S.I. form on trial at Trentham

Press, 2 March 1984, Page 21

S.I. form on trial at Trentham

By

J. J. BOYLE

Some re-evaluations will be necessary if South Island horses do not emerge with at least some of the purse for the UDC Finance Handicap, first leg of the Wellington Racing Club’s T.A.B. double tomorrow. Clansman, Miles Better, the Dimple, and Noble Boa will be out to show that the best of South Island middle distance form is something to conjure with in a Trentham field strong in Central Districts runners, but without a solid band of hopefuls from further north. That remarkably durable 10-year-old Miles Better is the most highly rated of the southern hopefuls with 55kg. He is six years older and will carry Ikg more than Clansman, a winner at two of his last three starts. In both of those races, the first of them a 2000 m handicap at Riccarton, the other the D.B. Galaxy at Wingatui, Miles Better filled a minor placing. Miles Better gave Clansman 2.5 kg in the Riccarton race and ran him to a nose. However, the Galaxy, run under weight-for-age conditions over the distance of tomorrow’s race, was something of a toddle for Clansman. He won by three lengths from The Dimple, which was a length and a quarter better than Miles Better. The Dimple also had to settle for second behind Clansman’s stablemate, Gaffa, in her other appearance at the Otago Racing Club’s summer meeting, so the Dennis brothers might be excused for feeling some regret that the Riccarton trainer, Dave Kerr, looked to Wingatui to improve his impressive strike rate for the season. Noble Boa, like Clansman, has returned to Trentham as a last-start winner. His January campaign there was unrewarding. He never really got into the race in the Wellington Cup, but his sixth over 2400 m on the final day of the meeting was not at all a bad run. He followed that up with a fourth behind Clansman at Riccarton and a win at Invercargill. Noble Boa will be ridden tomorrow by David Peake. The South Islanders might meet strongest northern opposition from Shazaam, and Ruanuku. They were second and fourth respectively in the Terrace Regency Handicap (2400 m on the final day of the Wellington Cup carnivals. More recently Ruanuku has been third at Hastings and Shazaam fourth at Matamata. The Cambridge-trained Shifnal Prince will be out to complete a brilliant course ■treble as a metric miler in the 2ZB Golden Mile tomorrow. In the hands of David Peake, this four-year-old from John Winder’s stable won the Anniversary-Jarden Mile double at Wellington Cup meeting, and his programme since has been restricted to one race for a sixth over 1200 m. Shifnal Prince goes into tomorrow’s race with 52.5 kg, and should set problems for those above him in the weights. In the end the greatest part of his burden could be to give weight to Camille,

Page Boy. the Riccarton three-year-old. Gaffa. and the ever-improving Wood-ville-trained Gossip.

Camille was luckless in the running when third in Jarden Mile, but Page Boy beat that mare hands down over 1600 m at Awapuni on February 11. Gossip’s feat of winning four races on the trot, her fourth the C.J.C. Breeders' Stakes at Riccarton, argues of a bright talent, one that could have a big influence on the race from her place near the tail of the handicap She is 3.5 kg below Gaffa. which was little more than a length from the winner, Abit Leica, in a fast-run 1600 m Wellington Stakes on Wellington Cup day. Gaffa finished fourth after being largely responsible for the time of lmin 35.09, a faster gallop than Shifnal Prince returned in winning the Anniversary Handicap on the same programme. Jbt: 6 Tab: WR Race 1 12.10 T.A.B. QUINELLA NGAIO HiGHWEIGHT

