Gallant Ace one to watch at Birchwood

Press, 18 March 1983, Page 26

Gallant Ace one to watch at Birchwood

Special correspondent Invercargill

Gallant Ace, a last start winner on the first dav of the Cromwell meeting,’ has a good chance to gain his sixth success in the Stewarts Wool Co. Handicap, first leg of the Birchwood Hunt Club’s T AB. double tomorrow.

The Thoreau chestnut has held his form remarkably well and, if anything, seems to be strengthening. If well served in the running, he has the ability to unwind a purposeful finishing kick.

Caparo, his stablemate, might be the one to make a race of it with him. He has '’t >it< ntured thf

not quite recaptui « tne brilliance he revealed two years ago, but has been running solid races for all that.

His last start third at Gore on Tuesday against a slightly stronger field was good enough to rate him a danger here. Gripp is an appealing light weight. He has been a talented and consistent performer in the hack and intermediate grades this season and will appreciate the easy track as much as any.

Dragoon, which might still be at the improving stage after a brief freshener, ran fourth at Gore on Tuesday and appeals most of the others. Katiki Bay, the consistent and in-form Wingatui representative, should prove a worthy top weight in the second leg of the T.A.B. double, the Otautau Handicap. maEEass Race 1. 11.35: Winton Brush Hurdles handicap, $2300; 2600m.—Hunting the Snark 6, 64; Williedee 11, 62; Paulmont 12, Sir Aybee 9, 61; Beau Willie 4, Voltaire 7, 60.5; Causant 2, Fire Starter 1, Lucas Lad 10, Maltaig 5, Persian Fame 8, Prince Yoko 13. Tiber Kan 3, 60. Emergency: Prince Yoko. Race 2.

12.05: First Ringway Maiden. $1600; 1200m.—Cara Bay 12. Cee Tee 2, Chrysabelle 14, High Flyer 10, Imperial Count 6, Individualist 13, La Tristese 5, Our Pal 4. Rexie 15, Scoot Anui 11, Skua 1, Tara Kane 8. 55; Kurdasea 7, Mahtak 9, Origanum 3, 52. Race 3.

12.35: J. S. and W. E. Hazlett Memorial Hunt Steeplechase, $3500; 3200m—Folay 3, 77; Prince Causack 7, 74.5; Shirlina 8, 72.5; Bold Star 2, 71.5; Alfee 6. 71; Copper Ridge 10, 70.5; King Harold 5. Master Bijou 9, South Simper 4, Very Flash 1, 70. Race 4. 1.10: Wallace Maiden, $1600; 1400m.—Aiciron 10, Altomous 18, Ben Brodie 9, Bev’s Delight 16, Bolinsay 17, Crown Ap>roval 12, Crusader Knight 14, lone Nui 4, Maggie’s Hope 5, Migraine 1, Nearco Command 11, Reckon So 6, River Orchid 13, Student Grant 19, Super Prince 15, Wheatbix 20, Ben Boy 7, Little Boy Blue 8, Flight of Eagles 2, Princess Aouda 3. 55. Emergencies: Ben Roy, Little Boy Blue, Flight of Eagles, Princess Aouda. Race 5. 1.40: Turi Handicap, $1800; 1400m.—Aprani 20, Golden Gull 5, Jophill 18, Ratify 19, 56.5; Alert 13, Gipsy Leigh 9, Pentimento Kid 2, Persian Raider 1, Royal Caddon 17, Resema 14, Wapiti 6, Yabadoo 16, 56; Antarah 15, Big Letters 12, Miss Lili 3, Simone’s Pal 11, Imperial Princess 4, Big Red 7, >5.5; Sweet Ocean 8, Rahnessa 10, 55. Emergencies: Imperial Princess, Big Red, Sweet Ocean, Rahnessa. Race 6. 2.15: Second Ringway Maiden, $1600; 1200m.—Blazing Kate 11, Browband Beau 5. Ejay Bee 14. Have a Shot 3. Kelly Star 1, Olivia Leigh 2, Puff Star 4, Red Rhapsody 8, Royal Diana 10, San Dior 6, Sue Deene 9, Volcanic Ash 12, 55; Lord Vermillion 15, Second Round 7. Split the Bill 13. 52.

