Westville picked to win on home track

Press, 16 June 1979, Page 20

Westville picked to win on home track

Special correspondent Westville missed his home meeting last week, but if he wins in the Manawatu winter handicap today he should be very hard to beat. A five-year-old Oakville gelding from the Awapuni stable of Eric Temperton, Westville was an impressive : winner at Foxton two starts back and followed up with a useful sixth at Wanganui. The opposition to Westville, though, will be strong. It is headed by Extra Deal and Lovestruck. Extra Deal has won on the .track before. In her last season of’racing, Extra Deal hinted at winning form when she beat all but Barry Stuart on the second day at Wanganui. In front for most of the run home, she was only caught in the last stride. Back in form she will take her share of beating. Lovestruck has won on the Awapuni track before. He is staying in the district with a part-owner, Paul Faith, at Te Horo and the spell near the beach seems to have worked the trick. After a fair fifth at Masterton, he improved to run second in the Suzuki behind Apostle, and then third on the track only a week ago in the Palmerston North Handicap, won by Lord Hymac.

Lovestruck has drawn out at 20, but over 2200 m and allowing for the fact that he tends to run on at the finish

this should not bother him greatly. Barry Stuart, the topweight, won on the second day at Wanganui, much to the surprise of his partowner and trainer, Bill Reading. Reading thought that Barry Stuart might have needed the run. Now that he has reached winning form, and allowing for the fact that the run would have improved him even further Barry Stuart should be a top chance.

Taking a line through his recent racing and his track work, London Trader could be the hardest to beat in the Doncaster Handicap, second leg of the Manawatu double. The distance of 1600 m will not bother the local galloper which apart from winning the Wanganui Guineas last season has also won over the distance on the track before.

With 57kg he will in fact, carry his scale weight and it was under these conditions two starts back that he ran fourth at Te Rapa in the Founders’ Plate, a race won by the now retired Vice Regal from Heidelberg and My Binnie. Wins have been scarce in this campaign for London Trader, his lone success coming over ground at Hastings last November, but he appears now to be in the

form to change all that. Kerdizo may press him doge. The Opaki four-year-old has not been over-raced this time back, and after fair thirds at Tauherenikau and Trentham, was eighth at Masterton, then improved on the ninth last week when fourth. In the Doncaster as well will be Kerdizo’s stablemate, Disraeli, which last time out, won the Gloaming Stakes, 2200 m, at Trentham. He is a galloper with a bright future if all goes well. After a freshener he :should go well at 1600 m. Sovereign Mist is a class mare. She only just battled when she tried the Suzuki at Wanganui, but the time before had won over 1400 m by six lengths at Foxton. She was a handy enough fourth in the 1600 m Cuddle Stakes the time before that and this may be the best guide to her prospects here. Glister has an Awapuni win to his credit already this season. His latest racing has been at Ellersiie — without much luck. He was second, last April, to Baccalla in the Anzac Metric Mile. Azenui, a newcomer to Malcolm Smith’s stable, seems to do well over 1600. He was fourth, then second in two outings at Ellerslie over Queen’s Birthday, and from a good draw he could be hard to beat.