Sir Castleton faces toughest test

Press, 13 May 1981, Page 29

Sir Castleton faces toughest test

Special correspondent. Auckland

The “boom” Ashburton trotter, Sir Castleton, will need only to race up to his form in the South Island this season to have a great chance in the main race on the second night of the Auckland Trotting Club’s Rowe Cup meeting at Alexandra Park this evening.

Certainly, if he does per-' foim well he will come into en?'\„ s T onger favour for the: Soo.OOO Rowe Cup on the final night of the meeting oni Saturday. i Sir Castleton, a four-year-i old gelding by Game Pride; from Castleton’s Queen, only: started racing this season., After running second in his first race, he scored seven: wins on end. ■ A bad break at the start; —- his first in a race — cost! him ail chance next time out' but, m his only outing since, I he won at Forbury Park on: April 25. Sir Castleton has been! described as the most ex-1 citing young trotter seen ini the South Island for years.; Off the front mark, he is;< well placed to make a sue-1 cessful Alexandra Park 1 debut. No Response, the 1979 h Inter Dominion Trotting champion, and I-lano Direct,!

■the winner at Harold Park,! Sydney, last year, are! Jalso in the Petite Evan-! rder Handicap. j Hano Direct went a fair! (race on the first night of the; imeeting last Saturday and is |a likely improver, but No ‘Response looks a better .prospect. i No Response has shown ; grand form this season, both lin New Zealand and Australia. ! He staged a whirlwind finish in the 2200 m Gentry ■Lodge Free-For-All on the (opening night of the current (meeting and snatched victory in the last few strides. ; | ■ Off 20m, he faces a stiff (assignment. But he is a reliable beginner and the longer distance will suit him : | Others which will be well (backed include Thriller Dee, I McShane, Kenwood Song, (Our Evander and Stormy Morn. That by no means exi hausts the possibilities in h

|what looks a very open ‘race. Thriller Dee went! a fine irace when a close third in (the Gentry Lodge Free-for-i All and looks back to her best. Much interest will be taken in McShane, which, like Sir Castleton, will be making his first appearance at the meeting. The second leg of the iT.A.B. double,, the Reg Lewis Memorial, has been robbed of some interest by the scratching of the "grand three-vear-old filly Time’s Up. I Try Phee will probably be the favourite but, splendid though his form this season has been, he faces easily his sternest test.He is likely to receive plenty of opposition from likes of Gretna Hanover, Kamwood . Belle, Norman i Royale and Last Chance.