Stortford Lodge top chance in 4-y-o Stakes

Press, 14 January 1982, Page 15

Stortford Lodge top chance in 4-y-o Stakes

By

W. R. CARSTON

Stortford Lodge has already notched up a couple of victories against those of his own age at Addington Raceway this season. If Ted Lowe has' him forward again, after' a brief spell away from racing, he could improve his record in set-age races when he contests the Canterbury Four-year-old Stakes on the same course tomorrow evening. But for all his high reputation Stortford Lodge is unlikely to have things all his' own way in the first leg of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s T.A.B. double. Among Stortford Lodge's rivals in the 12-horse field are three last-start winners and several other talented four-year-olds with sound form close up on their records. Stortford Lodge shares the 10m mark with four others. On recent . form Romola Dancer and Ranui Del should prove the best of his comarkers but Benjie Tara must also come into reckoning on the strength of his sprint victory at Washdyke last Friday. Trinity, whose three starts this time up have yielded two wins and a second, will undoubtedly have the best backing of the three on the limit while any one of the four on the back mark of 20m would have to be rated among the brighter hopes. Take Care and Fouroux both have winning runs close up on their records; Twilight Mist has kept a consistent record, which includes two wins, moving; and Tipperary will be going for his third win on end and his fourth from his last five starts.

In contrast the second leg, the Trans Tours Stakes, is not notable for form runners in strength. Although Regal Cheval and Take Aim are not favourably drawn, both will start from the second row in this 2000 m mobile event; if recent efforts count for any-

thing they should be involved in the finish.

Regal Cheval came up with one of her peak runs to win the North Canterbury Cup at Rangiora last month. In her lone race meantime, on this course on New Year's night, she turned in another first-class effort over tomorrow's distance to finish a close third to Take Aim and Scottish Sunset after losing valuable ground early in the contest. That win by Take Aim was his second on end but they were five weeks apart. He broke through for his first this time up in a mobile mile at Palmerston North late in November. Vienna Charm, on the strength of her victory at Hutt Park last week, and Kingsdown Lad, the runnerup to Twilight Mist at Ashburton at his last start, must rate consideration but there still might be stronger backing for Kotare Hunter and Amaze, which both lack recent form but have excellent records on the course.

Race 7 8.50 T.A.B. DOUBLE T.A.B. TREBLE T.A.B. QUINELLA CANTERBURY FOUR-YEAR-OLD STAKES $5000: 2600 m 1 6820 Every Chance 1 It Has shown useful form at times lately but against less distinguished rivals. S. Henderson. 2 3984 Ginger Creek 2 It Seldom goes a poor race but still does not win them out of turn. E. Cowie. 3 121 Trinity 3 It Hard to fault on his form this time up. Looks sure to try for an all-the-way win and 'might be hard to peg back. W. Bagrie. 4 0541 Benjie Tara 1 10 Capped off a useful patch of place form with a win among the C2 sprinters at Washdyke last Friday. J. Curtin. 5 1163 Romola Dancer 2 10 Improved very useful record with solid finish for third over this distance here last time out. C. de Filippi. 6 7587 The Great Pretender 3 'lO

Hard to raise much enthusiasm about his chance on the strength of recent efforts. 7 4130 Stortford Lodge 4 10 Has turned in some fine runs earlier this season and must rate top chance although he lacks racing since November. P. Young. 8 5223 Ranui Del 5 10 Has earned top marks for trying lately and a victory for him would be well deserved. R. Cameron. 9 9313 Take Care 1 20 Has shown marked improvement in her latest runs so must be included among the brighter chances. M. de Filippi. 10 3317 Fouroux 2 20 Missed at Auckland last time out but form all round beforehand very sound. R. Brosnan. 11 1447 Twilight Mist 3 20 Has not had the best of luck in her recent races but very capable and must be considered. D. Mangos. 12 1911 Tipperary 4 20 Has made rapid progress through the classes in the last couple of months. Looks top chance on recent form. P. Jones. Race 9 9.55 T.A.B. DOUBLE TRANS TOURS STAKES $4525; C 5 and 6: mobile; 2000 m 1 0409 Lord Brigade 1 It Has been battling lately to improve record. Capable on his day and gets the chance to show it from this draw. C. de Filippi.

2 Dryden Amanda 2 It Has been off the scene since last June so would have to be taken on chance. R. Geddes. 3 0050 Kotare Hunter 3 It Form has slumped lately after some good efforts earlier in season. M. Rennie. 4 0006 Adventureux 4 It Hard to fancy much on anything he has done lately. G. Shand, jun. 5 4308 Amaze 5 It Poor efforts at last two starts but capable of better and a peak effort would make him a big chance in this field. J. Smolenski. 6 7702 Kingsdown Lad 6 It Much improved effort when runner-up to Twilight Mist at his latest attempt at Ashburton on Boxing Day. R. Brosnan. 7 2601 Vienna Charm 7 It Came up with peak effort to beat C 3 and 4 sprinters at Hutt Park last Wednesday week. 8 9888 Shabby Tiger 8 It Spring form was promising but some of recent efforts have left much to be desired. J. Carmichael. 9 4466 Braemar 9 It One of two useful efforts close up on record but form all-round lately not impressive. J. Noble. 10 0090 Velebit 10 It Nothing in his recent record to suggest a win is close at hand. R. Stockdale. 11 0675 Unique Princess 11 it Has shown slight improvement with recent racing but still hard to regard as' one of the brighter chances. R. Cameron. 12 7110 Take Aim 12 It Impressive winner over this distance at the first of two starts at the Canterbury Park New Year meeting. A. Neal. 13 6390 Rosewood Charger 13 It Comes up with the odd good run but not often enough to be recommended with confidence. 14 9713 Regal Cheval 14 It •Surprise winner of North Canterbury Cup at Rangiora last month and another good effort when third to Take Aim and Scottish Sunset here on New Year's night. P. Jones. 15 5030 Remote 15 It Distant third behind Bonnies Chance and Sweet Jessica in mobile mile here on New Year's night is her best recent effort. 16 4676 Big Idea 16 It Keeps running useful races but has found success elusive since Taranaki meeting in November. E. Ryan. Emergencies: Shabby Tiger. Drvden Amanda.