BEST BETS

Press, 10 January 1986, Page 15

BEST BETS

FRIDAY Bay Of Plenty BALMEREVE (Race 9), br m, 4 years, Balmerino—Battle Eve; trained at Matamata by D. J. and P. D. O’Sullivan. Looks top chance among the metric-milers today after excellent winning run at Ellerslie during the Auckland Cup carnival Taranaki ARDMORE BAY (Race 6), b g, 3 years, by Gramatan— Nell’s Mate; trained at Pukekohe by L. C. Purdon Has raced creditably against the top northern three-year-olds this term, having gone a Imin 58.9 s mile when second to Alba’s Reign in the Golden Mile at Thames last month. Should be too classy for his rivals in this. Timaru GENERAL JONES (Race 6), b g, 4 years, by Game Pride— Delpelo; trained at Kerrytown by R. A. Gillespie. Finished fast late for third to Early Riser and Hallfield Nat in the four-year-old event, at Canterbury Park last Friday. Does not strike a field of the same depth here and is hard to go past SATURDAY Avondale BALRANI (Race 8), b g, 4 years, by Balmerino— Shirani; trained at Cambridge by V. M. Booth. Beat a strong field at Ellerslie last time out. Should win again. Kumara SOUND NOTE (Race 7), gr m, 4 years, by Sound Reason—Ararat Note; trained at Riccarton by Mrs H. J. Preston. Run down late at Reefton on Wednesday and will strip fitter tomorrow. Ideally drawn and should win. Pahiatua ON THE TOWN (Race 1), b g, 5 years, by Ambridge Mem-ber-Belle Rail; trained at Foxton by K. A. Thomson. Produced an eye-catching run for second over 1609 m at Hastings on January 4, his first glimpse of form this time up. Should continue improving and looks the one here. Vincent RANDOM CHANCE (Race 5), br c, 3 years, by Three Legs—Libby, trained at Wingatui by B. J. Anderton. The top-rated South Island three-year-old this term with a win in the New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas at Riccarton and a third in the New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie, he should prove a cut above his rivals in tomorrow’s first leg of the T.A.B. double. Wellington NASHVILLE TENNESSEE (Race 4), b g, 4 years, by Mark Lobell—Masquerade; trained at Hutt Park by P. Stewart. Looked most promising when winning a heat and the final of the Lion Brown Graduation Series in his first two race starts back in September. Has performed solidly without much luck since and looks a top prospect for this.