No response likely at Auckland

Press, 25 October 1978, Page 22

No response likely at Auckland

Special correspondent Auckland' No Response looks likely to come out on top in his eagerly awaited clash with Scotch Tar and the country’s top trotting mare Framalda at Alexandra Park tonight. The lineup was reduced to eight yesterday with the scratching of Game Shooter and Precocious Lad. Neither had raced very well on the earlier nights of the Auckland Trotting Club's meeting. Originally, the field for the Benson and Hedges invitation challenge stakes was to have been despatched with seven horses in the front row and three behind. Permission was refused by the New Zealand Trotting Conference for all the starters to be on the one line. Scotch Tar has never raced from behind the mobile barrier and his trainer-driver. A. W. Dykman, understandably, was happy with number 7 barrier position—on the outside in the front row. But now Scotch Tar is between Van Lome and No Response. In behind is the Cambridge speedster Diowhich almost surely will make a quick bid for the ilciU. Scotch Tar never looked like putting a foot wrong in a trial behind the mobile, barrier at the equalisatori meeting at Alexandra Park last Wednesday. Dykman points out, however, that a trial is “a bit different from a race.” There is no reason why Scotch Tar should not keep his gait. But in his brief, spectacular career, he he has invariably trotted slowly in the early stages. Scotch Tar gave phenomenal performances on the first two nights of the meeting, each time, he looked out of the race after tardy starts. The opposition this time is a good deal stiffer. Even so, he will be difficult to beat if he can keep handy in the' vital first 400 m or so. No Response was a dis-1 appointing fifth on the first 1

night last Tuesday. He showed that form was all wrong by easily winning the corresponding race last Saturday. Admittedly, he received 15m start from Framalda. and Scotch Tar was not engaged, but No Response could hardly have been more impressive. He looks to have reached his peak at the right time, and he rarely makes a mistake. Framalda also takes full marks for reliability. Her form this season has been outstanding—five starts for four wins and a second. Belmer’s Image looks set to gain a well-deserved win in the Kilowatt Handicap, the first leg of the T.A.B. double. J. W. Langdon was yesterday engaged to drive the gelding in place of R. M. Cameron, who was suspended last Saturday. Belmer’s Image was desperately unlucky on both the first and second nights, when he was fifth and second respectively. T.A.B. TREBLE 8.5 p.m.— CELCIUS PACE 54070; C 4:. mobile; 2200 m 1 5591 Coringa Bill (1. It

2 UUOO Major Dell (2) It i 3 1353 Consulado <3> It I 4 5079 Michael's Advice (4) it 5 6914 Crescent Moon (5) It 1 6 00 Red Gent (61 It , 7 8467 Delightful Lady (7) It 9 8000 Coping Stone (9) It 10 804 Heldez (10) It il 7598 Autumn Jo (11) It i 12 85 Royal Edward iJ2) It J 13 9336 Baron Averil (13) 11 ;14 0 Emanar <14) It 15 2312 Van Tudor (15) It Scratched: Berryman. C2i3i3l T.A.B. DOUBLE 8.40 p.m. — KILOWATT HANDICAP $6050; C9-OC; 2700 m. 1 8424 Royal Waldorf <1> It 2 5595 Del's Dream (2) It 3 2910 Scottish Heath (3) It 5 4707 Greg Robinson (5) It 6 4908 Mister Spyro (6) It 7 0813 11 Or Out (1) 10 8 5542 Belmer's Image (unruly) 10 9 0916 Captain Harcourt (1) 15 Scratched: Bronze Trail. ■ RACE 7 ■ WStt T.A.B. TREBLE 9.10 p.m.— INVITATION CHALLENGE STAKES '$12,000: trotters; mobile: 2700m. 1 2267 Gay Frost (1) It 2 6345 Bonnie Loch (2) It 3 1112 Framalda (3) It i 4 4375 Te Puna (4) u 5 9723 Van Lome (5) It 7 9111 Scotch Tar (7i It i 8 1151 No Response t8i It 9 4 Diogenes (9) y Scratched: Game Shooter. Preicocious Lad. T.A.B. DOUBLE 9.40 p.m.— KILOGRAM MOBILE FREE-FOR-ALL $5280: C7. C8: 2200m. 1 3249 Moon Comma Ider (1) It 2 0735 Lancia (2) It 3 6780 Clan Derby (3) It 4 3613 Gold Rand (4) It 5 4 Tudoress 15) It 6 6170 Gymea Gold (6) It 7 96 Ginger Megs (7) It 8 7901 Van James (8) It 9 1353 Blair Logie (9) It 10 0767 Myron (10) It 11 0772 Sallv Belwin (unruly) It 1 Race ? - 10.40 p.m— T.A.B. TREBLE MILLIMETRE FREE-FOR-ALL $4730: C5. C6: 2200m. 1 1121 Jovial. Jeanie (1) It 2 4078 Gaelic Princess (2) It 3 0772 Tuiny (3) It 4 0 Lady Andra (4) It 5 2645 Ceffvl Du (5) It 6 1101 Nandina Leader (6) It 8 0496 Brilliant Emory (8) Q 9 1472 Parisian Doctor (9) It 10 2468 Lietrim <10i It 1! 7 Tarings Bay (11) It Scratched: Red Summer.