Ben trying for hat-trick tonight

Press, 6 May 1983, Page 21

Ben trying for hat-trick tonight

Special correspondent Auckland Ben is in such great form that a handicap of 30m may not stop him from continuing on his winning way when he contests the Cambridge Gold Cup tonight. The Pukekohe four-year-old scored from 20m at Alexandra Park on April 28 and the very next night, at Claudelands, comfortably won a flying 1700 m, after starting from the second row, in track record time. Backmarkers have a good record in the Cambridge Gold Cup. In the last 11 years only two front-mark-ers have taken the honours. Orient Prince won off 20m in 1981, Calm Flight off 30 in 1980 and from 1974 to 1977 inclusive successes went to a horse on 30m.

The Cambridge Gold Cup, which is for three and four-year-olds and has special handicaps, invariably draws a fine field. Tonight’s lineup is no exception. Preferred is generally regarded as the best three-year-old filly in the country, Prince Sharvid and Lyndon Robert were third and fourth in the Great Northern Pacing Derby last week and Canberra Del and Harper’s Bazaar, as well as Ben, give four-year-olds strong representation. Ben, the only open class horse in the field, is usually a very fast beginner. In the comparatively small field (11), he should have little difficulty in soon working into a handy position. Preferred, one of the two front-markers, seems very likely to make the pace. She may be hard to catch if she can make her own rules but, all the same, she looks a little close to Prince Sharvid. Prince Sharvid finished well ahead of Preferred in the derby and from No. 1 on the 10m mark, he has a good chance of settling in the trail position behind her. The tough Christchurch gelding, Lyndon Robert, must be given a splendid chance. He does not seem to know how to go a bad race and, for a horse of his class, 20m is by no means a prohibitive handicap. ■ The Tree Town Mobile Stakes, the second leg of the T.A.B. double, will feature a clash of most of the best two-year-olds in . the North Island

Paleface Tryax, Tucker’s Rule and Skipper Byrd have the best records and they almost certainly will dispute favouritism, even though all three have drawn second-row barrier positions.

Front markers which could make them work hard include Light Opera, Ca-

beret and Edwin Eden.

Much interest is also being taken in the Cambridge Trotting Mobile Stakes, for three-year-old trotters.

Some past winners have gone on to big things, notably Framalda and Thriller Dee. On their form this season, Zebec and Landora’s Pride deserve to be the best backed. Zebec has had four wins and two seconds from as many starts since he joined Jack Smolenski’s stable at Weedons. Landora’s Pride has won three of her last four races. kiwi EE3EE T.A.B. QUINELLA Race 1. 6.10: United Holidays Pace, $2200; Cl; mobile; 2200 m—- . 1, Nevel On 2, Benzine 3, Royce 4, Frosty Boy 5, Kawhio 6, That’s Life 7, Polly Hackett 8, Multi Berry 9, Merlin Neptune 10, Tommy Baker 14, Creva Dickie 16, Bronze Brigade 17, Sharvid The Great 18, It.

Emergencies: Rosewood Stream 13, Raymond Light 15, Malady Laz 12, Zepol 11, It.

6.40: Cambridge High School Centennial Pace, $2000; CO; mobile; 2600 m.— Chriseena 1, Mighty Princess 4, Meadow Score 5, Viewfield 6, Grand Hanover 7, Captainlightfoot 8, Jacque Cuvee 9, High Calibre 10, Tap on Wood 11, Keystone Hal 14, Gay Redmond 15, Young Cleve 16, Phantom Filly 17, Spirited Fella UR, It. Emergencies: Regal Gent 3, Benevolence 13, Dick Brydon 2, Nandina Oman 12, It. Race 3.

7.10: Ninth Cambridge Trotting Stakes, $2750; 3-year-olds; mobile; 2600 m.— Captive 1, Sylvania 2, Custom Gift 3, Landora’s Pride 4, Donna Angelina 5, Zebec 6, Host Time 7, Calgary Girl 8, Cadenza Hanover 9, Regal Tina 10, James Last 11, It.

