Small field with big stars attracting widespread interest

Press, 10 September 1987, Page 36

Small field with big stars attracting widespread interest

By JEFF SCOTT While only eight tightclass pacers are to contest the Latimer Motor Lodge Mobile Pace at the New Brighton Trotting Club’s meeting tomorrow, the clash of the seasoned free-for-aller, Skipper Dale, and the brilliant Methven pacer, Happy Sunrise, is arousing widespread interest. Ably supported by other in-form pacers, Sossy, Rolls Hanover and Frangelico, the race should prove an exciting spectacle. Experience and toughness favour Skipper Dale, a former world record holder at tomorrow night’s distance of 2600 m (mobile) with a 3:13.62 winning run during the Inter-Dominions.

The rugged six-year-old, which rated 1:59.9 for Addington’s favourite middle distance on that occasion after being' parked, went a fractionally quicker 3:13.43 when he ran on for fourth to the Australians, My Lightning Blue (3:12.98), Paleface Bubble and Sunset Candios in the Grand Final. Happy Sunrise’s best winning time for tomorrow’s distance is 3:16.56, set last month. The Steven Stock gelding has rated 2:00 up to 2000 m mobile but has yet to endure a truly strengthsapping run over 2600 m. There is no doubting his ability and high speed, and his performance in this, his toughest test to date will be followed eagerly. His luckless fifth

In the C7-C9 free-for-all on the second night of the National meeting was not a true measure of his standing against this class. Happy Sunrise is shooting for his ninth win in 13 attempts tomorrow. It is only a case of when this finely-tuned pacer gains the two remaining wins to attain cup-class rating and join fast cup-class graduates in Derby (10 wins from 12 starts), Armallght (13 starts), Our Mana (15 starts) and Skipper Dale himself (17 starts). However, Skipper Dale’s outstanding manners and toughness will test him to the limit as he attempts bis countdown to cup class tomorrow.

Skipper Dale, It must be remembered, in his first full season against the cream of New Zealand’s pacers last term, won a second Lion Brown Easter Cup and was placed in most of the major pacing events, finishing second in the Auckland Cup, second in the TVNZ Mile, third in the New Zealand Cup, and as already mentioned, fourth in the InterDominion Final.

Sossy’s form is hard to fault, the El Patron gelding staged a fast finish from back in the field to beat all but Skipper Dale last Saturday, while stablemate Frangelico can be dangerous with the right run and Rolls Hanover should be improved with his race last week and is suited by the mobile conditions.

5 117 Charming George 5 . . .F. Newfield It 6 0894 Yankee Wine 6 . . . . ... J. Curtin It 7 210 Arctic Admiral 7 . . J. W. Smolensk! It 81245 Whata Pacer 8 . . . . It 9 012 Great Provider 9 . . . . ,K. Townley It 10 321 Black Douglas 10. . . . . . .P. Jones It 11 212 Rostrlever Hanover 1 . . P. O’Reilly 10 12 146 False Image 2 .M. de Filippi 10 13 1397 Application 3 That’s That 1 . . . . R. May 10 14 703 . . . .R. Dunn 20 15 121 Tax Credit 2 .... A. Butt 20 Race 8 9.15 LATIMER FFA MOBILE PACE J15.000; C8-OC; 2600m 1 966 Viewfield Prince 1 . . . . I. Cameron It 2 807 Freightman 2 .M. de Filippi It 3 24 Frsngelico 3 It 4 131 Skipper Dale 4 . . . . Rolls Hanover 5. . . . . . P. O’Reilly It 5 413 . . . . R. Butt It 6 151 Happy Sunrise 6 . . . . . . . R. May It 7 112 Sossy 7 . R. Cameron It 8 424 Loveridge 8 J. W. Smolensk! It