Mares to fight out Cup finish

Press, 24 December 1986, Page 22

Mares to fight out Cup finish

By

G. K. YULE

Quiet Touch, Gina Rosa and Frangelico, three of the best mares racing in New Zealand today, could dispute the finish to the $12,500 D.B. Ashburton Cup on Friday.

The Ashburton Cup was changed from a race for trotters to one for pacers in 1955 and since then only four mares — Glint . (1956), Zany (1959), Alla- - kasam (1966), and Dryden ; Amanda (1983) — have r won the event. * Quiet Touch, one of the I most talented mares for some time, came back to racing last Saturday with ■ a splendid third to Mi»chele Bromac at Rangi- > ora, a race which is cer- “ tain to have sharpened • her condition. She will start from 10m on Fiday, as will Gina Rosa and they will have to give a start of 10m to Frangelico. Gina Rosa is unbeaten

in her last two starts, the most recent being on the final night of the Cup carnival last month when she tore away from her rivals at the end of 3200 m in 4min 10.165. She showed that she had trained on well since then with a bold run in fast time at Addington on Monday. Frangelico has made rapid progress through the classes under the guidance of her Kerrytown trainer, Richard Brosnan, who drove Greg Patron to win this race 12 months ago. Last time out she won in track record time of 4min 13.1 s for 3200 m on the testing Methven course. Her abil-

i ity over all distances is * such that it is difficult to > imagine her not being i right in the thick of the • finish. i If fitness counts for i anything. Horizon, the 1 drive of Patrick O’Reilly, i jun., should be one of the t - best chances among the i male members of the field. He has obviously : thrived since he raced at i the Cup meeting and his i run at the trials on Monday showed him in a most favourable ; light. Henry Hoover, Sir Alba and Andronicus are accomplished over 3200 m, while big runs from Aran Blaze and Smarty Pants will not surprise.

Race 6 D, TF, T 3.5 D.B. ASHBURTON CUP $12,500; C 7; 3200 m 1 5580 El Victory 1 R. Butt It Rather out of form, but better than that and could surprise. 2 900 Bobanish 2 R. Cameron It Has done nothing in three starts this time up to suggest a win was close by. 3 1711 Frangelico 3 R. Brosnan It Outstanding when she won at Methven in record time early in the month. In rare form and sure to be one of the leading chances. 4 3806 Aran Blaze 4 J. Carmichael It Not disgraced when sixth to Michele Bromac at Rangiora last week. Could be one for odds. 5 5330 Andronicus 5 K. Vincent It Tired badly at Rangiora last week. Has fine record as a stayer and well up to this class. 6 1245 Horizon 6 P. O’Reilly, jun It First start since November 22. Looked extremely fit at Monday’s trials and unlikely to be far away. 7 00 Saucy Star 7 I. Cameron it Broke gear and pulled up at Rangiora. Will have to be taken on trust. 8 00 Greg Patron I R. May 10 Showed nothing in two starts. Won this race last year, but hard to see him repeating. 9 6357 Sir Alba 2 P. Shand 10 Latest start was on November 14. Has had a chance to freshen. Good enough to finish close up. 10 0411 Gina Rosa 3 J. Smolensk! 10 Won over this distance in 4min 10.16 on November 22 at latest start. Looks in great heart and sure to be a top chance. 11 5000 Coastal Trader 4 K. Townley 10 Little appeal on latest showings, although is a proven stayer. 12 3 Quiet Touch 5 M. de Filippi 10 Bold finish from far back for third to Michele Bromac at Rangiora last week when making a fresh start. Sure to be improved and looks the one to beat. 13 7 Henry Hoover 6 J. Hay 10 Made ground well for seventh at Rangiora in first start for season. Must be improved and not a forlorn chance. 14 6577 Freightman 1 K. Chapman 30 Fair races at Cup meeting at latest starts. Could need race, but too good to leave out over this distance. 15 3860 Smarty Pants 2 K. O’Reilly 30 Failed in N.Z. Cup at last start. Fine run

at trials on Monday and might not be that far away. Race 7 3.45 GORDONS GIN HANDICAP $6500; C 5; trotters; 3200 m 1 0 Cathy Crockett 1 A. Robb It No danger even though he was checked at Addington on December 17. Little appeal. 2 0000 Game Traveller 2. ... I. Schwamm It Out of form and makes no appeal. 3 0 Roy Hall 3 P. Shand It Failed at Oamaru in October at lone start this season. Getting into veteran class. 4 0800 Roman Guy 4 M. Edmonds It First start since October. Good when fresh and might get into the finish. 5 0365 Fidelis 5 M. de Filippi It Has not raced with much luck in latest starts. At best would beat most in this field. 7 0062 Shylock 2 M. Woods 10 Bold late run for second to Soon at Rangiora. Must be considered on that effort. 8 0001 Sheltoe 3 R. Brosnan 10 Won in track record time at Oamaru on December 13. Should he repeat that run should not be far away. 9 4809 Novander 4 J. Wheeler 10 Form background fair at best. However, drop in class might help. 10 0100 Front Up 1 G. Court 20 Raced poorly in two starts at the Cup meeting. Better than that and must be given another chance in this weakish field. 11 7010 Golden Blue 2 20 Poor run at Addington on December 17. Capable of much better. 12 9877 Basil Dean 1 K. O’Reilly 40 Trotted fair races at the Cup meeting. Set a stiff task, but half right should match most in this field Scratched: Vuldiro.