Mel’s Boy looks set for win in $l0,000 final

Press, 16 September 1982, Page 26

Mel’s Boy looks set for win in $l0,000 final

By

G. K. YULE

Mel’s Boy looks to have improved sufficiently in the last week to advance his assessment to the verge of New Zealand Cup class with victory in the $lO,OOO Superstar Series Final at Addington Raceway tomorrow.

The son of Majestic Chance broke at the start of both of his heats, but last Friday he did remarkably well for third to Gavotte and Morgan James. On Tuesday he again missed the start, but recovered quickly to be handily enough placed in mid-field from the 1400 m. Then. Jack Smolensk! rushed him clear near the 500 m. From then he did not look like being caught, even though he had only threequarters of a length to spare over Portfolio at the line. Mel’s Boy should be even fitter tomorrow, and. provided he gets away reasonably well, he should be more than a match for his 11 rivals, especially now that Mai Mai has been withdrawn. Portfolio, showing a dividend of $8.30 against about $1.50 on the first night, raced more in character with the form expected of him when he took second behind Mel’s Boy on Tuesday. He too, should be even fitter tomorrow and could be the one to profit most should Mel's Boy make a bad lapse at the start.

Hobart Star is unlikely to be at the odds of 9 to 1 shown about him on Tuesday. He looked an improved horse after his second to Camelot last Friday and when he paraded on Tuesday. After leading for a short time near the 1700 m. he was shuffled back through the field, being impeded by tiring horses near the straight entrance. The race was as good as over when he secured an opening and he was running on boldly near the end. He is very speedy and could well put Mel's Boy and Portfolio to the test. Gavotte and Camelot were impressive winners on the first night of the meeting, with the former racing right up to that effort when finish-

ing third on Tuesday after trying to lead for the last 800 m. Camelot broke badly at the start and was never in contention on Tuesday. Both horses are well above average in ability and they must be considered, as must Morgan James, which gained a second and a fourth in the heats. Ansett and Randall are capable of bold runs, but they might be xestended to keep within sight of Mel's Boy, Portfolio and Hobart Star.

Race 7 8.45 T.A.B. DOUBLE T.A.B. TREBLE T.A.B. QUINELLA O. HUTCHINSON FREE-FOR-ALL $7000; C 8; mobile; 2000 m 1 0145 Mai Mai 1 It Found handicap too much in four-year-old series. Won National' Handicap before that. Speedy and could show up. R. Cameron. 2 5802 Vita Man 2 It Bold finish from far back to beat all but Betty Adios last Friday. This will be harder. A. Malcolmson. 3 0000 Brase 3 It Out of form and hard to recommend. C. Holmes. 4 5780 Sun Seeker 4 It Should be improved by recent racing, but hard to recommend just the same. K. Townley. 5 3566 Remote 5 It Sound run for sixth in ,Laing Handicap last Friday when making a fresh start. This will be harder. M. Rennie. 6 5613 Amaze 6 It Racing generously, but will find class in this sprint a little rich. J. Smolensk!. 7 0455 Dundas 6 It At the improving stage and must be considered as a place chance. P. Young. 8 1122 Bonnie's Chance 8 It First start since April. Speedy and is well forward. Looks a leading contender. R. Brosnan. 9 2247 Quiet Win 9. It Racing in fine style this spring. In spite of’ draw

should be in the thick of the finish. M. de Filippi. 10 5235 Tarlad 10 It Good run in a slower \ class last Friday. Would probably prefer longer distance. C. de Filippi 11 6909 False Regal 11 It Looks in great heart, but racing has been only fair. Little appeal. R. Pavne. 12 7368 El Regale 12 ' It Drawn awkwardly, but should appreciate mobile start. Leading place prospect. J. Noble. 13 2111 Hands Down UR It Won Louisson Handicap in lone start this campaign. Looks the one to test Bonnie's Chance. P. Jones. Race 9 9.45 . T.A.B. DOUBLE SUPERSTAR SERIES FINAL $10,000; four-year-olds: 2600 m 1 1840 Wee World 1 It Failed on Tuesday after a fourth on the first’ night. Will be well tested. R. Cameron. 2 1956 Randall 2 It Finished sixth, five lengths from .Mel's Boy on Tuesday, unlikely to improve much on that. P. Young. 3 2910 Camelot 3 It Easy winner last Friday. but broke badly on Tuesday. Must be given another chance. R. Butt. 4 0230 Lopez Mac Faber 4 It Good third on first

night, but broke and pulled up on Tuesday. Too erratic to recommend. T. Thomas. 5 7900 Dandy Blue UR It No appeal on showing of last Tuesday. M. Heenan. 6 4438 Hobart Star 1 10 Got “lost" on turn on Tuesday. Looks well and must be a top contender. S. Miller.

7 2324 Morgan James 2 10 Paced two splendid races in the heats. Must be in with a big chance. F. Fletcher. 8 9889 Glen Lustre 3 10 Makes little appeal on two showings so far at the meeting. R. Nyhan. 9 9477 Ansett 4 ’ 10 Went a little better when seventh to Mel's Boy on Tuesday. Coming back to' her best and could be one for odds. K. Vincent.'

10 1113 Gavotte 5 10 Fought on gamely for third to Mel's Boy on Tuesday after winning on first night. Sure to take beating. J.’ Versteeg. 11 1531 Mel's Boy 1 20 Following up first-night third with easy win on Tuesday. Looks the hardest to beat. J. Smolenski. 12 4252 Portfolio 2 20 Went better when second to Mel's Boy on Tuesday. Will be further improved and should go close. P. Jones.