November Gold in line for win

Press, 30 August 1985, Page 21

November Gold in line for win

Special correspondent Auckland November Gold has the pace to lead all the way in the CB Clarke Memorial at Avondale tomorrow and if he runs on as he did the time before last, at Ellerslie, he will be very hard to catch. As favourite, November Gold went disappointingly when only sixth in his latest attempt, at Te Rapa on August 17. It was not the first time though that November Gold has raced below expectations at Te Rapa. Perhaps he prefers going righthanded, the way they race at Ellerslie and Avondale. In his latest Ellerslie race, a 2000 m event on August 10, November Gold made all the pace and cleared out for an easy win. He carried 56kg and with a lower scale of weights is down half a kilogram for tomorrow. The 2000 m of the Avondale Jockey Club’s Clarke Memorial will suit November Gold. From the inside at the barrier he can be guar-

anteed one of the leaders around the first turn and a fair way in front of slower starters like Koiro Corrie May, Cattivo and Ran Past, which nevertheless need to be considered.

Now six years old Koiro Corrie May has failed this time in, since the late autumn, to do as well as expected. Certainly she has managed three third placings but the latest time eight and a half lengths behind November Gold at Ellerslie.

Cattivo, beautifully bred, by Sovereign Edition from Lanciare, which goes back to Dulcie, has begun racing right up to her impressive lines with two wins and two second placings in her last four starts.

She battled hard though unavailingly behind Noble Encounter at Pukekohe early this month and, the Saturday before last, won a 2200 m race at Te Rapa. Ran Past, a seven-year-old gelding by Rangong, was considered sufficiently good to be put in the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups. He has shown himself, cer-

tainly to be a very fair stayer but generally on firmer ground than is likely for tomorrow. Ran Past has not raced for two and a half months or more so it is quite on the cards that he will need this one. Crown and Anchor is racing consistently, due for another win. Librici will be a centre of attention when he parades for the second leg of the T.A.B. double, the John K. Terry Handicap. Such a fine performer as a three-year-old, Librici now five, has not raced in New Zealand since he finished sixth over 1900 m, at Rotorua last spring. Soon afterwards he had to be eased out of training, his candidature for the Japan Cup withdrawn. Librici is of such quality that he must be respected, even after a such a layoff from racing. He showed his readiness to start his comeback when first equal in a 1200 m barrier trial at Thames last Tuesday. The hardest for Librici to beat will probably be Balanchine and Glenstrae.