Hands Down the one to beat

Press, 16 August 1985, Page 11

Hands Down the one to beat

By

G. K. YULE

The evergreen Hands Down, now 10, is on line to win the Metropolitan Club’s feature race on the first night of its national meeting for an unprecedented fifth time, but he could find it hard to match his younger stablemate, Premiership. The important lead-up race to November’s Toyota New Zealand Cup has had a change of name and is now the Gainsborough Motor Lodge Handicap, with a hoist in stake to $12,000. Hands Down won the race four times in a row from 1980 and last year went within centimetres of another victory when he crossed the line locked with Norton and Our Mana, again among his rivals tomorrow.

Last year Hands Down started from 25m, and tomorrow he has been let up 10m, a kindly gesture by the handicapper taking a line through his defeat of Roydon Glen at last week’s Addington trials. Even so, it could be Premiership which comes

out on top. This up-and-coming six-year-old has been a slow-maturing type and his trainer has never over-extended him. The worth of this policy was emphasised last autumn when the son of Lordship ran Our Mana to a head in the Easter Cup. Almost three weeks later he was desperately unlucky when third to Lord Louie in the New Brighton Cup. He, too, caught the eye at last week’s Addington trials, his effort suggesting that he was well forward and ready to give a good account of himself first up.

The stablemates could find Likely Lord the most likely obstacle to success. A lightly-raced nine-year-old, Likely Lord struck a “royal” patch of form late last season when he won at four of his final five starts, culminating in a 4min 11.8 s 3200 m victory at Addington on May 24.

He has sufficient racing at trials to bring him close to his peak as he attempts to gain the win required to assure him of a start in the

big November staying race. Last week he was never in the clear and finished full of running and quite close to Hands Down. Then there are such proven performers as Norton and Our Mana, but they by no means exhaust the list of possibilities in what should be an intriguing encounter.

Borana looks close to worthwhile form, while Lord Louie could improve sufficiently as a result of recent trials to be prominent, and Spry Joker might not be that far away. Sir Castleton stands out in the second leg of the T.A.B. double, the Angus Meats Handicap, a 2000 m event for top trotters. The champion is on 10m, a mark unlikely to stop him gaining his fourteenth success on the course.

Mister Morn and Captain Carthew could be as hard as any of his rivals, while Simon Katz, Game Command, Loyal Step, Mendelspride and Globe Tour will have their adrtiirers.

7 9111 Likely Lord 7R. Cameron It Impressive when winning three on the “trot” last autumn. Racing at trials suggests he should make a big impact in this. 8 7860 Norton IK. O’Reilly 10 Won this race last year. Has done well enough at trials to be respected. 9 1215 Our Mana IC. de Filippi 15 Sure to be improved by recent trials. Looks ready for a big run, but set a difficult task. 10 3630 Hands Down URM. Butt 15 Veteran of four wins in this event. In wonderful order and in spite of handicap looks the one to beat. Race 7 8.50

Race 8 D 9.25 ANGUS MEATS HANDICAP $8500; OC; trotters; 2000 m 1 0910 Worthy Adioa 1 It Has not raced since Rowe Cup on May 18. Goes well when fresh, but would be preferred over more ground. 2 2373 Captain Carthew 2. . G. Wolfenden It Has fashioned a sound record mainly as a stayer, in Auckland. Well seasoned and must be respected. 3 7041 Ranger Globe 2 .... M. de Filippi It Latest win was at Ashburton in June. Should be capable of a sharp sprint and by no means a forlorn chance. 4 8080 Rona’s Pride 4M. O'Leary It Speedy, but not noted for consistency. Upset chance at best. 5 0260 Loyal Step 4R. Cameron It Should be improved by recent trials. Speedy, but not the most consistent. 6 0984 Mister Morn 6G. Shand It Has not raced since April 20, but has looked to be forward at recent trials. Could be one for odds. 8 6821 Mendelspride BS. Miller It Beat a weak field at Blenheim in June last time out. Promising earlier and might get into the finish. 9 2000 Globe Tour 9L. Bebbington It Best four-year-old trotter of last season. Has had a chance to freshen and should be a top chance. 10 0009 Trix’s Chance 10 It Makes little appeal on showings late last season. 11 1980 Simon Katz 11.... R. Prendergast It One of better horses of his gait last term. Should be improved by recent trials and could be placed. 12 4609 Game Command 12. . . .1. Cameron It Not too consistent at times, but a peak run would be good enough to get him right into the finish. Can both sprint and stay. 13 1212 Sir Castleton ID. Townley 10 Top trotter on what looks to be a luxury mark. In spite of handicap should be a class above the field. Scratched: Hard Cash.