Race 5 2.50 T.A.B. DOUBLE T.A.B. QUINELLA U.D.C. FINANCE HANDICAP $25,000; 2200 m 1 5601 Rose And Thistle 7 56.5 Successful favourite 2100 m Wairoa last start. Had bad luck in running in Auckland Cup two starts back. W. Skelton. 2 1223 Miles Better 15 55.0 Last-start 3rd was behind Clansman w.f.a. 2200 m at Wingatui. Gets weight relief here but meets Clansman no better. G. Davison. 3 0131 Clansman 10 54.0 Easy winner this distance in w.f.a. D.B. Galaxy at Wingatui last week after being responsible for most of pacemaking. J. Walker. 4 9017 Beaver Boy 24 53.5 Won this distance, this course, Jan. 23. Showed nothing in Air New Zealand Stakes last week. 5 1522 The Dimple 4 53.5 Found Riccarton stablemates, Clansman and Gaff, too good in her two appearances at Otago meeting. A. Robinson. 6 2950 Sirtain 22 52.0 Veteran probably past the improving stage, but usually gives it a good try, and could not be disregarded as a place prospect. M. Lyndon 7 3362 Beau Charade 8 51.5 Consistent on provincial courses. Ran Paratrooper close this distance. Hastings, Feb. 25. G. Clutterbuck. 8 3124 Shazaam 16 51.5 Only nose from winner over 2400 here on final day of Wellington Cup meeting. Latest run was at Matamata. G. Phillips. 9 0641 Noble Boa 19 51.0 Drops 4kg on the weight he won with this distance, Invercargill, Feb. 13. Fourth the time before was behind Clansman 2000 m Riccarton. D. Peake. 11 0833 Four Crowns 12 50.0 Battled well for 3rd to Zim Sam, Beau Charade 2400 m here in January. B. Hibberd 12 5453 Ruanuku 14 50.0 About 1% len from winner, Paratrooper (Beau Charade 2), at Hastings last week. 13 0918 BaHantrae 3 49.5 Form mixed. Win two starts back was at

Wanganui. B. Griffin 14 8741 Compromise 23 49.5 Cleverly ridden for narrow win 2030 m Mata-

mata, February 18. 15 8975 Speculation 13 49.5 Has never recaptured brilliant level of form of his early racing. Last-start sth at Hastings. G. Elliot 16 4000 Bold Monarch 5 49.0 Second start on this campaign. Has stamina, but could be shaded for brilliance here. P. Mercer 17 6829 Mirikau Lass 9 49.0 Second two starts back was at 2000 m at w.f.a. at Otaki. Latest run was at Hastings. P. Fearon 18 2334 Kapelle Lady 2 49.0 Honest performer rating lightweight's chance after string of minor placings. Latest effort was at this distance, Woodville. M. Barnsley 19 9000 Unequalled 21 48.5 Form not attractive. 20 3804 Saddleback 17 48.0 Fair run 2000 m Hastings last time out. T. Allan 21 4405 Kissenger 6 47.5 Others preferred on Hastings form. P. Mercer 22 3545 Lu 1 47.5 Weak finisher 1900 m Rotorua last start. 24 0422 Steel King 20 47.0 Runner-up to Julie’s Boy both days Westport. This harder. Emergencies: Saddleback, Lu, Kissenger, Steel King. Scratched: Suttle Knight, Gold Lomond. Race 6 3.25 TAB. TREBLE

Race 7 4.05 TAB. TRIFECTA TAB. DOUBLE TAB. QUINELLA 2ZB GOLDEN MILE $40,000-. 1600 m 1 1857 Mac's Gamble 20 56.0 Surprise winner 120 Om here Wellington Cup day. Could find this tough from present place in weights. D. Healey. 3 0322 Final Affair 7 54.0 Good run for 2nd behind brilliant Abit Leica 1400 m Waikato, Feb. 14. B. Hibberd. 3 4027 Idaho's Gift 19 53.5 Placed run behind Silver Row 1600 m w.f.a. Waikato. One to be respected. E. Harrison. 4 7373 Atrapar 1 53.0 Latest run was in weaker sprint at Hastings. N. Harris. 5 6606 Lucozade 14 52.5 Failed when tried for stamina in Auckland and Wellington Cups. Chance here if he has freshened. D. Walsh. 6 3147 Out In Front 10 52.5 Last two runs were in Auckland and Wellington Cups. P. Fearon. 7 8116 Shifnal Prince 13 52.5 Won Anniversary and Jarden Mile here in January. One of top chances. D. Peake. 8 3241 Dancing Rose 5 52.0 First start since winning 2000 m Hastings, Dec. 31. G. Clutterbuck. 9 6405 */Mare 15 52.0 Luckless in running against sprinters at Hastings. 10 4132 Camille 16 51.5 Had rocky run when 3rd behind Shifnal Prince in Jarden Mile. Placed at Awapuni in meantime. B. Griffin. 11 1401 Gaffa 11 51.5 Has established his class this distance in winning 2000 Guineas, Southland Guineas, White Robe Lodge Stakes. Respected. G. Davison 12 4061 Page Boy 18 51.5 Form reads well after defeat of Camille 1600 m Awapuni Feb. 11. G. Phillips. 13 7314 Dig In 4 50.5 Could not test Gaffa in White Robe Lodge Stakes at Wingatui. J. Walker. 14 5652 Super Tai 3 50.5 Close 2nd 1400 m Hastings last time was in weaker field. M. Barnsley 15 9452 Silver Samurai 17 49.5 Determined finisher for close 2nd 1400 m Hastings, Feb. 22. P. Mercer 16 2510 Call Me Stumpy 6 49.0 Won 1400 m in fast time Te Aroha Feb. 6 but has failed since at 1600 m. M. Lyndon. 18 1111 Gossip 8 48.0 Attractive winner 1800 m Riccarton Feb. 8. In stronger company here, but lightweight with strong chance. 19 1655 Elucidate 12 47.5 Won 1600 m Douro Cup here in January. Came from back for sth at Ellerslie last week. J. Macartney 20 2263 Miss Bomore 2 47.0 Has useful form, but in weaker provincial fields. P. Ayres. Emergency: Miss Bomore. Scratched: Il Vento.

