Strong Riccarton representation in Greymouth double

Press, 16 January 1986, Page 24

Strong Riccarton representation in Greymouth double

By

ALEX McMILLAN

Sound Note and Zara’s Star should continue the successful run experienced by Riccarton stables on the current West Coast circuit by taking out the T.A.B. double at the Greymouth Jockey Club’s meeting at Omoto tomorrow.

Sound Note, a close relation of the 1970 Melbourne Cup winner, Baghdad Note, was rewarded for some honest efforts with a stylish win over 1100 m at Kumara last Saturday. The Helen Pres-ton-trained five-year-old steps up to 1400 m tomorrow and will encounter slightly stronger opposition, but neither of these factors

seem likely to prevent the grey from winning the 1400 m Classic Waterbeds Handicap, the first leg. Blarney Fair has failed to finish in the money in two starts since her impressive sprint win on the Omoto course last month, although her most recent start was in the 2000 m Centennial Nuggets at Kumara when she faded in the run home after dashing to a clear lead with 600 m to run. The daughter of Blarney Kiss is likely to be better suited by tomorrow’s sprint journey and should track conditions deteriorate will probably start as favourite.

Beau Magnum, Charlie’s Pal, Miss March, and

Double Bank will all have their share of support in an interesting line-up. Zara’s Star, which demonstrated easy mastery of demanding conditions when successful at Omoto last month, is expected to carry a 56kg topweight to victory in the second leg of the double, the Motorcorp Honda Handicap. The well-proportioned daughter of Watelse is held in high regard by her Riccarton trainer, Tom Lalor, who is experiencing a good run on the circuit to date. Red Lancer, Ellen Killeen and the Kennedy-trained stablemates, The Gadfly and De Porres, appear the main dangers to Zara’s Star.

Race 8 D 4.50 CLASSIC WATERBEDS HANDICAP $5000; 1400 m L2 6723 Double Bank 8 T. Matthews 53.0 Honest efforts for minor placings at Kumara and Hokitika. Not the worst. 3 3721 Sound Note 2 C. Johnson 53.0 Caught late over 1400 m at Reefton and effortless winner over 1100 m at Kumara. Should be too good again. 4 5107 Blarney Fair 7 J. Jamieson 52.5 Failed to stay in Centennial Nuggets at Kumara. Better guide to her chances would be easy sprint win in heavy ground on this course last month. 5 2556 Our Bismark 3 J. Oakeshott 52.5 Has disappointed in two starts since joining Jim Lalor's Ashburton team. Capable of better. 6 0452 Charlie’s Pal 1 D. Frye 52.0 Returned best effort for some time when fast-finishing second to Cadmium at Hokitika on Monday. Meets tougher opposition here but still a definite chance. 8 2444 Beau Magnum 4 G. Davison 51.5 Honest six-year-old which deserves a winning turn. Last start fourth was at Reefton. 9 7363 Miss March 5 W. Stevenson 51.5 Speedy mare which always gives her best Respected. 10 0964 Frederik the Great 6 . . . Z. Mathee 50.5 Sound run for fourth at Hokitika but form over all very ordinary. Scratched: Cadmium, Landofair, Natural Star. Race 9 D 5.25

-- MOTORCORP HONDA HANDICAP $3200; 1400 m 1 2163 Zara’s Star 6 G. Davison 56.0 Close third to Rufus Dawes at Kurow last time out. Classy mare which scored most impressively on this course last month and expected to repeat that effort tomorrow. 2 49 De Porres 8 D. Frye 55.5 Highly rated five-year-old which has fully

recovered from injury in starting stalls at Riccarton last month. Capable of beating this field on reasonable footing. 3 2802 Ellen Killeen 5 S. McCann 54.0 Backed as if unbeatable at Hokitika on Monday but was no match for Epantante, finishing six lengths behind over 1200 m. Respected, all the same. 4 1552 Red Lancer 1 C. Johnson 53.5 Solid run for second to Palvet over this distance at Reefton. Won on this course last month and well drawn. 5 885 Our Zena 10 P. Falvey 53.0 Battling fifth at Hokitika and hard to fancy here. 7 3340 The Gadfly 4 R. McCann 53.0 Talented mare which fell heavily in her most recent start, at Reefton. Reported fully recovered from that mishap and must be included. 8 9500 Tudor’s Choice 3 R. Bruce 53.0 Entitled to be at lengthy odds. 9 544 Debatable 11 R. Booth 52.0 Sound efforts this season and could be one for longer odds. 10 6883 Equation 2 J. Woledge 52.0 Distant third behind Catential at Kumara was best effort for some time. Place chance. 11 9 Zaneglenn 7 A. Brown 52.0 Showed little dash when resuming at Hokitika. No real prospects in this. Scratched: Pacific Prince.

Selections

12.35: Palastone, Blazing Bernie, Almagelee. 1.10: Lucky, Julie, The Mean Machine. 1.45: Slick Million, Roman Knight, Miss Isabel. 2.20: Double Bridle, King George, Follower. 255: Burdite, Tuahiwi Daisy, Epatante. 3.35: Blovinski, Royal Adder, Vrinsk. 4.15: Catential, Bo Diddley, Eggnog. 4.50: Sound Note, Blarney Fair, Beau Magnum. 5.25: Zara’s Star, Red Lancer, The Gadfly. 6.05: Bundi Royal, Tonushho, Te Kaahu.