Consistent Radiant King favoured for Blenheim

Press, 24 June 1985, Page 34

Consistent Radiant King favoured for Blenheim

From JEFF SCOTT, in Blenheim

The highly promising young Blenheim pacer, Radiant King, looks poised to record his fourth win in as many starts on the Waterlea course when he contests the Chardon Winter Cup at the Marlborough Trotting Club’s meeting today. A close relative of the former big Australian pacer, Ardstraw (Imin 59.55), Radiant King could not have been any more impressive than he was when winning the second leg of the T.A.B. double on the first day of the winter meeting on Saturday. After drawing wide in a mobile 2300 m event, the Honking Andy-Radiant Light gelding was forced three wide in midfield before moving up to be in the open at the 1300 m. He surged to the lead early in the run home and although driven out over the last 100 m, never looked like losing, winning by two lengths. If this talented three-year-old in Max Miller’s

Blenheim team can win again today, he will collect a bonus for the most consistent horse in the Seddon Shield Districts competition. This consists of a ?1200 racing sulky and liquor to the value of $lOO for the winner.

After the first day, Radiant King has 25 points, three behind the present leader, Sumae, while Lordshipman is lying third with 24 points. Hamy’s Pride, which enjoyed a perfect trail behind the pacemaking Lisa Hest on the first day in the Dominion Breweries Pace, then outfinished her by a head, will be in demand again. He has been a model of consistency and the 10m penalty he incurred for winning on Saturday should not keep him out of the finish. His successful driver, Colin de Filippi, was in fine touch on the first day, winning three and edging past his brother, Michael, as the most successful reinsman at Waterlea since the allweather track was intro-

duced. Lisa Hest was gallant in defeat on Saturday and makes the strongest appeal of the front-line horses. Along with Hamy’s Pride, she was six lengths clear of the remainder on the first day and it is hard to picture them not being in the finish again. Mark Seven produced an improved showing on Saturday, finishing strongly but distantly for third and should be even better suited by the extra distance today. The Rangiora pacer was impressive winning a hattrick on the Christmas-New Year circuit at Motukarara, Ashburton and Addington, but has failed to reproduce the same sparkle after a let-up and could be peaking again. Armorel and Watbro Cloud got too far off the pace over 2300 m on Saturday, both doing well to finish close up, while Aran Blaze, already the winner of three at Waterlea in past raids here, did not have much luck in the running on

Saturday, but could surprise with a more favourable passage today. Watchit looks well-placed to complete a favourite’s double in the second leg, the Cobb and Co. Mobile Pace. The talented three-year-old son of Pass With Care from the same family as the former good Central Otago winner, Tetarney (Imin 55.8 s in America), came with a paralysing finish from far back on the turn to win easily on Saturday and from the ace here his chances of completing a double for the meeting look second to none.

Delwyn Lass and Cher A Dream are racing honestly and are also well drawn to be in the finish over the 1700 m sprint, while Knight’s Armour and Lochout are other prospects. Simon David, in spite of an awkward draw (one on the second row without scratchings), looks a readymade favourite for the third leg of today’s T.A.B. treble. Although the beaten favourite when third in the

corresponding race on Saturday, he paced an enorm : ous race. After beginning greenly and being caught "off the track” in the early stages, then progressing four and three wide from the rear to join issue with the leaders from the 500 m, he showed commendable fight to only go under by a nose and a head in a desperate four-way finish. While there must be an element of caution as to him racing in the field from the outset, something he has not had to do in only two race starts, there is ,no doubting his natural ability. Some Event, a solid third to Delacouri and the backmarker, Mendelspride, on Saturday, could come out on top in the second leg of the treble today over a shorter 2700 m, while Tenner Reef, which was caught wide in midfield for much of his race on Saturday, is entitled to another chance when assessing prospects for an open field to contest the first leg.