Formidable Southland team going north

Press, 2 December 1985, Page 37

Formidable Southland team going north

Special correspondent Invercargill Southland’s assault on the New Zealand Messenger at Alexandra Park on December 27 gained impetus when Titan Chip and Chipaluck fought out the finish of the

F. ’and M. Bulling Mobile Pace at Wyndham on Saturday. Titan Chip, which raced without a cover or trail all the way, did best in a tight finish, stalling off Chipaluck, which enjoyed the run of the race, by a neck. Flying Count, the pacemaker, was cut out of third placing by a nose by Really Honkin, the hot favourite, which was given every chance in the “one-one” by Tony Herlihy.

titan Chip, an exceptionally big and rugged Transport Chip four-year-old, has now started 11 times, for six wins, two seconds and a third. A slow maturer, he has never stopped improving of late and was resuming after a brief freshener on Saturday. The winner of four of his five starts this season, he will race at the Wairio meeting next Saturday. If

he satisfies his ownertrainer, George Bennett, Titan Chip will travel to Auckland for the Messenger.

Chipaluck, making her four-year-old debut after two early season setbacks, was gallant in defeat. The race is certain to have improved her. Ronnie MacDonald, her part-owner and trainer, said the mare would definitely travel to Auckland for the Messenger. She too, will race at the Wairio meeting. Southland’s formidable Messenger representation will not be confined to Titan Chip and Chipaluck. Malaz, possibly the south’s best of his age, is also under orders for the big Auckland feature.

“He has done everything right lately. I couldn’t be happier with him,” Hamish Hunter, his trainer-driver, said on Saturday.