Elmer Gantry deserves favouritism

Press, 20 February 1987, Page 21

Elmer Gantry deserves favouritism

Special correspondent Auckland

Elmer Gantry, which was successful on the course last month, will undoubtedly start warm favourite in the Whangarei Hotel Northland Cup at Ruakaka today.

The Alba Byrd three-year-old rightly deserves the honour, too, after his fine efforts, over the last few months.

Elmer Gantry’s Helensville trainer, Tony Milina, has made no secret of his high opinion of the colt From the start of his racing career, when beaten by Surdon narrowly at Cambridge last season, Elmer Gantry has shown tremendous courage. Elmer Gantry showed worthwhile

form at Addington during the New Zealand Cup carnival last November and, in four starts since he was brought back from a spell, has scored twice and managed two minor placings. Two starts back, at Alexandra Park on January 30, Elmer Gantry ran a fine third to Race Ruler and United Blue Chip after racing without cover for a good part of the way. He returned to Alexandra Park eight nights later and won most impressively, much more easily than the three-quar-ters of a length margin would suggest. Elmer Gantry will start from the 20m mark in today’s main event, a 2700 m from a standing start, which is the third leg of the T.A.B. treble and the T.A.B. trifecta event.