55.0 4 1176 Full of Scotch (3) 55.0 5 1906 Te Awanui (10) 54.5 6 0400 Skelton's Girl (8) 54.0 7 7766 Community Affair (1) 52.5 8 0670 Karason <4l 52.5 9 0092 Bashful Girl (9) 52.0 10 0008 Noble Boy (5) 52.0