Jetbet: 6 Race 1 5.35 MARK BROWNIE AUTOMOBILES MOBILE PACE $5800; C4 and 5; 2600m 1 2778 Jovial Jan 1 . . . . R. Alfeld It 2 0400 Streets Ahead 2. . . . . R. Cameron It 3 9402 Aran Blaze 3 . . .1. Cameron It 4 8233 Loveridge 4 . . .R. Brosnan It 5 7711 Venus Boy 5 . . . . D. Nyhan It 6 0014 Rosin 6 .K. W. O’Reilly It 9 0540 Isel 9 D. Butt It 10 0920 Garrison’s Image 10. . . I. Schwamm It 11 0055 Toris 11 . ... P. Shand It 12 1409 Armorel 12 A. Butt It Scratched: Lisa Rest, Beaudiene Byrd, Lightning Bolt. Race 2 6.5 I.T.O.C. PACE $4800; three-year-olds; 2000m 1 050 Spring Feeling 1. . . . . . .D. Nyhan It 2 Dream Lustre 2 . . . . .C. de Filippi It 3 5044 Stanley Steamer 3 . .... J. Noble It 4 Ross Byrd 4 . . .F. Fletcher It 5 Keystone Surprise 5 It 6 600 Gunpowder 6 . .J. Thompson It 8 Nugent du Jour 8. . . . . . P. Ryder It 9 0880 First Ace 9 . . . . P. Shand It 11 898 Bandstan 11 . . . D. Mangos It 12 2 Pass The Jug 12. . . .... J. Curtin It 13 0731 Dakota 1 . . C. Nordqvist 10 14 4524 Bionic Raider 2 . . . . . R. Cameron 10 15 031 Trifecta 3 . . .R. Brosnan 10 16 5156 The Mark 4 . ,T. Thompson 10 Scratched: Colonel Poplar, Bossy Star. Race 3 T 6.40 SHAKESPEARE RESTAURANT HANDICAP TROT $5000; C3; trotters; 2600m 1 3201 Lord Seaton 1 . . . . . . .K. Townley It 2 1024 Pitcher 2 . .T. Thompson It 3 0000 Barracuda 3 . . I. Schwamm It 4 0718 Shavarno 4 . . N. Hamilton It 5 0303 Sure Winner 5. . . . . M. de Filippi It 6 9097 Evander Gratis UR 1 . L. Bebbington It 7 0000 Silver Spot UR 2 . . It 8 3865 Blanche’s Song 1 . . .K. W. O’Reilly 10 9 7070 No More 2 . . . .L. Smillie 10 10 2611 Wedgewood 3 . . . . . .C. de Filippi 10 11 3051 Wee Mull 4 . . . . J. Brown 10 13 7800 Sheltoe 6 . . .R. Brosnan 10 14 1 875 Jimmy Scott 1. . . . . . . .A. Cowan 20 15 4622 Jamie Higgins 2 . . . R. Butt 20 16 008 Roy Hall 3 . .J. Smolensk! 20 Scratched: Swift Dell. Race 4 T, TF 7.15 263 BEALEY AVENUE MOBILE PACE $5000, C3 and 4; 2600m 1 0480 Mister Castle 1 . . . R. Dunn It 2 089 The Ringer 2 . . . . P. Young It 3 5200 Proud News 3 . . . . . . . . P. Ryder It 4 5004 Greg Patron 4 . . . . .... J. Curtin It 5 6133 Gold and Black 5. . . J. Carmichael It 6 9701 Nanoose 6 . M. de Filippi It 7 1080 Koau Trev 7 .... P. Jones It 8 7900 Lord Tryax 8 . .1. Schwamm It 9 0009 Russel Garnett 9. . . . . . G. Mangos It 10 3186 Golden Wave 10. . . R. May It 11 3111 Motu Jodi 11 . C. de Filippi It 13 77 Noble Shan 13... . . . . . P. Shand It 14 0927 Sure He Can 14 . . . . . .1. Cameron It Scratched: Owhatta Lady. Race 5 T 7.45 DIRECT MARKET SUPPLIES PACE $5050; four-year-olds; 2600m 2 01 Ian's Gift 2 .K. W. O’Reilly it 3 6231 Free Lancer 3 . . . . P. O’Reilly jun. it 4 2009 Albear 4 . ,M. Edmonds It 5 59 Southern Raider 5. . .... J. Crofts It 6 2752 El Victory 6 D. Butt It 7 2223 Art MacFaber 7 . . . . M. de Filippi It 8 184 Probable 8 . . .1. Cameron It 9 01 Fredericton 9 R. Butt It 10 6108 Boyden Star 10 . . . . . R. Cameron It 11 20 Smirk Jones 11 . . . . T. Henderson It 12 0051 Tuapeka Wreka UR. . . . . R. Payne It 15 4167 Rotary Motor 3. . . . . . . . N. Benny 10 16 9551 Thornlea 4 J. P. Smolensk! 10 Scratched: Jack Hammer, Even Key, Geniality. Race 6 D 8.20 GAINSBOROUGH MOTOR LODGE HANDICAP $12,000; OC; 2600m 1 11 Lord Louie 1 . . .1. Cameron It First start since winning Brighton Cup on April 25. Should be improved as a result of trials, but could still need racing. 2 9590 Mighty Me 2 P. O’Reilly, jun. It Form fell away last season, will have to be taken on trust. 3 7565 Spry Joker 3 . J. Carmichael It Disappointing late last season, but opposition was stiff. Promising and might not be that far away. 4 0223 Premiership 4 . . . . A. Butt It Unlucky in Easter and Brighton Cups at latest starts. Grand run at trials recently suggests a top run. 5 9708 Kind Nature 5 . . . . . . J. Hampton It First start since last September. Will probably need race. 6 4236 Borans 6 .... P. Jones It Has thrived during winter lay-off. Impressive at recent trials and should be right in at the finish.

