Racing and trotting Stablemates appeal in Ist leg of course double today

Press, 3 February 1979, Page 18

Racing and trotting Stablemates appeal in Ist leg of course double today

By

W. R. Carston

The combined efforts of Aramis and lonian Sea could bring about a victory for the “home team” in the Meadow Handicap at Riccarton today.

These two talented members of Peter Jones’s team will be rivals in the first leg . of the Canterbury Jockey; Club’s on-course double. Aramis was competing in, fairly distinguished company; when he contested the Wei-'

; behind Springtide and com-’ • pany over 1600 m on Wel- : i lington Cup Day. He will be 1 going the same distance • | again today. : Not long before Aramis i ;jwent north lonian Sea was) 'toiling honestly and |

lington Stakes and Derby at Trentham the week-end before last. He showed that he had limitations as a stayer when he failed “to get” the I Derby distance of 2400 m last: Monday week but there was much merit in his fifth !

rewardingly on the West Coast. Her campaign there yielded a win and two seconds from her last three starts.

I If Te Tangata came up (with a peak run, as he did )at long odds when having ihis first start back in Aug|ust, there could well be an ■ all-Riccarton finish for the • dividend bearing places. But the hardest for Aramis and lonian Sea to beat might be Wingatuitrained. Three promising three-year-olds from that) centre in today’s field are Master Lea, Kotechie and I Musterer. Form from the recent West Coast circuit and from the Waimate meeting last week might be the best form to follow in the Post Handicap, second leg of the course: double.

I Picking the winner in one twill certainly not be easy j for more than half of the 18 I acceptors have sound form ) close up on their records. But if the result follows betting trends the chances are that victory will go to either Ali Shah or Oldtimer. There will be a treble for course patrons on the Horn-High-weight, the Dallington Handicap and the Trial Plate No. 1. Late yesterday the fields for both legs of the T.A.B. double, which will be run on the Midsummer Handicap and the Craven Plate, remained intact.