Bonnie’s Chance appeals in Ashburton Cup

Press, 24 December 1980, Page 15

Bonnie’s Chance appeals in Ashburton Cup

By

G. K. Yule

Bonnie’s Chance is entitled to be favourite in the Ashburton Cup on Friday, but the talented mare will by no means have things her own way in a field which includes some proven stayers.

■. '■ Bonnie’s Chance has not raced • since December 6 when she ran Locarno to half a neck in the Pan Am "Mile. Before that she had ; been a model of consistency! and had looked most un-l lucky at times. She looks! favourably placed on 10m I and Richard Brosnan should: find little difficulty securing; a reasonable run with her. Royal Illusion is an interesting newcomer to this class. She is unbeaten in three starts this season, outclassing weaker fields at Orari, Washdyke and Waimate. This will be her big test, but the manner in which she has gained her three wins suggests, that she will bridge the gap to this company without too much; difficulty.

Sun Seeker, finished a respectable sixth in ■ the New Zealand Cup, followed by a fifth, a fourth and a fifth, all in strong free-for-all company. He is one of the ■backmarkers on 30m, but that might not be enough to keep him out of this finish. Cecil Devine has never had the seven-year-old -in better order. D’Or Favori and Trevor Hodgen are two stout stayers on the limit, the same mark as Glen Moria, another capable of a solid 3200 m. Then there are horses such as Our Location, Crow Bar and Philippa Frost, while a bold run from Flaxton, a grand fifth in the Rangiora Cup last Saturday, will not be a complete surprise.

Hano Direct, About Now and No Response could be as good a trio as . any in the second leg, the Winslow Handicap, a race in which Pointer Hanover, Best Choice and Maudey could also be prominent. RACE 6 3.25 p.m.—

ASHBURTON CUP 56000: C 7; 3200 m 1 ii!l O'OR FAVORI (1) It

15m Scotch Abbe-Golden Gift). Impressive winner at Addington on December 6. Well paced here and in spite of rise in class looks sure to go well. 2 0026 GLEN MORIA (2) If (7m Smooth Hanover-Largs). Latent run was a sixth over one mile on December 6. Better suited over 3200 m and could be placed. J. Carmichael 3 111 ROYAL lILLUSION (3) It (5m Sly Yankee-Princess Melody). Unbeaten in three starts this season, winning well on each occasion. In great order and expected to go close. P Shand 4 0800 TREVOR HOOGEN (4) It (5g Hodgen’s SurpriseScottish Scene). Form background weak, but better than that might suggest. Grand record on grass and by no means a forlorn chance. S Miller 5 COLUMNIST (5) It (6h Armbro Del-Codoo). First start since last June. Hard to recommend. B. Gliddon 6 0040 THE RAIDER (1) 10 (6g Indecision-Vampire). Has not raced since November 3 when very jaded. Has had a chance to freshen. Went well early this season and could surprise. P. Young 7 0000 WING COMMANDER (2) 10 (5g Flying' Lord-Fair Aldai. Form background weak, but has sound record as a stayer. Not without a rough chance. D. Townley

• 4232 BONNIE'S CHANCE (3) 10 (5m Majestic ChanceBonnie Countess). Has been racing without much luck lately, finishing second to Locarno in the Pan Am Mile at her last appearance. Looks the probable winner. R. Brosnan 9 59 NOT A CHANCE (4) 10 (7h Jack Chance-Bonny Jan). No danger in the Rangiora Cup last week in his second start for the season. Would have to improve to be a danger. p. (ones 10 95 FLAXTON (5) 10 (lOg W a 11 aki Hanover-Lady Penny). Recorded a sound trial for this race when fifth from 30m in the Rangiora Cup last Saturday. Stays well and could be close up. P O'Reilly, jun. 11 4459 OUR LOCATION (1) 20 (7h Lopez Hanover-My Location). Failed over one mile at latest start. Before that had gone well over a distance,

i particularly on grass. Not > forlorn chance in this. M. de Filippi 12 0090 CROW BAR (2) 20 (5h Majestic Chance-Clara Bow). Form background weak and hard to recommend even though he won this, race last year. D. Jones 13 3346 PHILIPPA FROST (3) 20 (5m Armbro HurricaneTiny Frost). Failed in the Pan Am .Hile, but earlier form was of a sufficiently high standard to give her a great chance in this.

F. Fletcher 14 6545 SUN SEEKER (1) 30 (7 g Armbro Del-Demure). Has raced well but without much luck against the best pacers in commission. Expected to make a bold bid in spite of awkward handicap.

J. Smolensk! 15 0798 MATAI DREAMER (unruly) 30 (5 h Frosty Dream — Matai Song). Has raced most disappointingly lately. Hard to recommend. r. cameron RACE 8 4.45 p.m.— WINSLOW HANDICAP, $4000; OC; trotters; 2400 m 1 2788 TOUGH GIRL (1) It (5m Tuft-Fair Court)! Latest efforts rather disappointing. Capable of better. C. de Filippi 2 4245 BEST CHOICE (2) It (5h Johnny Gee-Express Goods). Form rather mixed, but If allowed to dictate the pace, could surprise. M.de Filippi 3 5633 GAME CAPTAIN (3) It (4g Game Pride-AUsa Tuatahi). Game run for third to Kate’s Return at Addington on December 6. Should again go well. F. Fletcher 4 9076 EXCALIBUR (4) It (13g Court Martial-Scottish Linda). Will be tested here. E. Hart 5 2890 GREAT WAY (5) It (8g Keep Away-Emalena). Latest efforts hardly encouraging as a guide to this race. I. Sutherland 6 0007 MOST LIKELY FELLA (6) It (6g Crockett-Nandina Most Likely). Has trotted an occasional good race, but will find this hard.

J .Ferguson 7 3581 ABOUT NOW (8) It (6m Great Evander-Someday). Failed at Addington on November 22 at latest start. Must be given another chance.

K. Townley 8 8 SPEEDY TUFT (8) It (6g Tuft-Moon Ray). Failed badly on November 14 when mak-

ing a fresh start. Improvement needed for him to have much chance. 9 6151 KATE'S RETURN (unruly 1) It (7m Scottish Com-mand-Kate Smith). Has been racing much better lately. Easy winner on December 6 at most recent start. Should go close again. J. Carmichael 10 0002 MAUDEY (unruly 2) It :8m Lumber Dream-Maud-ella). Came on well for second to Kate’s Return at latest start. If she trots as well again could be placed. T. May 11 6421 HANO DIRECT (1) 10 (6m Truant Hanover-In-direct). Won at Hutt Park on December 3at latest start. Should go well again. D. Townley 12 4670 POINTER HANOVER (1) 15 (7h Bachelor HanoverWorthy Scott). Won this race last year and even from this mark must be considered. G. Shand 13 6243 NO RESPONSE (1) 20 (9g Hodgen’s Surprise-Cor-ds worth). Ran on well for third to Scotch Tar in the Dominion Handicap last time out. In spite of handicap expected to go well. R. Brosnan racing selections 88