General Francis fancied at Oamaru on Monday

Press, 16 August 1980, Page 22

General Francis fancied at Oamaru on Monday

By

W. R. CARSTON

No-one will be surprised if General Francis improves his record as a metric miler at Oamaru on Monday. The Washdyke-trained seven-year-old will be going that distance in the Fairfield Handicap, the first leg of the Oamaru Jockey Club’s T.A.B. double.

General Francis won only two races last season and both ot them were at 1600 metres. It looked as if' he might have extended that record in two starts on his home track last month but victory eluded him in both, although he weighed in each time.

Maurice Billington, who part-owns and trains General Francis, brought the horse to Riccarton for the Grand National meeting but when he got bogged down in the tricky gding on the first day here he wisely called it a day and took him home. General Francis’s last two starts on his home track yielded a second and a fourth. His conqueror on the first occasion was Midknight and a fortnight later, he was beaten home by Lady Creosote, Belle Camille and Pennianne.->/'-?

Belle Camille and Pennianne will not oppose him this tim^'but Lady Creosote and Midknight are among his rivals and;; if both line-up' — there is a doubt,: about. a start' for Midknight according to his trainer. Laming — they are- likely z to be formidable ones. Neither was able to improve their records at the Grand National meeting, but Lady Creosote chased Belle Camille home and Midkriight

was fifth in the Brabazon Handicap at the Christchurch Hunt meeting. If Midknight drops out of the field Riccarton stables will still have a worthy representative in Jane Again. She has been toiling honestly and consistently in the lower grades for some time now and might not be out of her depth in thi? field. Selections: — 11.5 a.m.—Spring Hurdles: Hasuka, Red Ro, Eden's’ Boy. 11.40 a.m.—Trial Stakes No. 1: Magellan, Renio, ’ Royal Mimic. .12.15 p.m.—J. M. Shaw Memorial Steeples: Zing, Bucenhall, Glendhu. 12.50 p.m.—Glenmoa Stakes: Babble, Dalcree, Sabroso. 1.25 p.m.—Trial Stakes No. 2: Classic Princess, Windvale Melody,-Music Queen. 2.5 p.m.—Fairfield Handicap: General Francis, Lady Creosote, Midknight. 2.40 p.m.—Trial Stakes No. 3: • My Anui, Marla Frances, Parkistinian Lad-. 3.15 p.m.—Butchery Handicap: Palais Glide, All Smiles, Karozshah. 3.55 p.m.—Waltakl Handicap: The Crofter, Syndlan, Marotirl. .;J4.35 p.m.—Oamaru Handicap:. Black 'Rule/ Flying King, Katikl Gold:Fields for' thg TA.B. double are: l — 1 ' RACE 6 2.5 $3500; 1680 m. FAIRFIELD HANDICAP / 1 1259 LADY CREOSOTE «) 57 (6 m Creosote—Belloringa, W. W. Shirley, Wash- ' dyke). Except for last-start

defeat at Riccarton last Saturday, recent form has been sound all roundJ. Pankhurst 2 0000 WYELLA (15) 57 (6 m Causeur—Mellitus, C. S. Reese - Jones. . Wingatui). Failed to show anything when making fresh start at Washdyke last month. Might be all the better for this one too. K. Scott 3 1456 MIDKNIGHT (1) 56 (8 g Lord Sasanof—Honey One, S. B. Laming, Riccarton). Has been racing well enough lately to be regarded- as a big chance here if the footing is not too firm. S. Laming 4 0098 CHARLSON (12) 55.5 (8 g Charicles — Vanlyn, D. Thomas, Invercargill). Very useful at best, but tough assignment here in first race since March. S. Allen 5 3388 COLADA (2) 55 (7 m Rangong—Charisma, M. R. Jones. Washdyke). Has been battling hard. to find winning form for some time now‘ but has her moments and : would hav e to be regarded as a place chance at least. P. Jones 6 1002 CARA DEE (3) 54 (5 g Cara Cara—Mary Dee, ?C. Booth, Heriot). Does not win out of turn, but best runs on the smaller course highly promising. . Will command respect on the strength of his second .to Dirk at Waimate last time out. ■ - . K. Morton 7 9240: GENERAL ?FRANCIS (7 g 'Avocat General—Red Elm, Sf. F. Billington, Washdyke). Weak showing on first day of National meeting.. but form beforehand was sound, Could ¥-- be one of hardest to beat. J. Collett 8 1355 JANE AGAIN (9) 54 (4 m

Beaufort Sea —Mary Ellen, J A. Parsons, Amberley). Has been racing gamely and consistently in the lower grades and could well measure up in this class as well. 9 9400 MASTER LEA (14) 54 (5 g Trelay—Mislea, J. B. Brown. Wingatui). Good fourth in Brabazon Handicap, but failed badly in two starts at the National meeting. Gets back in the running and that will not help much on this course. 10 0938 HUNTING THE SNARK (13) 53.5 (6 g Shahram— Travelling, N. Peterson, Oamaru). Placed over 1200 m at Washdyke two starts back, but form all round not very encouraging. 11 7059 LLAYMAI (16) 53.5 (7 g Mellay—Miss Kumai, H. A. Anderton, Wingatui). Very good at htg best, but except for a fifth on this course two starts back recent efforts have been nothing to get enthusiastic about. M. Casey 12 0306 SILVER BAY (7) 53.5 (6 ■ g Causeur—Freemiss, E. P. Corboy, Washdyke). Comes up with the odd good run but not consistent enough to be recommended with confidence. 13 ANROD (19) 53 (11 g Kurdistan—Gold Wine, C. Knowler, Invercargill). Has been away from racing for 18 months so chance here could not be highly regarded. 14 7071 MAGIC REIGN (10) 53 (7 m Summer Magic—Janet Olivia, P. J. Harnett, Oapiaru). Last-start winner over this distance in the lower grades at Washdyke In July so must rate chance again bn her home track. J. Lamond 15 5050 MAIN CHANCE (18) 53 (6 m Ribotllght—Chow Meine, W. Englebrecht, Walmate).