Tips from The • Sportsman •

Press, 20 September 1985, Page 23

Tips from The • Sportsman •

Back everything as long as it is by Lordship. That seems the best way to attack the Methven Cup on the big grass track on Saturday. The champion stallion has five sons in the race and four of them are likely to be sharing the favouritism. Opinion will probably be divided on whether Freightman or Likely Lord will have that honour and you have to remember that Enterprise has run second in the race first up in the last two years. However, for each way value I’d have a look at SPANGLED LORD.

This fellow looks well seasoned for this and he had a handy record in provincial Cups on grass tracks having won the Westport and Nelson versions. This is a much tougher test but he could bob up in the money at false odds.

Even hardened punters have walked off the Methven course shattered men over the years and after a great day for the favourites last year we must be due for another series of upsets this time.

One of these could be COTTON MILL, Hughie Lowe's contrary old trotter who has shown plenty of ability at times. Cotton Mill has been putting his best foot forward at the trials lately and when he does that he’s got too much sauce for most maiden trotting fields. He could be at false odds this week. KOOBECAR has something to live up to in the Harrison Stakes. Her mum Race Book was a crack mare on any track but a real hummer on the Methven grass and her first foal

Great Value won at this meeting last year. FIRM OFFER is another with tradition about her and the Clark’s are bound to have her well forward for her season’s debut in the Methven Handicap. Her dam Fair Alda was never better than slogging around grass tracks and a close relation called Wing Commander first made a name for himself on this track. Firm Offer is a grand staying mare and worth following. If DANUM LADY got back into the field in the Marawhiti she could be the longshot for the day at Methven. She sprinted hard to lead last time out at Addington and it wasn’t surprising she faded in the run home. She can run a bit and the track here should suit her.

“Song and Dance” looks the theme of the Geraldine meeting at Orari on Monday. MY WALTZING FRIEND should give the others plenty to do in the second Aorangi Handicap which is a treble leg and NOBLE NOTE is getting such a dangerous place in the weights he must strike shortly. Then there is DANCING BELLE which is overdue to clear maidens and two others who look likely to do the same in VIRTUOSO and DANSEUSE ROYALE.

Our mystery horse this week is lining up in the second at Marton. He’s an Indian but no cowboy and in fact he wouldn’t be out of place as a guest on the Britannia.

Last week’s mystery horse was Supreme Seal (2nd $3.55).