Race 4. 7.40: Air NJZ. Pace, $2000; CO; mobile; 2600 m.— River Valley 1, Margaret’s Berry 3, Hanna Morris 4, Kawarau Lad 5, Onero 6, Rum Brydon 7, Merry Nardin 8, That’s Luck 10, O’Sullivan 11, Game Lobell 13, Dominion Chief 14, Dalmorus 15, Regal Empire 16, Cheviot 17, It. Emergencies: Berryblack 9, Quassie 12, Housten UR, Fallen Angel 2, It. Race 5 8.10

T.A.B. TREBLE T.A.B. QUINELLA

CAMBRIDGE HONDA CENTRE TROT HANDICAP $2900; C 3; 3200 m 1 1600 Duloit 1 1

P. Young 2 0960 Gold Glory 2 It G. Loudon 3 0158 Cahny’s Image 3 It G. Harris 4 2600 Invincible Product 4 It M. Pluck 5 7325 Our Rona 5 It P. Wolfenden 6 1781 Jaicelina 6 It

S. Hayes 7 0000 Scapula 7 It 8 1130 My Grey 1 10 P. Baker

9 4004 Sedgeford Hanover 2 10

A. Herlihy 10 0000 Meandros 3 . 10 N. Allen 11 0940 Gilt Edge 4 10 R. Mitchell 12 5210 Major Heat 5 10 J. Langdon 13 0050 As Required 6 10 L. Purdon 14 9950 Tarport Derby 1 20 M. McKendry 15 0 Scot’s Crockett 2 20 C. Pruden 16 0687 Polly Lobell 1 30 17 9007 Senator Lea 2 30 A. Perucich 18 8689 Alison Command 1 40 A. Dunsmuir Emergencies: Alison Command, Senator Lea, Meandros, Gold Glory.

Race 6 8.40 T.A.B. DOUBLE T.A.B. QUINELLA CAMBRIDGE GOLD CUP $8000; three and four-year-olds; special conditions; 2200 m 1 1416 Preferred 1 It Game run in GN Derby at Alexandra Park on April 28. Best three-year-old filly in country and well placed. Looks sure to go well. P. Wolfenden 2 1190 Able Tradesman 2 It Always well back in GN Derby after breaking early. Speedy and will be suited by distance. O. Purdon. 3 4123 Prince Sharvid 1 10 Fine showing in GN Derby. Great chance on that run. J. Langdon. 4 0940 Sleepy Baker 2 10 Always struggling in GN Derby. Will be suited by distance but hard to fancy. H. Timmins. 5 9103 Harper’s Bazaar 3 10 Good effort for third to Ben and Miss Clevedon at Claudelands last Friday. Must be strongly considered. J. Robinson. 6 4009 Beach Gift 4 10 Another moderate showing at Alexandra Park on April 28. Looks out of depth. 7 6114 Lyndon Robert 1 20 High-class southern three-year-old which was creditable fourth in GN Derby. Looks one of best prospects. R. Mitchell. 8 172 Canberra Del 2 20 Unlucky when fast-fin-ishing second to Kiwi Lord

at Alexandra Park on April 28. With smart getaway, should be prominent again. M. Stormont. 9 0786 Grasior 3 20 Always well back in flying mile at Alexandra

Park. Form has fallen right

away. A. Herlihv 10 6966 Walt’s Pride 4 20 Never likely at Claudelands last Friday. This no easier and sure to be at good odds. D. Butcher. 11 5211 Ben 1 30 Stylish wins at Alexandra Park at April 28 and Claudelands following night. On hard mark but usually fast beginner. Looks the one to beat. G. Reaks. Race 7 9.10 T.A.B. TREBLE NX INSURANCE MOBILE PACE $2900; junior drivers; 2600 m 1 0090 Sly Paul 1 it B. Mangos 2 Young Bradly 2 It D. Butcher 3 8684 Gallant Frost 3 It G. Payne 4 4498 Tabella Trix 4 It M. Nind 5 0705 Casey’s Folly 5 it B. Paterson 6 1003 Caspian 6 it P. Baker 7 8750 Abbott's Way 7 It D. Cole 8 1606 Dancing Neebray 8 it B. Grayling 9 7000 Don Boy 9 it M. Purdon 10 6222 Regal Vale 10 It A. Butler 11 4009 Beach Gift 11 It 12 0094 Patsy Marie 12 It A. Neal 13 6040 Goldie Be Good UR It S. Hayes Race 8 9.40 T. DOUBLE T.A.B. QUINELLA TREE TOWN MOBILE STAKES $4250; two-year-olds; mobile; 2200 m 1 0012 Light Opera 1 It Another solid effort when second to Tucker’s Rule at Alexandra Park on April 15. Good prospects from this draw. M. McKen2 2223 Royal Mark 2 It Maintained consistent form with game run at Palmerston North on March

