Firpo likely winner at Ashburton

Press, 1 September 1980, Page 32

Firpo likely winner at Ashburton

By

W. R. CARSTON

The fortunes of Firpo have fluctuated lately but with anything like a reasonable run he could be the hardest to beat in the Gordons Handicap at Ashburton tomorrow.

The Riccarton-trained seven-year-old goes into the first leg of the Ashburton County Racing Club’s T.A.B. double as a last-start placegetter on his home course. This will be Firpo’s sixth start in a fresh campaign. He was second-up when he ran a bold race for third in the Christchurch Hunt’s Brabazon Handicap and at his latest attempt was the best behind My Lisa Leigh and Lamplight on the final day of the Grand National meeting last month. Everything Firpo has done meantime, suggests that he has thrived so it will come as a surprise if he is not heavily involved in tomorrow’s finish.

The Washdyke-trained : Lady Creosote, which managed 1600 m successfully at Oamaru last time’out might be the hardest for Firpo to beat but there will be strong backing also for' Cara Dee, (the runner-up in each of his last three races, and Highborn, whose two starts at [the Grand National meeting yielded minor placings. Next to Firpo, Riccarton’s best could be Firefly and Latchmi, stablemates in "Ned” and Lloyd Thistoll’s [team, and the former northerner, Sugar Time, a winner first-up for Maurice Thorn-' ley’s stable on the final day Of the Grand National meeting.

■ Now that Jim Lalor has decided to delay Schweppshire Lad’s New Zealand debut until next Saturday, it has thrown the issue wide Open in the second leg, the Stewards’ Handicap,, but the Ashburton trainer could still saddle the winner. The Lalor stable will be ‘ represented by Sharebroker, a talented sprinter which lacks racing since April but as expected to go pretty well fresh in the hands of David Walsh.

The Richmond-trained Killjoy and Flying View, from Orari, S'might be the hardest for Sharebroker to beat and there is sure to be strong support also’ for Keeko and Gretna Green, both from Riccarton stables.

{ Selections:— 11.45 a.m. — Longbeaeh Hurdles: Csllay, Brown Dancer, Charaxus. v 12.30 p.m.—Lagmhor Maiden Stakes: Gold Kingdom, Off To Sea, El Pedro. ■ u> ■ 1.10 p.m.—Eiffelton Handicap: High Honour, Karozshah, Mister Bojangles. ■ 1.40 p.m.—Rakaia Malden Stakes: Dean Swift, Bally Brooney,. Royal Mimic. 2.15 p.m.—Gordons Handicap: Firpo,. Lady Creosote, Latchmi. ' 2.45 p.m.—Pendarves Handicap. No. 1: Our Silver, Double Al, Final Surge. . 3.20 p.m.—Stewards' Handicap: ' Sharebroker, Klllioy, Flying View. 3.50 p.m.—Hinds • Maiden Stakes: Babble, El Toro, Daltree. 4.20 p.m.—Pendarves Handleap No. 2: Silver Monarch, Silva Ruler, Saba Ribbon. 4.45 p.m.—Members' Handleap: Lord Beaufort, Precious Mac, Flying Ribot. . ; ' RACE 5 T.A.B. DOUBLE ®.15 p.m.— GORDONS HANDICAP $3000: 1600 m 1 8000 BRUTUS (10) 54.5 ( 5 h Balios — Monde, R. T. and Mrs B. Harris, Tuahiwi). Has the class to make his presence felt in this field but doubtful starter. ■ T. Mathews 2 2501 LADY CREOSOTE (3) 54 (5 m Creosote — Belloringa, W. W. Shirley, ’Washdyke). ; earned top marks for ; i ag for some time now. ' Managed this distance suc- ■ cessfully at Oamaru last time ■ out and should take beating i again if the going is firm. J. Pankhurst J 3703 FIRPO (2) 55.5 (7 g Pep — Cheri Suisse, T. W. Lalor. Riccarton). Two good placed runs at Hunt and National meetings suggest another win could be close at hand. M. Mein 4 3885 COLADA (1) 52.5 (7 m I Rangong — Charisma, M. R. | Jones, Washdyke). Keeps on 1 running useful rates but find- ! ing it fiard to break through for a win. Has won on this course before and could be one for longer odds.

5 0222 CARA DEE (17) 52 (S g Cara Cara — Mary Dee. C. Booth, Heriot). Must be regarded as one of the brighter prospects after seconds at Waimate, Oamaru and Gore at his latest attempts. 6 2495 GOOD WAY (D) 52 (6 h Eastern Nip — Good Halyard, J. F. Parsons, Amberley). Has been battling hard to improve on minor placings in this grade. This distance could be a bit short of his best but long run home might help. 7 4023 HIGHBORN (4) 52 (6 £ Arlstoi — Miss Richmond. J, N. J. Healey, Richmond). Placed twice against the sprinters at Grand National meeting so must.be regarded among the brighter hopes. n Walsh « 0590 DEEP MYSTERY‘(7) 51.5 (9 g Agricola — Inside Story, R. J. Cochrane, Gore). Has not been racing well enough lately to be regarded as a o ‘"k stance. 9 0060 DANCER BOY (16) 51 (7 g Countiy Dance — Precept, K. Lalor, Omoto). Has his moments but not frequent enough to recommend with confidence. 10 1000 DEE WHY (9) 51 (6 c Lomond — Truam, 8.. P. Kennedy, Wingatui). Form has slumped badly in three starts since winning sprint at Riverton at Easter. 11 2808 FIREFLY (5) 51 (4 m Fraxinus — Most, D. J. and Thlstoll, Riccarton). Should be at improving stage after two starts in a fresh campaign but might need this one too.

