Rowe Cup aspirants on trial tonight

Press, 12 May 1984, Page 21

Rowe Cup aspirants on trial tonight

Special correspondent Auckland Basil Dean, Sir Castleton and Jenner, the “big three” among New Zealand trotters, are sure to dispute favouritism in the main race on the opening night of the Auckland Trotting Club’s Rowe Cup meeting at Alexandra Park this evening. The capacity field engaged in the Benson and Hedges Free-for-all also includes all the other leading contenders for the $55,000 Rowe Cup on the third night, next Saturday. Among them are Landora’s Pride, Tussle, Mulvena and Mini’s Pride. The Cambridge gelding, Jenner, so often a minor placegetter in races won by Sir Castleton or Basil Dean, will not have a better chance of beating the Ashburton stars. Jenner has drawn well in

the front row behind the mobile barrier and with two wins and a third in his last four races he is in top form. Both Basil Dean and Sir Castleton have also been racing particularly well but they are at a disadvantage in having to start from the second row. Over the sprint distance, traffic problems, which are very likely, could see them having to give Jenner a sizeable start when the field has settled down. The last time Basil Dean, Sir Castleton and Jenner met, they finished in that order in the New Zealand Trotting Championship at Addington on April 21. Basil Dean’s time of 3min 15.3 s was a national record for 2600 m (mobile), even beating the best ever done by a pacer. Basil Dean has had one race since, at Forbury Park

on April 28. He finished second to Game Command after being parked out most of the way. Sir Castleton has had a first, a second and a third in as many starts since returning from the Inter-Dominion Championships in Adelaide in February. Tussle has also been unlucky enough to draw a second-row barrier position in the Benson annd Hedges Free-for-all, while Landora’s Pride, very wide in the front line, is not much better off. Since racing with distinction at the Inter-Dominions — she was third to Sir Csstleton and Scotch Notch in the final — Tussle has won once from three attempts. Her success was at Addington on April 14, when she led from end to end in a 2000 m free-for-all. Sir Cas-

tieton was third, Basil Dean fifth, and Jenner tenth. Tussle is a noted sprinter and if luck in the running goes her way, she could be tough to beat. Intermission looks a good prospect for the Brownson Jewellers Free-for-all, the second leg of the T.A.B. double. He has not won since last September but with two seconds in his last three races he is showing good form again. Intermission’s main opposition looks like coming from Slugger and Vance Glory. Mighty Fella and Tabor also warrant strong consideration. Slugger broke and was always well back in the Cambridge Gold Cup last Friday. He is a talented young pacer and will be helped by the mobile dispatch.