Race 8 4.40 TAB. QUINELLA MAIDSTONE HANDICAP $3BOO. 2000 m 1 9140 Whetu 5 58.0 3 0782 Cuchulainn 1 53.0 4 3182 Both Barrels 7 52.5 M. Lyndon 5 4115 Encore 4 52.5 6 1210 Gold Lomond 2 52.5 D. Peake 7 007 Felido 9 52 0 B. Hibberd 8 4151 Star Glow 8 52.0 9 5124 Kerry Lane 3 51.5 10 8021 Sample! 10 51.5 G. Phillips 11 7650 Dha 19 51.0 12 4324 Cuspidor 17 50.5 D. Healey 13 4303 Rotoma King 6 50.5 14 3015 Balkan King 11 50.0 15 5355 Blue Ensign 14 49.5 B. Griffin 16 0318 Lord Azure 15 49.0 18 3083 Nalokua 13 48.5 19 8846 Tirpitz 12 48.0 20 9009 Valuta Gold 16 48.0 Emergencies: Valuta Gold. Tirpitz. Scratched: Demolition. One Bid.

HANDICAP $3200; 1600m 1 0312 Diamond Prince 2 62.5 M. Gillies 2 0032 Aychere 3 61.0 S. Jenkins 3 0032 Double Header 7 59.5 4 2221 Sfakia 16 59.5 5 1750 Tom Dee 1 59.5 G. Harris 6 0031 Internationale 5 59.0 7 0633 Gay Trump 12 58.5 P. Goss 8 4997 Pacific Charger 4 58.5 9 3962 Purgola 8 58.5 10 0405 Ben Bolton 14 58.0 13 66 Ego 17 57.5 G. Williams 14 0300 Flint Road 18 57.5 16 8950 Deltula 10 57.0 17 First Time 19 57.0 19 908 Waimanu Lady 6 57.0 Scratched: Cause for Pride, Latin Affair, Prouty, Laba Lame. Race 2 12.45 PLUNKET NURSERY HANDICAP $3200; two-year-olds; 1200m 2 1723 Natural Star 6 54.5 3 3713 Illa Marie 3 52.5 M. Lyndon 4 2 Sir Zephyr 7 52.0 G. Phillips 5 2 On The March 15 51.5 6 2230 Sound Susie 5 51.5 B. Hibberd 7 0423 Strong and True 2 51.5 8 5722 Chobar 16 51.0 9 358 Chelsea Bridge 4 50.5 10 Tarz Blarney 8 P. Fearon 50.5 11 Think Tank 1 P. Mercer 50.5 12 83 Donna’s Habit 13 50.0 14 8 Nicolas Rdin 11 50.0 16 Sneeky Spi 18 B. Griffin 49.0 18 877 Grey Bo 9 48.0 19 606 So Discreet 12 48.0 P. Ayres Scratched: Halley’s Comet, Lord Palfinger, Kanapaali Ali, Ring Twice. Race 3 1.20 PACIFIC MAIDEN NO. 1 $2600; 1400m i Ahoy 15 P. Fearon 54.0 2 0770 Auland Chief 8 54.0 3 0 Belle Amirrik 12 54.0 4 By Rein 14 P. Mercer 54.0 6 Desert Air 10 W. Skelton 54.0 7 0 Digby 16 54.0 8 0 Fairy Post 1 54.0 B. Beamsley 9 3502 Honiton 17 54.0 10 5 Kingston Flyer 21 54.0 12 0008 Mac’s A Million 13 54.0 13 07 Maristoi 4 54.0 14 08 Nordic Gold 2 54.0 J. Walker 15 Ounces 24 B. Griffin 54.0 16 Polynesia 18 54.0