12 <-ATCHM! (13) 5J (5 m Diplomatic - Agent — Light Court D. J. and L. J. Thistoll Riccarton). Has been racing consistently on tracks not particularly to her liking so her chance must be brighter with the prospect of firmer ground. 13 0080 HALFAYA (14)’50'.5 C (S ll g Sugar Apple — Quhan. E. Bradley, Riccarton). Has fa ‘led *O show anything worthwhile for some time. Hard to fancy much. .. .... K- Thornley 14 0670 OR BOY (15) 50.5 (7 g Setter — Taria.'L Saunders. Sheffield). No form of real worth since winning on easy track at Riccarton last February. 15 1100 RAISE A LARK (fl) 50.5 .(4 m Allgrit —• Sea Lark. D. C. Vercoe, Richmond). Won at Nelson and Blenheim during the autumn but no form In two starts meantime. C. Brouah 15 4009 RISKY STEP (12) 50.5 (5 g Fortune’s Hope — Star Traveller, N. P. Bert, Riccarton). Capable on his day but hard.to fancy on anything he has shown lately, - M. Goscomb 17 0001 SUGAR TIME (6) 50.5 ■ 6 m Sugar Apple — Pepe Lee, M. C.. Thornley, Riccarton). Made a successful debut to her South Island racing with- an impressive victory over this distance on final day of Grand National meeting. C. Dowling

RACE 7 T.A.B. DOUBLE 3.20 p.m.— STEWARDS' HANDICAP $2250: 1200 m. 1 7319 GREY WAY (3) 40 (10 g • Grey William—Waybrooke, E. P. Corboy, Washdyke). Having .to battle harder for victories these days but always a chance ' when the going is firm. A. Cowan 2 SCHWEPPSHIRE LAD (14) 55.5 (5 h Decoy Boy—Archaic, J. Lalor, Ashburton). Took high ranking as a sprinter in England before being exported. Will only have to live up to his reputation to take beating. 3 8230 FLYING VIEW (13) 54.5 (7 g Country Dance—Loch View, L. H. Pratt. Orari). . Failed to make an impression when making a fresh start against the open sprinters on the final day of the Grand National meeting. Very capable and should not take long to reach peak again. S. Laming 4 3430 HI ROONA (14) 53.5 (8 g Bahroona—Hi Sign, M. C. Thornley, Riccarton). Speedy type with good record on the course but suffering with hoof problem at the moment and might not start. 5 2514 SHAREBROKER (10) ST (5 g Beaufort Sea—Lantern Glow, J. Lalor, Ashburton). Has not raced since April but ■ has plenty of pace and should run this distance pretty well fresh. D. Walsh 4 3490 HI MAGIC (2) 50 (8 m St Puckle— Magic Light, B. R. Mills, Riccarton). Has shown ' her best form at middle-distances but might sprint well fresh in this, her first race since April. C. Sorrenson 7 2918 KEEKO (15) 50 (5 g Keekerok—Dorene, J. E, Bourne, Riccarton). Beat sprinters with brilliant late run on second day of Grand National meeting. Inclined to get back in his races but long run home here could

help him to Improve Ills record. „ _ D. Frye 8 GRETNA GREEN (1) 49 (5 m Keekerok —Double, Mrs C. L. Austin, Riccarton). Made big impression as a sprinter When coming up through the classes. This will be first race for almost 17 months but showed she Is well forward to start another campaign with a bold run at the Orari trials the week before last.

G. Blair 9 1558 IN THE CLEAR (8) 49 (7 h Taipan ll—Angel’s Smile, I. W, Thomas, Riccarton). Has not raced since May but usually goes his best races fresh. Doubt about a start however as he has a chest injury after colliding with a fence post last week. R. Bruce 10 9388 HUNTING THE SNARK (6) 48.5 (6 g Shahram—Travelling, N. Petersen, Oamaru). Placed In open sprint at Washdyke in Juno but form otherwise this time up not very impressive. 11 0 ANROD (4) 48 (11 g Kurdistan—Gold Wine, C. Kowler, Invercargill). Well beaten when resuming after lengthy spell at Oamaru last month. Hard to fancy here. 12 4138 FAIR RIBOT (5) 48 (5 g Ribotlight—Fairmont, M. R. Jones, Washdyke). Except for last-start defeat at Christchurch Hunt meeting recent form in the lower grades sound.

C. Brough 13 5177 JIM'S DREAM (12) 48 (4 g Pep—Misadvice, N. Coulbeck, Amberley). Shaped pretty well at times coming through the classes during the winter but this is a lot tougher. 14 1213 KILLJOY (9) 48 (4 h Sovereign Prince—Joyalice, J. N. J. Healey, Richmond). Speedy type with a sound record In the lower grades. . Has not raced since March but could still make his presence felt. 15 0590 RECONTEUR (11) 48 (7 g Heave Ho H—True Course, D. .Vercoe, Stoke). Failed to show anything when resum- . ing in- Brabazon Handicap at Christchurch Hunt meeting. Could be all the better for ... - this one too. .. .

U 7000 SHOW TOWN (7) 48 (7 h Showoff ll—Camden Town, K. Thompson, Invercargill). One minor placing in nine starts last season is not a very good recommendation.