30. Should go well again. J. Langdon. 3 1531 Robert Harlyn 3 It Ran on strongly for impressive win at Palmerston North. Must have good chance. C. Butler. 4 3176 Extra Bonus 4 it

Unlikely starter. 5 27 Mister Zero 5 It Promising debut at

Stratford on April 9 but weak showing at Alexandra Park on April 15. Little appeal. P. Mounce. 6 315 Cabernet 6 It Game win after being parked out at New Plymouth on January 15 and not disgraced at Alexandara Park on April 28. Sound prospects. J. Smolenski. 7 00 Jane Rouaby 7 It Soon in rear and finished last at Alexandra Park on April 28. No appeal. 8 3525 Edwin Eden 8 It Ran on solidly at Alexandra Park on April 15. Has not had much luck in latest races and must be respected. O, Purdon ■

9 69 Jovial Chase 9 It Battled away at Alexandra Park on April 15. Sure to be at long odds. R. Carmichael. 10 62 Lady Vance 10 It Just beaten at Alexandra Park on April 28 after making pace. Shows considerable promise and should be prominent. A. Herlihy 11 2141 Paleface Tryax 11 It Brilliant win in fast time for mile at Alexandra Park on March 19. Awkwardly drawn but still looks one of best prospects. R. Mitchell. 12 93 Channell 12 It Came home strongly at Alexandra Park on April 28. Likely improver. P. Hillmer. 13 2121 Tucker's Rule 13 it Continued splendid form with decisive win at Alexandra Park on April 15. In spite of bad draw, will be tough to beat. C. Hunter. 14 1148 Skipper Byrd 14 it Wide all way at Alexandra Park on April 15 when having first race for four months. Bound to be improved and could be dangerous. R. Hooper 15 Captain Wandover 15 It Has shown promise at trials but hard race for debut. G. Jones. 16 44 Landros 16 It Another sound race at Alexandra Park on April 15. Hard to fancy from draw. Emergencies: Jovial Chase, Captain Wandover, Jane Rousby. Race 9. 10.10: Cambridge Travel Agency Pace, $2200; Cl; mobile; 2200 m.— The Baron 1, Windsor Hanover 2, Whatabyrd 3, Celevale Score 4, Royal Andrew 5, Brecon Wynn 5, Nandina Alwyn 7, Noble Tassel 8, Nnamu Baby 9, Patron Ways 12, Dover Girl 13, The Rook 14, Rosewood Style 17, Out To Reign 18, It. Emergencies: Crayton 16, Vagabond Chief 11, Tecoma 10, Blossom Time 15, It.

Race 10 10.40 T.A.B. TREBLE T.A.B. QUINELLA CLUB RARATONGA FLYING MILE $2400; C2; mobile; one mile 1 4145 Navajo 1 It O. Purdon 2 5433 Worthy Gift 2 It P. Wolfenden 3 5410 Aztec 3 It 4 2203 Kamwood Hanover 4 It

5 3723 Heasan 5 It J. Robinson 6 3061 Neil Baker 6 It A. Herlihy 7 6294 Dorothy Bret 8 It 8 2157 Hotspur 8 It 9 9282 Our Raymond 9 It 10 3314 Hauwhenua 10 It A. Dunsmuir 11 3532 Ryler 11 It R. Hooper 12 0104 Nevele’s Luck 12 It D. Butcher 13 11 Money Provider 13 It D. Breed 14 5781 Park Way 14 It P. Young 15 32 El Juan 15 It 16 0105 Frost Command 16 It P. McMillan Emergencies: Hotspur, Dorothy Bret, Navajo, Frost Command.