Race 7 2.50 T.A.B. DOUBLE STEWARTS WOOL CO. HANDICAP $4OOO, 2150 m

1 Fleetwood Mac 6 57.0 Resuming after long spell. May' need racing. J. Collett. 2 2643 Caparo 10 56.0 Continues to run good races without quite recapturing brilliant earlier Birchwood riders PA Invercargill Riding engagements for the supporting races at the Birchwood Hunt Club’s meeting at Invercargill (tomorrow) include: R. Collett: Red Ro, Hunting the Snark. J. Collett Paulmont, Bymai, Rexie, Nearco Command, Red Rhapsody, Melturn. P. McKay: Cassini, Kurdasea, Crusader Knight, Simone’s Pale, Volcanic Ash. K. Jones: Our Pal, Sandior. S. Anderton: Egyptian Princess. S. Allen: Individualist, Migraine, Royal Cadon, Browband Beau, Patsamigo. A. Tait Automous. R. Montgomery: Golden Gull. A. Robertson: Firestarter. C. Graham: King Harold. D. Hudson: Alfee.

J. Dowling: Kelly Star, Tempos Flight, River orchid. K. osshen Chrysabelle, River Lad, Maggie’s Hope. J. Mclntosh: Beau Willie, Crown Approval, Jophiß. D. Skerrett Origanum, Aiciron, Split the Bill. C. Roberts: Blazing Kate, Williedee, Le Tristesse, Reckon So, Gypsy Leigh. M. Mavon Folay. K. Langford: Prince Caiisack. N. Ridley:. Belsens Bank.

M. Lowry: Antarah. R. Henry: Very Flash. T. Belsham: Voltaire.

S. Reid: Ratify. Mullah.

form. Good place chance. S. Allen. 3 1194 Dragoon 5 54.0 Fair fourth at Gore

after fine earlier form. Top place chance. J. Pankhurst. 4 389 OH an' On 3 54.0 Veteran jumper resuming on flat. Younger rivals may be too sharp at this stage’ 5 227 Charlson 11 53.0 Veteran hurdler resuming. Others preferred. 6 2051 Gallant Ace 2 52.5

Impressive last start winner. Holding form well. Appeals most. P. McKay. 7 1732 Gripp 8 5’1.0 Consistent intermedi-

ate stayer which appreci-

ates easy ground. A top chance. P. Richards. 8 0080 Tercero 7 50.5 Has shown nothing since upsetting on course in sprint. Not fancied. C. Roberts. 9 4739 Barbados 4 50.0 Came through grades, impressively. Has been freshened and appeals for better odds. 10 0807 C'Mon Sal 9 50.5 Looks safely held. 11 6536 Royal Meg 1 50.0 Looks well but would have to improve sharply , on Gore run earlier in week. Race 8. 3.20: Gardner Memorial, Steeplechase, $3200; 4000 m — Bymai 6, 63.5; Glendhu 3, 61;Red Ro 4, 60; Candidago 7, 59.5; Hasty Simm 1, 58.5; King Gundi 5, Rusty Royale 8, 58; Belsen's Bank 2. 57. Race 9 3.55 ■ T.A.B. DOUBLE OTAUTAU HANDICAP $2650, 1400 m 1 4412 Katiki Bay 10 57.0 Smart and consistent. Logical choice. L. Didham. 2 8005 Junior Blue 4 56.0 Slightly disappointing since Omakau win in January, but place chance in this weaker field. 3 4739 Barbados 1 54.5 Dual acceptor and may start in first leg in preference to this. 4 4960 Noble River 9 54.5 Latest form only fair. Improvement needed. J. Collett. 5 5108 Piki 2 54.5 Would be preferred over more ground. D. Skerrett. 6 4825 Brimarg 5 54.0 Running fair races and a place change. K. Ussher. 7 6830 Dark Eyea 12 53.5. Mixes efforts, but capable mare on her day. Outside chance if she put best foot forward. M. Crawford. 8 7004 Go Johnny 8 53.0 Showed rare speed at Gore and fought on well. Should be still improving. Place chance. J. Pankhurst. 9 0003 Overcast 11 52.5 Found another gear last start at Cromwell. Must be respected if he races up to that. 10 2665 Boulder City 7 52.0 Running fair races but might be preferred over more ground. 11 9669 Ahbonito 3 51.0 Appears to have found his level. Not fancied. 12 0000 Prince Yoko 6 50.0 Makes no appeal.

Race 10. 4.30: Booth’s Gin Handicap. $2350, 1400m.—Mullah 14, 57; Scorcher 8, 56; Major Dude 1. Melturn 12, 55.5; River Lad 2, 55; River Raider 7, 54.5; Coharken 4. Egyptian Princess 3, 54; Cassini 6, 53.5; Duaprove 5, 53; Abdicator 13, Manu Tere 9, Set Sail 15, Tempus Flight 16, 52.5; Alarmyst 10, Patsamigo 11, 52. 6