DALGETY REAL ESTATE MOBILE PACE $4000; Cl; 2600m 1 1006 Pop Star 1 . . . R. Cameron It 2 0031 Star Status 2 . M. de Filippi . . T. McMillan It 3 5170 Mystery Affair 3 . . . It 4 0093 Alias Bebe 4 . . C. Newfield It 5 0063 Pseudonym 5 . .J. Smolensk! It 6 3760 Maoic Dragon 6 . . . . . .R. Brosnan It 7 0290 Netherton 7 A. Cowan It 8 9913 Worth Something 8. J. Hay It 9 9646 Goodnight Kiwi 9 . . R. May It 10 6135 Lady Skipper 10. . . . . . L. Thomas It 11 9821 Uncle Rob 11 . . . T. Thomas It 12 5340 Boyden Royale 12 . . P. O’Reilly jun. It 15 5664 Flying Folly 15... , J. Curtin It 16 0002 Brother’s Pride 16. . A. Butt It Scratched: Dancer Command, Harbour Master.

RaC GALLERY RESTAURAN1 $4500; C2; 2( 1 5451 Gleniti 1 9.55 F MOBILE PACE >00m M. Butt It 2 341 Star Lady 2 R. Alfeld It 3 4608 Maniapoto 3 . . . . . P. O'Reilly jun. It 4 5006 Fell OH 4 R. Payne It 6 0552 Lordshipman 6. . . . . . M. Perriton It 7 0818 Brazen Lord 7 . . . P. Young It 8 6861 Cool Scotch 8 . . . . ,K. W. O’Reilly It 9 3184 Simon David 9. . . J. Hay It 10 3357 Macandrew 10 . . . . . . . D. Larkins It 11 9850 Saucy Star 11 . . . . . . .1. Cameron It 13 8003 Lively Too 13. . . . J. Curtin It 14 6141 Olde Oak Clare 14 R. May It 15 5100 Charlotte Trixie 15 A. Butt It 16 0004 Bubbles 16 . . . . R. Brosnan It Scratched: Elbon Blue, Skipper Dale. Race 10 10.25 COTSWOLD INN-TRODUCTION MOBILE PACE $7500; C6-C8; 2600m 1 0079 Best Dream 1 . . . E. Cowie It 2 2707 Spangled Lord 2. . . . . . K. Vincent It 3 2454 Regal Nugent 3 . . . . J. Carmichael It 4 0011 Pixanover 4 . . G. Wolfenden It 5 1143 Liquid Lightning 5. . . . .R. Brosnan It 6 3680 Lew Foy 6 . .K. W. O’Reilly It 7 4096 Chataway 7 P. Jones It 8 1110 Select Wave 8 . . . R. Dunn It 9 0923 Montrose 9 . . . .1. Cameron It 10 1780 Ruthless 10 R. Nyhan It 11 7212 Lady El 11 R. Butt It