Mighty Me likely to overcome handicap

Press, 26 November 1982, Page 11

Mighty Me likely to overcome handicap

By

G. K. YULE

Mighty Me will consolidate his position as the top earlyseason three-year-old pacer in Canterbury if he adds the Orari Challenge Stakes at the Geraldine Trotting Club’s meeting tomorrow to the four wins he has gained so far this term.

He will not be set an easy assignment from 20m on the tight Orari course where the emphasis will be oh quantity with two of the 10 races being run in divisions and the majority of the fields attracting capacity numbers.

This is the same mark he started from when he eclipsed 15 rivals in the Waikouaiti Stakes on October 30. He then failed to pay a dividend in two starts early at the New Zealand Cup carnival, but showed his true ability when he made short

work of the. field in the Courier Systems Championship last Saturday. The son of Out to Win will only need to avoid trouble in the big field to come out on top once more. If any horse could have been described as unlucky in last Saturday’s feature race for three-year-olds at Addington it could have been Nostradamus. He was late working clear and finished strongly into third behind Mighty Me and Borana. ' Nostradamus appears to be highly talented and from

No 2 at the barrier he should secure a favourable run. It will be most surprising if he does not make a race of it with Mighty Me, which meets him on 20m less favourable terms than he did last week. Borana, which shares the back mark of 20m with Mighty Me, must be a strong fancy after his second last Saturday. That was only his third start for the season and he should be close to his peak now. Borana is usually a splendid beginner and his handicap should not prove

insurmountable. Family Fun, Tumahu Hanover, Lea Cavalla and Spangled Lord have all shown useful ability, and they should be the pick of the remainder. The Premier Stakes winner, Derby, will be a dominating favourite in the D.B. Geraldine Trust Handicap, to be run over - 3200 m. Icenic and Crafty Fella could be two of the hardest for him to beat, while Willie Coon, Young Pride, Doctor Bailey, Ranui Del and Free Turn should also race prominently.