Dramatic form reversal likely

Press, 20 November 1987, Page 28

Dramatic form reversal likely

By

DAVID McCARTHY

Graikos and Kiwi Alley, each last across the line in their most recent race appearances, could reverse that form in dramatic fashion on the first day of the Westland Racing Club’s meeting at Hokitika

The right-handed track, the only one of that configuration in the South Island, was expected to be firm with a fine spell of weather continuing into yesterday. That won’t worry Graikos and will be of considerable benefit to kiwi Alley whose best form has been in good conditions. Graikos did not pay expenses on his most recent trip to Trentham at Labour Day week-end, but he pulled hard, especially in the Wellington Handicap on the second day, and he paid the penalty when the pressure went on. Free-going horses usually thrive at Hokitika where the grey has won previously. Before Wellington he had some useful placed form in the South Island on both wet and dry footing including a second to Count Claudio in the Geraldine Cup. With the experienced John Dowling up he should make a bold bid here. Cappiemore could be the main danger especially on firm footing. Also a freegoer he was swamped in each of his appearances at Riccarton but gave the impression he would benefit considerably from both races. Another which has raced well at Hokitika before, Cappiemore would probably further improve with this run though he remains a leading chance. Dreamville could surprise if the footing became soft and Serene Pulse must be considered but Taxtale seems a good way from the form which saw her Jetbet: 6 Race 1 12.05 HOKITIKA GUARDIAN MAIDEN $3100; 1200 m 1 52 Big Shot 12 C. Johnson 55.0 2 Black Marella 15 55.0 3 00 Ditanya 14 55.0 4 Gene 13 55.0 5 00 Hot Springs 16 R. Bruce 55.0 6 Justine Renee 3 55.0 7 Kotiro Cue 5 B. Pelling 55.0 8 0 Lady Loretta 7 55.0 9 Malak Sapphire 11 55.0 10 Margrit 17 55.0

surprise in this race last year and Dester could be the great danger among the lightweights after his usual solid efforts at Riccarton. He is up to this class. Kiwi Alley, which was overpowered in the Printpack Handicap on the first day at Riccarton, will be more at home here given his fine record on turning tracks. He is following an example of excellence set by his erstwhile stablemate, Poetic Justice, which set a track record of 1:10.5 in the C2 sprint at last year’s meeting. Kiwi Alley is more than capable of lowering that if allowed his own rules. Kiwi Alley’s form has been mixed this spring but when he and regular partner, Jocelyn Fallen, set the pace they are hard to catch. Star Hope beat a useful C2 field hands down at Banks Peninsula and was not disgraced second up at Riccarton. A firm track plays into his hands but could work against Black Arrow making his debut from the Parsons stable. He might need softer going against some of these, at this distance on a small track. The eight-horse field has plenty of betting appeal though because Kaoru Heights, which has had successful experiences on right-handed tracks in the past, and Miss Isobel, which is meeting easier opposition here than has been the case for some time, both rate as upset hopes at least. 12 The Naughty Express 2 J. Oakeshott 55.0 13 Crimsole 9 G. Williams 55.0 14 Native Water 4 55.0 15 Claretash 10 B. Beamsley It 16 Wren Margot 1 55.0 17 0 Harbour Strike 8 55.0 18 Gillie Macßain 18 55.0 Emergencies: Native Water, Claretash, Wren Margot, Harbour Strike, Gillie Macßain. Scratched: Reykjavik. Race 2 12.40 RAILWAY HOTEL MAIDEN $3100; 1200 m 1 0 Blue Sard! 10 55.0 2 4858 Fancy Note 1 G. Williams 55.0

