Twelve Gauge should take beating at Otaki

Press, 13 December 1985, Page 23

Twelve Gauge should take beating at Otaki

Special correspondent Wellington The Auckland Cup candidate, Twelve Gauge, looks a ready-made favourite for the $lO,OOO Horowhenua Centennial Cup, first leg of the Otaki Maori Racing Club’s TAB. double tomorrow. Twelve Gauge, which won the Corolla Handicap at Trentham on Saturday, was expected to run at Avondale, but now he seems more likely to start at Otaki where the company is not as strong. In an even field, two mares, Saddleback and Nova Lady, could present

most of the problems. Saddleback has not raced since the New Zealand Cup meeting where she won the Benson and Hedges Gold Cup then finished fourth in the New Zealand Cup. Nova Lady failed by only a short-neck to beat Eva Grace in the Dulcie Stakes at Te Rapa last time out At her previous start she was fourth in the Canterbury Gold Cup at Riccarton. Fuego is another class galloper whose recent record includes a win in the Watkins Handicap at Trentham in October. In one run since, he finished fourth in the Kbtorua Cup.

Tranquil Sea, which won fresh-up here in September, and Tommo’s Tornado, being tried over more ground after a win in the 1600 m Huttons Handicap at Trentham last month, then a handy fifth in the Levin Cup Stakes, might do best of the others. Mishare and Gay Kitty look likely to dispute the outcome of the second leg, the Stewards’ Handicap. Mi Share’s recent record includes wins at Awapuni and Franklin. Meantime she was twice second at Riccarton. Gay Kitty recaptured her best form again with a last- | start win at Woodville. j