Kotare Boy stands out in Paeroa’s first leg

Press, 24 August 1983, Page 32

Kotare Boy stands out in Paeroa’s first leg

Special correspondent Auckland The solid race that Lord Unicorn put on when third at Te Rapa last Saturday makes Kotare Boy a good-looking prospect for the first leg of the double at Paeroa today.

Lord Unicorn went as near as anything to winning that middle-distance at the Waikato meeting, beaten narrowly by Saddlelight and Swift Venture. In his previous start he was successful over 2030 m at Matamata, edging Kotare Boy out close to the finish. Now six years old, Kotare Boy looked pretty capable last season, winning a couple and gathering a worth-while minor placing or two. Last time at Paeroa he managed third over today’s 2200 m, behind

Anbanda and King’s Honour. Next to Kotare Boy the best chances in today’s Members’ Handicap seem to be Bonnie Gio, Royal Reprieve, Pirgoda and Gay King. Bonnie Gio has been thoroughly consistent since back to racing early in the winter. Last time she was a close second behind Royal Reprieve over 2200 m at Ellerslie on August 13. That was on top of three minor placings in a row so she is due another

win. Royal Reprieve stayed on to win at Ellerslie and he appears to have run well again, though only fifth, in an amateur riders’ 2000 m at New Plymouth. Pirgoda nearly always comes home strongly and Gay King, through a laststart second behind Avago at New Plymouth earlier this month, is entitled to some respect. The field for the second leg, the Norwood Handicap, was ordinary enough to start with and has been

weakened by scratchings, though fortunately they do not include Hillcrest Lad, Sionna and Wanderville, three of few in the field with recent form of much account.

Hillcrest Lad has been disappointing but he ran creditably enough last time when fourth over 1200 metres at Matamata on August 10.

Sionna claims a last-start third at Ellerslie, on August 13, and Wanderville was a recent third at Matamata.