Scotch Notch will ‘anchor’ treble for many punters

Press, 10 November 1983, Page 28

Scotch Notch will ‘anchor’ treble for many punters

By

G. K. YULE

The real Scotch Notch will be seen in action in the New Zealand Trotting Free-for-all at Addington Raceway tomorrow. This race is the middle leg of the T.A.B. treble and there is no doubt that the majority will “anchor” the champion Victorian trotting mare. Although she was beaten by Para’s Star in the No Response Handicap on the first day of the meeting, her performance was outstanding as she started from 45m and was slow away. Then she trotted her last 800 m in 57.85, time which compares more than favourably with the 57.4 s for the same section by Steel Jaw when he raced away from the New Zealand Cup field. Scotch Notch went into Tuesday’s race a good way from her peak. She had not had any serious work for 10 days because of a minor foot injury and then only picked at her food from the time of her arrival in Christchurch last Thursday. The race sharpened her appetite and, to the delight of her trainer-driver, Graeme Lang, she ate up completely on Tuesday night and was looking for food yesterday. Scotch Notch has drawn No. 1 at the barrier and Lang is confident that she will show the crowd her true form in her next two starts.

Perhaps the hardest for her to beat will be. Sir Castleton, which has shown tremendous speed in some

of his races this season. He has not started since he failed at Auckland on October 22 when a rain-affected track was against him.

Sir Castleton has trotted some of his beat races when a little on the fresh side and he could offer opposition to Scotch Notch, for a time at least. Basil Dean had to miss a start on Tuesday because of a minor injury. He has shaped like an early improver and he appeals as much as any of the others as a place chance. There will be support too, for About Now, a good fifth on Tuesday after being hampered in the back straight.

Tussle and General Link trotted well enough on Tuesday to be considered as place prospects, but under free-for-all conditions they will find it hard to match Scotch Notch and Sir Castleton.

Race 6 3.30 T.A.B. DOUBLE T.A.B. QUINELLA' HOME CENTRE APPLIANCE STAKES $5500; C 6 to C 8; mobile; 2600 m 1 3747 Dryden Amanda 1 It Buried on rails till late on Tuesday and came home well for seventh. By no means out of this. R. Geddes. 2 0524 Mighty Me 2 It Fought on strongly when fourth to Stortford Lodge on first day. Must go close again. C. de Filippi 3 038 Mytop Sweetie 3 It Showed speed v from 800 m when she improved wide out. Better drawn this

time and must be better than an upset chance. L. O’Reilly. 4 0 Toshack 4 It Handy middle part on Tuesday only to stop badly. Big improvement needed. M. de Filippi. 5 0561 Win A Bottle 6 It Easy winner in a slower class on Tuesday. Speedy and could measure up in this company. P. O’Reilly, jun. 6 680 Lumber Jack 6 It Handy to turn before stopping on first day. Little appeal. R. Brosnan. 7 0846 Glen Lustre 7 It Made pace for 2400 m, stopping to sixth on Tuesday. Should be improved by race and might not be far away. K. O’Reilly. 8 2223 Ansett 8 It Fast late run when third to Stortford Lodge on Tuesday. Will appreciate the extra distance and expected to go close to winning. K.

Vincent. 9 2415 Roydon Magic 9 It Useful run when fifth to

Timely Play. Another big run likely. P. Blackmore. 10 0180 Gold And Brown 10 It Found wanting on first day. Hard to recommend. J. Hay. 11 8963 Lopez Mac Faber 11 It Game run wide out for

third to Timely Play. Capable of another bold showing. T. Thomas. 12 44 Harvest Gold 12 It Run of race and fought on for fourth on Tuesday. At the improving stage and must be respected. J. Smolensk!. 13 4239 Agrinion 13 It Pushed back early and did not recover on first day. Looks likely to win at short notice. R. Butt. 14 4151 Timely Play 14 It Charmed run from four back on rails to win on Tuesday. In form and must be a leading chance once more. M. Smolensk!. 15 0062 Light Lord 15 It Handy and battled on solidly for second to Timely Play. Should be improved and in spite of draw must be respected. S. Edge. 16 3000 Amaze 16 It Never in a challenging position on first day. Little appeal. P. Shand. Emergencies: Glen Lustre, Lumber Jack. Race 8 4.50 T.A.B. DOUBLE T.A.B. QUINELLA BENSON AND HEDGES FREE-FOR-ALL $30,000; C 9; mobile; 2000 m 1 1237 Enterprise 1 It Battled away in the Cup on Tuesday. Rough place chance at best. P. Shand. 2 9897 Trilobal 2 It Battled on gamely when seventh to Stortford Lodge on first day. Hard to see him being much danger over this distance. G. Hamilton.

3 2555 Stampede 3 It Left in role of pacemaker, which did not suit him on first day. Has good record in this type of race and could be placed. H. Skinner. 4 63 Bonnie’s Chance 4 It Late bid for third in Cup. Could be improved and must be considered for a place. R. Brosnan. 5 1318 Hands Down 5 It Had rugged run in open in Cup, dropping out last piece. Capable of a sharp sprint, but will have to be taken on trust. P. Jones. 6 0541 Stortford Lodge 6 It Won well in a slower class on Tuesday. Will find this rather testing. P. Young. 7 1125 Our Mana 7 It Checked early and battled away for fifth in Cup. Speedy and must be given a chance of reaching a place. C. de Filippi. 8 3201 Steel Jaw (N.S.W.) 8 It Won Cup so decisively on Tuesday that he should not be troubled to repeat in this. N. Lang. 9 0294 Ben 9 It Came on steadily for fourth in the Cup. Badly drawn, but should still be one of the better chances. G. Reaks. 10 4112 Camelot 10 It Came from far back for second in Cup. Will appreci- . ate mobile start and even from second line should be a threat. R. Butt. 11 0716 Diamond Moose 11 It In open and did not run on on Tuesday. Big rise in class and should be well covered. M. Butt 12 5750 Willadios (N.S.W.) 12 It Dropped right away in Cup. Capable sprinter and might go better in this. R. McNeilly.