17 3203 Quickfire 9 54.0 G. Phillips 18 0 Rojiman 22 54.0 19 Shandy Lass 6 54.0 20 9008 Simplicity 7 54.0 21 007 St Mary 23 54.0 22 06 Tryan Stopper 11 54.0 23 900 Wattson 19 G. Williams 54.0 24 0604 Zeiss 3 K. Treweek 54.0 Emergencies: Polynesia, Honiton, Digby. Scratched: ' Ahoy. Cinda Bella, Lanson. Race 4 2.10 T.A.B. TREBLE TINAKOR! HANDICAP $3400; 1400m 1 1237 Monkey King 3 P. Fearon 57.0 2 3 5421 Cameo Gold 15 1220 Grace and Style 10 B. Beamsley 54.5 54.5 4 9401 Royal Suit 7 V. Fechner 54.5 6 21 Amber Man 5 P. Ayres 54.0 7 1 Merry Avon 1 54.0 8 9 2128 Nordic Fire 2 047 Martian Princess 8 54.0 53.5 10 2716 Zandette 4 53.5 11 0014 Tippler 9 B. Griffin 53.0 12 500 Trade Fair 6 G. Elliot 53.0 13 8620 Lady Gilda 11 M. Barnsley 52.5 14 089 Alrita 12 51.5 15 870 Cruachan 13 Scratched: Seftan. 51.0 Sir

PACIFIC MAIDEN NO. 2 $2600; 1400m 1 0243 Adios Lad 13 54.0 2 623 Another Kiss 8 N. Harris 54.0 3 63 Beau Duke 4 G. Clutterbuck 54.0 4 7008 Blue Oregon 19 54.0 5 Cee Jay Bee 1 M. Campbell 54.0 6 Count Bernard 14 D. Peake 54.0 7 4 Dew Lea 12 M. Lyndon 54.0 8 22 Ekaross 22 54.0 9 First Time 7 54.0 10 070 Juccini 11 P. Fearon 54.0 11 0 Lady Merion 15 B. Griffin 54.0 12 40 Linton Gold 23 54.0 13 Mac’s Queen 3 54.0 14 4430 Mee Lai 9 54.0 15 000 On The Town 5 54.0 16 4 Party Time 2 M. Barnsley 54.0 17 6 Poppa’s Pride 21 54.0 18 0449 Rega Lee 17 G. Phillips 54.0 19 0 Salt Spray 20 54.0 20 0084 Sharynlee 6 54.0 21 Skier 16 54.0 22 000 Trisox 10 54.0 23 900 Unique Gift 18 W. Skelton 54.0 Emergencies: Linton Gold, Salt Spray, Mee Lai, On Town, First Time. The

Race 9 5.15 TAB. TREBLE T.A.B. QUINELLA SILVERSTREAM HANDICAP $3800; 1600m 1 7321 Bronze Valley 14 P. Goss 56.5 2 3531 Aptitude 9 N. Harris 55.5 3 3471 Sans Tache 12 P. Mercer 54.0 4 8201 Silver Drift 11 B. Hibberd 53.5 7 6124 Gritain3 G. Phillips 51.0 8 5410 Soak 5 51.0 9 2013 Star Lear 2 50.0 10 3063 Count Makor 4 D. Peake 49.0 11 34 Seawey 10 49.0 12 7 Taipana 1 49.0 13 0406 Anyway 7 T. Allan 48.5 14 8846 Tirpitz 6 48.0 Scratched: Call It Quits, Omanuku Ash.