Captain Padero appeals in Stakes tonight

Press, 29 March 1980, Page 22

Captain Padero appeals in Stakes tonight

By

W. R. CARSTON

Captain Padero, which narrowly missed putting his third win on record on the first night of the meeting, is generally expected to improve on that close third when he contests the Second Graduation Stakes at Addington Raceway tonight.

This race on the second night of the N.Z. Metropolitan Trotting Club's Easter meeting is the second leg of the T.A.B. treble and also the third leg of the second treble for course patrons only. This latest placing, a head and a neck behind Kotare Lotus and Bradwin, was Captain Padero’s second in three starts since his Cashmere Two-year-old Stakes victory late in January.

Although Captain Padero will not have last week’s winner or runner-up in opposition tonight he is still unlikely to have things all his own way. Just for starters Fouroux and El Regale are two talented youngsters likely to provided Captain Padero with more than token opposition. Fouroux will be trying to keep a winning record in tact. He was successful in the N.Z. Kindergarten Stakes at Wyndham last time out. El Regale has only once been worse than fourth in nine starts to date and included in his record are two winning runs. The most recent was at Auckland just three weeks ago, and the other was a runaway affair at Addington in January. I

Although his time was not spectacular and he beat only two others, Motu Command, winner of the non-tote two-year-old event last Saturday, will command respect and the same will apply to Nuclear Hanover which, along with El Regale, won one of the two-year-old heats at Wednesday’s trials at Addin gto n , and Melton Monarch, which made a big impression at the corresponding trials at Addington last Tuesday week.

The two-year-old event could be the tricky leg of the T.A.B, treble. If the results follow betting trends Game Captain and Tempest Tiger should win the other legs, the N.Z. Trotting; Stakes and the Canterbury Handicap.