Firpo appeals in first leg at Hokitika

Press, 23 November 1981, Page 26

Firpo appeals in first leg at Hokitika

Special correspondent Greymouth The Riccarton veteran, Firpo, a fresh runner at the' meeting, looks to have a grand chance of adding to his impressive record on West Coast circuits when he contests the Wilsons Whisky Handicap, first leg of the Westland Racing Club’s T.A.B. double at Hokitika today. Firpo was allowed to miss the first day of the meeting but his last start seventh over 1800 m at Riccarton on New Zealand Cup day suggested he is coming to hand nicely for Tom Lalor.

Jim Collett will have the i mount on Firpo and in the ~ words of Lalor: “He gets on 1 well with the old fellow.” i Karen Thornley is ex- > pected to choose to ride Jonboy Hunt in preference to • Penniane and from lower r down in the weights Jonboy : Hunt, now developing into ; something of a Coast speciali ist, looks the hardest for Firpo to beat. ; A first-day winner, Jonboy I Hunt treated a similar field i to the one he meets today i with contempt and his winning margin could easily I have been extended. Pennianne was not dis-

graced in running second to Josie in the Miss Scenicland Stakes on Saturday and she should be improved with the run. Pennianne has shown she has more class than most in the field and her ability rates her as a top chance. An improved run from the lighter-weighted Short Stops would not surprise. She will be suited by the longer journey today. A small, but classy, field of sprinters lines up in the W. H. Stopforth Memorial, second leg of the double.

First day winner, Hi Roona, is now well up in the weights and as a result Pompous Prince could be expected to turn the tables on his rival today. Pompous Prince was hampered a little in the run to line on Saturday and appeared to have something in hand. Hi Roona cannot be ruled out. He is bound to be well up with them all the way again while Strange Magic, which gets a good pull in the weights from most of the others, is speedy enough to get into the finish.