Grand Junction set for hat-trick

Press, 21 February 1986, Page 23

Grand Junction set for hat-trick

Special correspondent Palmerston North The Matamata five year-old Grand Junction, will be seeking a hat-trick of wins when he contests the Dominion Breweries Handicap on the second

day of the Napier Park Racing Club’s meeting tomorrow. With clear cut wins in the Taupo Cup and Wairoa Cup behind him, Grand Junction would need only to be in the -• same form to clinch a unique treble. However he has the steadier of a top weight of 57kg in the first leg of the double, and this is the one factor which could cause him problems. Middleman, Whata Beauty and Wexford King look Ja formidable trio, and /Wharf Logger and Zena Girl are northerners

k which must rate respect. i. Wharf Logger won at Trentham and again at a the recent Poverty Bay 1 meeting and Zena girl l, won a similar class event j at the Hawke's Bay New a Year meeting and has a a distinct liking for the track. e Middleman impressed f at Woodville last week a and Wexford King was a another to score at that a fixture, and Whata Beauty has not raced since wina . ning at Foxton late in g January. Pell Mell’s fine form at 1 the Wairoa meeting rooks s certain to earn her? fav-

ouritism for the Herbert’s Restaurant Handicap, second leg of the double. She won on the first day there in her first run for several weeks and backed it up with a gutsy run to press Hassendean close in the open sprint a couple of days later. Fiddler’s Three would be a strong prospect but indications are that his connections are unhappy with the weight. Grand Gaffe has come really solid this summer and his two wins and two seconds from four starts makes him the logical rival for Pell Mell.