3 00 Godsin 9 J. Oakeshott 55.0 4 Kessi 8 55.0 5 6 Mangahad Rose 13 55.0 6 02 Nicolai Queen 4 R. Bruce 55.0 7 Prince Avert 2 55.0 8 Prince Igor 12 B. Pelling 55.0 9 Rainy Jay 14 C. Johnson 55.0 10 255 Schweppe .Best 11 55.0 11 Tracey's Reward 16 55.0 12 Unison 5. P. Falvey 55.0 13 Dagger Dan 18 J. Woledge 55.0 14 0 Tasman Bay 6 55.0 15 9 Hamblin 7 55.0 16 80 First Blush 3 55.0 17 0 Freedom Hunter 17 55.0 18 Jlold Classique 15 55.0 Emergencies: Dagger Dan, Tasman Bay, Hamblin, First Blush, Freedom Hunter, Bold Classique. D *| •fIK SAMASAAN LODGE HANDICAP $3300; 1650 m 1 0280 Red Apollo 13 R. Bruce 55.5 2 61 Aquanita 5 D. Petherick 55.0 3 1705 Lightning Lad 9 55.0 4 88 Artwill 1 B. Pelling 54.5 5 1608 Maloch 2 P. Falvey 54.5 6 00 Wendy Jane 6. ..... J. Oakeshott 54.5 7 6 Bally Bridge 10 G. Williams 54.0 8 4770 Canzak 8 54.0 9 44 Castle Prince 3 .J. Woledges4.o 10 00 Follower 4 A. Hunsches4.O 11 0357 Hot Topic 7 C. Johnson 54.0 12 Meiow 12 B. Beamsley 54.0 Scratched: Dancing Belle. Race 4 1.50 WESTLAND PROCESSORS NOVICE $3100; 1650 m 1 Bundi Road 1 P. Falvey 55.0 2 0557 Cee Guard 9 D. Morel 55.0 3 0 Darshan 8 B. Beamsley 55.0 5 High Favoured 3 55.0 6 Kaiwaiwai 4 55.0 7 7 Leica Bijou 12 C. Johnson 55.0 8 9 Merry Coaster 10 R. Bruce 55.0 9 4598 Misnomer 6 55.0 10 7756 Palmyrah Treat 13 . . . .G. Williams 55.0 11 Quartz Reef 5 55.0 12 0900 Taxless 14 J. Woledge 55.0 13 00 Ditanya 11 55.0 14 The Naughty Express 7 55.0 Emergencies: The Naughty Express. Scratched: Fourars. Race 5 2.25 ARATUNA FREIGHTERS NOVICE $3100; 1650 m 1 0330 Capable 13 J. Dowling 55.0 2 0 Cousin Sue 8 55.0 3 0 Destemido 7. . . B. Pelling 55.0 4 005 Financial News 11 ... .G. Williams 55.0 5 Globe Hill 5 P. Falvey 55.0 6 0 Jon Boy Star 12 55.0 7 000 Lightning Fast 6 55.0 8 Nuther Knight 4 55.0 9 Opie 3 55.0

10 0780 Palstep 1. 55.0 11 0 Rakau Tender 2 R. Bruce 55.0 12 000 Rattle 10 c. Johnson 55.0 13 Kodie Jarret 9 . 55.0 ■ Emergency: Kodie Jarret. Race 6 3.05 SCENICLAND MOSS HANDICAP , $3700; 1650 m 1 1 Pericolini 7 B. Pelling 57.0 2 0028 Ysatis 6 56.5 3 2155 Palamhor 2 C. Johnson 56.0 4 5714 Dester 1 55.0 5 Sky Rocket 9 J. Oakeshott 55.0 6 Arkwright 5 R. Bruce 54.5 7 3000 Purple Tone 8 G. Williams 54.5 8 Karamuremu 3 53.0 9 0 Scorsby 4.. .' P. Falvey 53.0 Race 7 D 3.45 WILSON’S WHISKY HANDICAP $7000; Cl; 2025 m 1 006 Cappiemore 8. . R. Bruce 56.5 Has needed each of his last three outings and should be ready to pay a dividend. Good record here and win chance if footing no worse than soft. 2 2268 Graikos 4 J. Dowling 54.5 Showed little fight in tougher company at Trentham after running keenly. Better placed here and top show on any footing. 3 36 Dreamville 1 G. Williams 53.5 Veteran which showed little dash in the Marlborough Cup in September. Good run on the first day of that meeting when fresh. Might surprise while in that state again. 4 7063 Serene Pulse 5 B. Pelling 53.0 Good effort for third in Blenheim Motor Hotel Otaio Plate (2500 m last Saturday after moderate lead-up form in the north. Chance. 5 8050 Taxtale 7. . P. Falvey 53.0 Has surprised on this track before but would need to Improve a lot on Riccarton efforts. Rain would help. 6 007 Ike’s Revenge 3 A. Hunsche 52.5 Not suited by last outing over 1400 m at Riccarton when struggling on the turn. Has performed well here before and could place back to a middle distance. 7 5714 Dester 2 C. Johnson 51.5 Overdue win over 1800 m at Riccarton and not disgraced over 2000 m on the last day of N.Z. Cup meeting. Steps up in class a little here but not out of his depth by any means and rates upset hope. 8 Karamuremu 6 51.0 Useful here but looks held in this company. Race 8 T, TF 4.20 MEAT TAVERNS LTD HANDICAP $3300; 1650 m 1 3691 Dark Turbo 11 G. Williams 57.0 2 7062 Yeldham 5 55.5 3 1490 Avlonter 10 Z. Mathie 55.0 4 0610 Waffles 9 B. Pelling 55.0