Fothers attempting to break barrier

Press, 31 August 1984, Page 22

Fothers attempting to break barrier

Special correspondent Wellington

The Taipan II three-year-old, Fothers, will be attempting to break through an eight-year barrier when he contests the 522,500 Tim Rogers Stakes at Wanganui tomorrow.

The race has provided lean pickings for three-year-olds since Mayo Mellay completed the Wanganui Guineas-Seiverwright Stakes double back in 1976.

The weight-for-age event on the second day of the Wanganui Jockey Club’s spring meeting has had several name changes over the last decade and became the Tim Rogers Stakes two years ago.

Fothers and another three-year-old, Great Chevalier, had to play second fiddle to the filly Avana in the Wanganui Breeders’ Guineas last Saturday but their weight advantage brings them to the forefront of discussions tomorrow. Fothers was unfortunate to draw the outside of the 11-horse field in the Guineas and was caught three wide for much of the journey. He has fared much better this time, starting from No. 3 at the tricky 1600 m barrier. Great Chevalier has also drawn well at No. 1.

The two other three-year-olds have both proven themselves against older horses — Fothers winning a class 1'

handicap at Pukekohe on August 4 and Great Chevalier winning the weight-for-age Foxbridge Plate at Te Rapa on August 18. Peter Johnson will again be on Fothers while the apprentice, Roy McKay, will take over on Great Chevalier. Both horses promise to be hard to beat. Best of the older horses could be Manchu. He was just pipped by Zelazny in a similar event at Hastings last Friday and should have improved with the race. Last year’s winner Al Dwain cannot be discounted despite his lack of recent racing, while Walksfar would be a real threat on wet ground. Rose and This-

tie, Zelazny, Yale and Always Summer also demand some support. Kiwi, back on the Melbourne Cup trail, will be the centre of attention in the Higgle Handicap (2000 m the first leg of the T.A.B. double. After a bold race fresh-up at Foxton, it would be no surprise to see him repeat last year’s victory in the race.

Gaimoss and Saddlelight, seventh and eighth respectively in the Centennial race at Hastings last Friday, loom as the main dangers. Kerykeion and Kidnapping could fight out the finish of the Wanganui Motors Handicap, the second leg.