Holy Toledo Canterbury Gold Cup fancy at Riccarton today

Press, 8 November 1978, Page 21

Holy Toledo Canterbury Gold Cup fancy at Riccarton today

By

J. J. BOYLE

Holy Toledo started his! [ three year-old racing as a maiden, but he has come up [with a rush, and will engage the respect of everyone in | the historic weight-for-age race, the Canterbury Gold Cup, at Riccarton today. Holy Toledo's bold finish from far back for third in ;the New Zealand Two Thou [sand Guineas carried at least one forcible message: .auility to make the step to 2000 metres comfortably . The Canterbury Cup. the [ longest-established major race at Riccarton, does not bear much resemblance to ; the Canterbury Cups of long ,mgo.

It came into existencp ■as a three-mile race, came back to two miles and a ’ quai •. . before the end of last century. then to a mile and line.' quarters, a mile and a half, and in 1963 to a mile anu a: quarter.

At the metric equivalent of a mile and a quarter the Canterbury Cup holds much appeal for owners of good three-year-olds March Legend followed up a second in Baimerino’s New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas by winning the

Canterbury Cup in 1975. i Silver lad lourlh tn Vice! Regal’s Guineas in 1976. rat.] ■ he great Show Gate to al hcu.’ in the 197 b (. anterburx Cup. Last year Uncle Remus • carried off the double, the

Guineas narrowly but brave ; ly. the Canterbury Cup with Holy Toledo was sired by Holy Smoke 11, a sprinting son of Palestine, and winner of 11 races. He has sturdy inlluences on his maternal, , side, belonging to the samei

family m How. on* of th* best horses hied in th* iH4Os, the Insi home m m Auckland Cup oily to l>* elegaied. and an imlutßy fifth when top weight and favourite in the 1948 Melbourne Cup. Howe -ired the dam of Polh Porter, a four-year old mare from Southland yvith | the talent to lest Holy l<>ledo to the utmost today The Canterbury Gold Cup is the first leg of today's T.A.B double. Grey Way is Hie ruling favourite for the second lee, the Members’ Handicap, an I his position in that regaid will be unshaken \yhile the I Hack remains hnn.