Fatham looks likely at Manawatu

Press, 11 February 1981, Page 24

Fatham looks likely at Manawatu

Special correspondent Wellington Fatham was only sixth of eight on the first night of the meeting but the Cabridge pacer but is expected toj improve on that run when’, he contests the Wrightson Handicap first leg of the ■ double at the Manawatu meeting tonight. I The El Patron three-year-. old received a good run on Monday most of the way i but was outfinished in the : last 100 or so metres. In fin-j ishing sixth he was only! two and a half lengths from: the winner, Raleigh Streak i and only heads and necks, from the third-placed Amasias. The first-night winner ■ Raleigh Streak, must be Fatham’s biggest threat. Raleigh Streak returned a dour staying performance to win nar- ; rowly after losing a considerable amount of ground at : the start. For that win Raleigh Streak is back 10m and will i be the lone runner on 20m. j He will have to begin the ; right way if he is to figure 1 in the finish for the Wright- 1

son . Handicap at 2000 m, is i 500 m shorter than Monday’s event. Alsirat which was only caught in the last stride [after making the pace from ;the 1900 m and Amasias 'should also be hard to beat. ■ Only bad luck in the runining looks like preventing I Viva Romero from comipleting a double for the (meeting in the second leg, (the Tararua Handicap. 1 He won narrowly .but ■with plenty of reserve on I Monday and was expected Ito be improved with the run. | His trainer, Eric Ryan won • two races on Monday and will be looking to score further wins with his team tonight. Commander Crockett which trotted well after an early mistake cost him valuable ground on Monday, looks most promising and should offer the most opposition to Viva Romero. Steve Doody who won two races on Monday and gained two second placings from five drives will handle first-night maiden winner Rivertime.

Rivertime led all the in his race on Monday and may be hard to keep out ot the money again even though up in the grades.