Uncle Alex drawn to win Timaru Challenge Stakes

Press, 9 January 1986, Page 17

Uncle Alex drawn to win Timaru Challenge Stakes

By

JEFF SCOTT

Uncle Alex is well drawn to make matters tough for his rivals in the $BOOO Dalgety Crown Travel Timaru Challenge Stakes, the first leg of the T.A.B. double, at the Timaru Trotting Club’s meeting at Washdyke tomorrow evening. In an open line up, Uncle Alex, drawn nicely at No. 3, should have a decided advantage, especially as his toughest opponent, Dream Lustre, will have to work a shade from the outside of the front-line at the mobile 2000 m start. Uncle Alex has shown himself to be a plucky stayer especially when racing handy to the pace, his two wins to date coming at Motukarara (when in the open) and at Rangiora on December 21, when he led and fought off the spirited challenge of the promising filly, Gina Rosa, which trailed'him to the straight. Added to that he has taken a placed mile record of 2 min 00.6 s at Addington on October 2 when he finished strongly for third to Captain Cavalla and Sir Alba in a heat of the Fay Richwhite Sires Stakes series. He seems capable of a strongly-run mobile 2000 m tomorrow.

Dream Lustre, the winner of four races (one penaltyfree), is the most tightly assessed runner in the field and must take beating. He resumed after a let-up by leading and being run down for third to Timandra at the Canterbury Park meeting on January 1, recording a smart 3 min 19.4 s for his placing, then had little luck on the second night, being denied the lead in the middle stages and wilting to finish sixth. Pathfinder, a half-brother by the ill-fated sire, Locarno, to the big Australian winner Panyan, made

an auspicious debut at Addington last Friday, when he overcame a bad passage to run fourth, albeit some 12 lengths from the winner. The West Melton-trained colt was forced very wide on the home turn, and under the circumstances his effort was encouraging and he will obviously improve with the outing.

Borderline continues to race solidly and will have prospects, while Stingray, which has a consistent re-

cord in the south, and the last-start winners, French Heritage and Happy Patron, are others which appear capable of further improvement.

Talisman should be a firm favourite for the second leg of the T.A.B. double, the Bailey Mazda Mobile Pace.

The five-year-old brother to Dryden Amanda (1 min 57.85) has looked most promising in 10 outings this season, winning his debut on

the Washdyke circuit on October 2 and adding three more wins since then, while he has also gained a second and three thirds.

He finished strongly for third to Andronicus and Lorfay over 2000 m in a 2 min 1.3 s clip on the first night at Canterbury Park, then ran Lorfay to half a length over 2600 m two nights later. This field certainly does not have the same depth and he looks a second-to-none chance.

Race 8 D 7.20 DALGETY CROWN TRAVEL TIMARU CHALLENGE STAKES MOBILE PACE $8000; three-year-olds; 2000 m 1 4049 Kolare Sterling 1. . . .C. McDonald It Placed maiden which has not raced since October 25. Should be held. 2 3465 Borderline 2A. Malcolmson It Forbury winner over 2700 m (mobile) in 3min 29.8 s in October, and solid efforts since. Should be thereabouts. 3 1534 Uncle Alex 3M. de Filippi It No luck since beating Gina Rosa at Rangiora four starts back. Placed in 2min 00.6 s at Addington for a mile earlier this season and this should suit 4 0 Affirmative 4 It No danger when making maiden debuf at Oamaru on December 14. 5 301 Happy Patron 5 B. McLellan It Omakau maiden winner by three and a half lengths on January 2. Shows promise and could surprise. 6 2321 French Heritage 6. . . !C. de Filippi It Promising filly which won Greymouth maiden easing up by three lengths. Could go on with it. ’ 7 7600 Calm Fella 7 It Form unimpressive in maiden company in south. 8 34 Pathfinder 8 .. . It Ran on wide out for distant fourth in Addington three-year-old race last week. Sure to be improved and keep on side. 9 6536 Dream Lustre 9R. Cameron It No luck from handicap mark at Addington last Friday, weakening late. Already the winner of four races this term and should take beating again. 10 Viewfield Prince 10 ... .1. Cameron It Down to make his debut from lan Cameron’s Femside stable. Qualified in 3min 15.4 s (2400). 11 0419 Enticing 11 It Won 2200 m at Motukarara in style but found three-year-old company stronger at Addington last Friday. 12 OEI President 12J. Hay it Failed to deliver the goods after starting a short-priced favourite in maiden debut at Motukarara. 13 875 Farm Boss 13 It Made some ground for fifth in Addington three-year-old race last Friday, and could be ready for quick improvement. 14 2102 Stingray 14J. Hunter It’ Came from second line to win maiden 2200 m (mobile) at Invercargill in 2min 49.07 s last month, then strong-finishing second .last time out at Gore. Not the worst. Race 9 D 7.50 BAILEY MAZDA MOBILE PACE $4000; C 3 and 4; 2700 m 1 5013 Luna Dawn 1 It Reefton Cup winner two starts back and useful third in Addington mile last Friday. Should be in the finish again. 2 0850 Llennoco 2R. Langford It Last win was at Addington in March. Mobile will help, but at 10 years he can hardly be expected to improve.

