Catastrophe has the class

Press, 20 July 1979, Page 15

Catastrophe has the class

Two years ago Diamond Pal ran third in the South Canterbury Hunt Club’s Claremont Handicap on his way towards his victory at odds of close to 100-to-one in the Winter Cup. Charlson was the Claremont Handicap winner that year, and triumphed again last year, a fortnight before he ran an unlucky third in the Canterbury Jockey Club’s historic metric mile. Charlson will be missing from the Washdyke race tni: year, but there will be other Winter Cup hopefuls in the line-up for the first leg ol the South Canterbury Hunt Club’s T.A.B. double. Catastrophe is the class horse of the field, and af r two races this time up. he will be expected to make something of a showing it he is to have a chance in the big one at Riccarton. Catastrophe was the Dunedin Guineas winner ol this year, and again showed

[impressive mastery of 1600 m in winning the Ti|maru Cup at weigh t-for-age past summer. I He shares top weight I (,58kg) with Hi Roona, a

By

J. J. Boyle

plucky third under 54.5 kg in this year last year. Sir James, also on 58kg. owes his position in the weights to a good list of wins on provincial courses. His most recent start at Wasndyke produced a distant third behind I.adv Belinda, and he is not likely to to find this field any easier Lady Belinda is in agam, with 3kg more than -h? triumphed under on July 6. Hasuka. fourth in th <t race, went on to win at

Waimate late week, and gives Catastrophe’s Wingatui trainer, Stan McKay, a strong second chance in the race. Midknight is another laststart winner in the field. He came with a rush to win over 1400 m at the Hororata meeting, just when Cracker Dav looked as if he might break through for a wellearned first victory. Cracker Day gets another chance tomorrow and will be out to show he can improve on a list of nearrnisses. He has winning form up to a middle distance, and anv further easing in the track would now place him at a disadvantage. Duguid and Tiva should be two of the stronger finishers. but could find 1600 m toe- short. However. Ultimate. from Washdyke, will cause little surprise if he reaches one of the places. He has been freshened aftei

middle-distance runs, and he could get some of the spoils if he runs up to his second over 1600 m at Oamaru in May. Windvale Beau will make an interesting entry to the South Canterbury winter circuit in the Belmont Handi-p cap, the second leg of the T.A.B. double. He won three races on the trot for Mr Cecil Stewart before an expensive fourth | at Oamaru on June 16. and[ in each of those victories there were signs of real excellence. He has been given time to recover completely from the [effects of raw heels, which [ must have affected his most j recent performance, and should come back as good jas ever for tomorrow’s 1200 m scurry. * The main strength of opposition for Windvale Bem should come from HighfietJ, [Demon Dot. Stunn-ng I Crown, and Dancing Eva.