Johnny Courtell looks top prospect at Nelson

Press, 14 June 1984, Page 30

Johnny Courtell looks top prospect at Nelson

G. K. YULE

The Rangiora trainer, lan Cameron, has enjoyed a most successful season and he should extend his record with the small team he has engaged at the Nelson Trotting Club’s winter meeting, which begins at Richmond Park tomorrow.

Among the members of his team down to race are Gamekeeper, Palladium, Johnny Courtell and Aran Blaze, and his other drives include Captain Phillips, in the Norwich Winterthur Insurance Handicap, the second leg of the T.A.B. double, Owetere and Silverthorn. Johnny Courtell, in the Peter Malone Handicap, looks probably the best chance Cameron will have of winning, but several of the others have gone well enough to be leading prospects in their races, which at best could be described as having attracted fields of fair quality. Johnny Courtell looked almost a certainty beaten at Rangiora last Saturday when he dashed through the middle of the leading group in the last few strides of a 2600 m race and failed by only a head to catch Catalpa. A few strides later he was clearly in front. Johnny Courtell is an eight-year-old by a former top trotter in Johnny Gee. He is no champion, but, apart from Laracon, this is the weakest field he is ever likely to strike. With average luck he should win quite comfortably. Laracon was impressive when he won well in fast time on the first day of the

Ashburton winter meeting. He is not noted for consistency, but a repeat of his most recent run would give him a great chance of extending Johnny Courtell. Tarex has been trotting round recording rather ordinary efforts, but he has been meeting much stronger opposition. His ability should carry hin into the finish, even from his handicap of 50m. Supernatural and Count Blaze appeal most of the remainder. SELECTIONS 10.45: Gold Row, Impresario, Orphan Lass. 11.20: Century Pride, Lowcliffe, Tuft’s Star. 11.55: Mac’s Gift, Frostland, Rokby. 12.30: Swift Hurricane, Brad Way, Timandra. 1.5: Falcon Frost, True Lock, Omanu. 1.40: Memphis, Nardin Lustre, Luca Lad. 2.20: Johnuy Courtell, Laracon, Tarex. 2.55: Donagaln, Bachelor Creed, Titian Gold. 3.30: Lost, Thunder Ridge, Newport Lord. 4.5: Blue Willow, Elaine Rodney, Sneaky Adam. Race 6 1.40 T.A.B. DOUBLE T.A.B. QUINELLA T.A.B. TRIFECTA CALTEX GOLD CUP $5100; C 3; 3200 m 1 0060 Truant Pets 1 It Failed at Ashburton on

June 4 when having first start for two months. Capable on his day and might not be far away. L. O’Reilly. 2 6131 Nardin Lustre 2 It Led all the way for a narrow sprint win at Rangiora last Saturday. Should manage extra dista’nce. C. de Filippi. 3 0314 Jovial Jan 3 It Racing generously and on good footing could prove to be the hardest to beat. R. Alfeld. 4 8556 Centennial Song 3 It First start since March 5. Good in heavy going and in such conditions could upset. B. Hill. 5 4732 Memphis 5 It Third to Chataway at Ashburton and then second to Elite Patron at Rangiora, making ground on both occasions. Top chance. M. Smolensk!. 6 0008 Formal Lord 6 It First start since March and will have to be taken on trust. 8 5700 Spinstar 8 It Form weak, but in this type of field could be considered as an upset chance. P. Shand. 9 6139 Classical 9 It Has not raced since September. Has sound record on grass and would have to be considered. M. de Filippi. 10 0004 Luca Lad 1 10 Battled away for a moderate fourth to Helter Skelter over this distance at Ashburton on June 4. Could be placed again. R. May. 11 05 Russel Garnett 2 10 First start since October and will have to be taken

on trust. P. Jones. 12 1500 Secraf Knight 3 10 Failed at Ashburton, but before that had been most consistent. Too good to leave out. M. Edmonds. 14 7007 Jester Chance 1 20 Dismal showing at Ashburton. Could appreciate return to grass track racing. D. Jones. Scratched: Chataway, Deborah Dundee. Race 8 2.55 T.A.B. DOUBLE NORWICH WINTERTHUR INSURANCE HANDICAP $3050; C2; 2200 m 1 4900 Malakula 1 It First start since November. Speedy type well capable of a bold run fresh up. R. Payne. 2 4500 King Turk 2 It Latest form only fair. Has shown great ability and times and much too good to leave out. D. Cleat 3 1010 Lady Singer 3 It Failed badly at Rangiora after winning at Ashburton. If allowed to dictate her own rules could be hard to head. M. Heenan. 4 5030 Titian Gold 4 It Failed at Addington on April 21, but before that was placed at Methven. Good on grass and could struggle into finish. P. Young. 5 7180 Who Knows 5 It Stopped badly at Rangiora last week. Big improvement needed. M. Pash. 6 9020 Tennessee Waltz 6 It No danger at Rangiora after being placed at Ashburton in slow time. Upset

chance at best. C. de Filippi. 7 3700 Del Haven 7 It First start since March. Has shown enough ability at times to be an outside chance.

8 8804 Bachelor Creed 8 It Improved run when fourth at Ashburton on June 4. Looks well and should not be far away. R. May.

9 9413 Donagaln 9 ’ It Latest racing has been at Hutt Park. Consistency

entitles him to serious consideration. A. Butt. 11 0000 Isotronic 11 It Out of form and hard to

recommend. R. Belcher. 12 4306 Sierra Byrd 12 It Fair race when sixth at

Addington on April 21 at

latest start. Must be respected. L. O’Reilly. 13 0750 Captain Phillipa 13 It Form background weak, but could be good

enough to get into the finish. I. Cameron. 14 48 Noble Rex 14 It First start since October. Showed much ability

earlier and could surprise. D.

Jones. 15 3050 Watbro Ford 15 It Failed at Ashburton on June 4, but some of earlier

efforts were good enough to

get him into this finish. K. Vincent. 16 0567 Wee Dundee 16 It

No danger at Ashburton on June 4. This track could

suit her. G. Lee. Scratched: Knowing Chance.