Robindale Lord to figure prominently

Press, 9 August 1985, Page 24

Robindale Lord to figure prominently

Special correspondent Auckland

Robindale Lord’s laststart failure deserves to be ignored by betters when assessing prospects for the main race at the Franklin Trotting Club’s meeting at Alexandra Park tonight. The talented Drurytrained gelding was a warm favourite in the Radio Hauraki Handicap at the Auckland Club’s meeting on July 20 and finished eighth.

But in the words of his trainer-drive, Peter Wolfenden, he was “pushed all over the place.” So much so that he was three and four wide at some stages of the 2700 m race.

Robindale Lord had shown fine form beforehand in a comparatively light racing season — he had 11 starts altogether. Since the Radio Hauraki Handicap he

has done well in training.

It is unlikely that he will receive, in the Salad Foods, Ltd Handicap, such a poor run as he had last time out. With only a reasonable passage, it will be surprising if he is not very prominent at the finish. The race has drawn a pretty good field of intermediate-class pacers. Robindale Lord apart, there is bound to be good backing for Potkova, Edwin Eden, Late Lustre and Sam Tudor, and that by no means exhausts the list of possibilities. Potkova has become the horse of the moment with another impressive win last Saturday at Cambridge.

He has had two races since resuming after being off the racing scene for four months and has scored each time, so maintaining a re-

markably consistent record — only twice further back than fourth in 19 races. Edwin Eden looks the pick of the front markers. He has been racing in much-improved style and last Saturday at Cambridge looked a bit unlucky when second to Potkova.

Late Lustre, after a string of good performances, was well beaten in her latest race but she had a hard run after starting from a second-row position. Seafield Captain makes strong appeal in the Dricon Dash Mobile Pace, the second leg of the T.A.B. double.

He has not won since he notched a hat-trick a few months ago but he has raced well and without much luck.

His main opposition may come from Whakaki and Huriana Lad.