Light Lord likely to dominate Ashburton’s Nicoll Handicap

Press, 29 May 1981, Page 1 (Supplement)

Light Lord likely to dominate Ashburton’s Nicoll Handicap

By

G. K. YULE

Light Lord, rated by many as one of the more exciting pros- i pects among the slower class pacers in Canterbury, will probably start a dominating favourite in the Nicoll Handicap at Ashburton tomorrow.

The four-year-old son of Lordship and Brigade’s Advice comes into this race with a stylish last-start win to his credit at Addington Raceway on Maj’ 8. That night he recorded 2min 31.7 s lor the mobile 2000 m. cans-; ing more than a little con-i cem when he uegan to run; about in the home straight;

f after forcing most of the] J pace. i J Now trained at Ataahua [by his part-owner, Steve i Edge, he will as usual be 11 driven by Michael de Filippi. J It will be his fourth start on ;ia grass track. He won at i Motukarara in October, • j while he looked unlucky at i Methven in April. His other start on grass was on a soft

[track at Rangiora last June] [when he missed the start and showed much ability, suggesting that the Ashburton course, whether firm or soft, will not be a problem to him. The Otago-owned and trained three-year-old, Vita Man, is one of the top horses in his age group. He will have to give Light Lord

;a start of 10m, but the task should not be beyond him. Last Saturday he looked a little unlucky when third to Just Sally in a tight ~nkh to the Rangiora Winter Cup. With a reasonable run, he could run Light Lord close. Chance Fortune is not noted for consistency, but after his unlucky fourth to Catherine of Aragon at Ra-

jngiora last week, he must be I high on the list of prospects.’ ' He met trouble on the home ! turn at Rangiora and came ; at a great rate near the end. Manitoba, Gikama Dee, Le Rae and Dreamy Rosa will be other prospects from the front, while Heather Chief, Catherine of Aragon and Mister Majestic, trying for his fifth win in a row, should do best of the remainder. Game Again, General Link and Most Likely Fella form a likely trio in the second leg, the Ashburton Round Table Handicap. They by no means exhaust the possibilities in a big and open field. Bold runs are also expected from Sid, Dryden Lobell, Miradios, Ben Star, Brother James and Command Assured.