Selections

3.2(h Bay Service Station Mobile Pace: Nancy Nova, Otapiri Crown, Chance Cheri. 3.55: Selwyn Holiday Park Mobile Trot: Lucky Yank, Red Moon, French Qneen. 4.30: Secretarial Services Mobile Pace: Major Padero, Sir Tact, Super Save. 5.05: Beck Mobile Pace: Janizary, Amelia Mac Faber, Micro-Mary. 5.40: Dan Cosgrove Mobile Trot: Waimea Bret, Game Sparkle, Boford. 6.15: South Canterbury Finance Mobile Pace: General Jones, Hemihanna, Nitro . Nat. 6.50: Northtown Mall Mobile Pace: Menteitb, Citizen Kane, Frangelico. 7.20: Dalgety Crown Timaru Challenge Stakes: Uncle Alex, Dream Lustre, Pathfinder. 750: Bailey Mazda Mobile Pace: Talisman, Cintique.Lass, Luna Dawn. 820: Alexandra Restaurant Mobile Pace: Lord Kara, Shipmate, Regal Mate.

3 0195 Cintique Lass 3F. Newfield it Past winner at Washdyke which has returned to form in recent outings. Useful fifth last time and likely to be prominent. 4 6808 Sapphire King 4J. Hay It Won four and was 14 times placed in extensive campaign last term. Has failed to show the same dash this time in but should be ready to bounce back. Could be roughie. 5 0540 Torpast SR. Brosnan It Good late finish for fourth on first night at Canterbury Park, but well beaten two nights later. Take on trust. 6 0132 Talisman 6 It

Promising intermediate grade pacer with three more wins since taking his debut win at Washdyke on October 5. Unlucky not to get one at Canterbury Park and deserves to be the favourite. 7 0216 Timandra 7P. Young It

Returned to her best with win in season’s best time for a mare over 2600 m (mobile— of 3min 18.6 s at Canterbury Park last week. Useful stayer which will appreciate the pace on throughout.

8 4000 Quarter Shares BL. O’Reilly It Has recently rejoined E. P. McGirr’s Methven stable. Last win was over a mile at Auckland in March in 2min 5.35. 9 0880 Monte Casino 9R. Alfeld It Out of form too long to be recommended. Last win was over a mile in 2min 00.2 s at Addington in October 1984. 10 8334 Counsel Bay 10R. May It Racing consistently without rounding off his efforts. 11 0890 Noble Shan 11P. Shand It Has failed to return to form this term after missing last season with injury. 12 0000 Grand Gesture 12A. Musson It Better than her latest form indicates, but hard to have. 13 5059 Noble Statesman 13 . .C. de Filippi It Won maiden on the course on October 5, and has added two more since. Could upset. . 14 5030 Mac Andrew 14P. Williamson It Likely to need luck from this draw. 16 0967 Golden Wave 16C. Harrison It

Racing only fairly. Others preferred. Emergency: Grand Gesture. Scratched: Borderline.