Premiership could qualify for Winter Cup

Press, 18 May 1984, Page 19

Premiership could qualify for Winter Cup

By

JEFF SCOTT

Premiership will become eligible for a start in the $7OOO Canterbury Park Winter Cup at Addington Raceway next Friday if he is successful in the THC Hermitage Centennial Handicap at the Timaru Trotting Club’s meeting at Washdyke tomorrow.

The Lordship gelding, which was out of luck at the New Zealand Metropolitan meeting earlier this month, running on late for fourth on the first night and being unsuited by a slushy track on the second night, is a talented stayer which could make amends here. He has had a rewarding debut season, notching five wins and 11 placings from 21 starts for $14,520 in stakes from Derek Jones’ Templeton stable, and will

be suited by the extreme distance tomorrow. Bobanish and Miss Bromac. both of which have been racing to good purpose, are other form runners off the front which need another win here for a start in the CanterburyPark Winter Cup next Friday, and should both be prominent again. In Touch, which was tried without the use of spreaders last time out at Addington on May 9, won as he liked

by four lengths over tomorrow’s distance. The Ash-burton-trained son of Willie Win is a tough stayer and could be the hardest for Premiership to beat in the first leg of the T.A.B. double. Naval Officer, although coming back to a standing start, is sure to start a short-priced favourite in the second leg of the T.A.B. double, the Gordon’s Gin Pace. The New Zealand Derbywinner has won with ridi-

culous ease in his last two attempts since capturing the three-year-old classic and it is hard to envisage him being beaten again. The Midshipman gelding has begun slowly at the start at recent Wednesday trials but this should not be enough to prevent him from winning his fourth on end. Rapid Fella was 15 lengths in arrears of Naval Officer (mobile start) two

starts back. However, the standing start may prove a better leveller in this. He followed up that placing with a strong finish to win over a mile at Addington on May 9. Chataway, the runner-up in his last two outings, is racing honestly and will have supporters, while Bahrein. Boyden Lad and Trinity Chase are smart beginners which could be in the firing line throughout.