Track conditions unlikely to bother Brutus

Press, 24 October 1980, Page 2 (Supplement)

Track conditions unlikely to bother Brutus

Special correspondent Wellington

Hutt Valley weather is liable to change from hour to hour and though the weather has been kind so far this week and the track at Trentham is drying well, it is just as likely to repeat last week’s downpour and turn the course into a quagmire again. Happily, whatever happens. will not trouble that excellent South Island gallo- ; per, Brutus, winner of the Wainui Handicap last Saturday, which looks the pick of , the Pearce Handicap. ( Brutus handled the testing conditions in good style last;' week, ploughing along solid-|j ly to record a victory by I, three parts of a length over|| Stardina. ■ But he is just as adept; when the going is riding q fast. His win in the Reefton i; Challenge Gold Cup last | January, being but onej, example of how well he: J handles a quick track. The Tuahiwi entire is a, I metric miler of no small re-jl pute. He counts the final 11

Marlboro Mile among his credits. He now heads the handicap in the absence of Langeland and has a bad draw, but he showed last week that he is as determined as they come. The solid finish he can produce should enable him to gain his fourth Trentham win. Tarbela won his last race in the Taumarunui Cup in July 1978 but seldom misses finishing in the money and he was third behind Brutus in the Wainui. He came late, again, but so solidly that his chance in the Pearce Handicap must once again be respected. The gelding has a couple ofi course victories to his crcdit, but a win tomorrow would be most popular with the crowd, for they can appreciate his gameness. Having his second start this campaign in New Zealand, Shamrock will appeal to many. He raced well in Australia, and at Opaki a couple of weeks ago he beat all except Diploma with a big run from the back of the field. That would have toned him up no end, and he must

I be considered a danger. From there the chances ■ appear wide. Loretto fought i along gamely to finish fourth behind Retrojet at Waverley last week and should have derived benefit from that run. Stardina, resuming from a spell when runner-up to Brutus, meets his conqueror on identical terms, both having risen 2kg. That run, though, might have taken a bit out of him first-up. London Trader, scratched from a mid-week run at Egmont, cannot be left out of calculations though his form has been off since his magnificent Winter Cup victory' i at Riccarton early in the season. Last week’s downpour stopped Orchidra from making her seasonal comeback to racing in the Waihui Handicap and she is expected to take her place in the Awatea Handicap, the second leg of the double tomorrow. The mare’s record of turning in top performances mfirst-up is hard to better ar the 1400 m this time is in

(her favour. But it could be (that the more seasoned Gio■vanni and Gold Dust, which (has had one run, will prove 'too good for Orchidra this time.

Giovanni was most impressive when opening his seasonal account with a two lengths and a half win in the Owens Handicap at Wanganui. He has had three races since and finished in the money twice, latterly for third at Franklin in the weight-for-age feature won by the filly, Waiheke. ■ Giovanni, for which a large offer was turned down |in the winter, is hardly overweighted with Orchidra depressing' the handicap. He looks a top chance. • Gold Dust was a hot favourite to reopen her winning list at the recent Opaki meeting, but after looking a distinct chance in the straight was run dowji and pushed back to third place by Diploma and Shamrock. The mare is all heart and with that good run behind her must be rated a leading proposition for the Awatea.