James has three chances in Champagne Stakes at Ellerslie

Press, 6 May 1988, Page 33

James has three chances in Champagne Stakes at Ellerslie

Special correspondent Auckland The Matamata trainer, Roger James, will line up three runners in the Champagne Stakes at the Auckland Racing Club’s meeting at Ellerslie tomorrow in the hope of beating Espiare, the representative of his former partner, Jim Gibbs. On the strength of her stunning win in the Castle Express Classic at Avondale on April 25, Espiare will probably be favourite again for this Laurent Perriersponsored 1400-metre event. But James, with Sarah Fay and Te Akau Star, fourth and second respectively on Anzac Day engaged, has two genuine improvers, which are both capable of turning the tables. James’ other runner is Mister Hundalee, which claims a second in his only start, at Ellerslie on April 21. He may not trouble the favourites, yet he must have impressed James sufficiently for the trainer to run him in such a strong field. And there is plenty of quality for the time of year in this Group Three event, with Come Racing and Regal Echo, a Takanini pair, probably the pick of the colts and geldings, and Raie Lunaire, another female contender. The Avondale race was Sarah Fay’s third after a spell through the summer. She looked good when winning first up at Te Rapa in October, not quite so in her next two starts but much more like a potential ‘Filly of the Year” at Avondale. It was impossible not to be impressed by Espiare’s near last-to-first burst at Avondale, but Sarah Fay was also making ground, steadily, and the daughter of Sir Tristram will appreciate the extra 200 metres tomorrow. Te Akau Star’s four starts have brought two firsts and two seconds, beaten by Call Me Ocker and Espiare and that is no disgrace. Come Racing (third) shaded Espiare in the finish of the Swettenham Stud Sires’ Produce Stakes and was again third, a close one, last time out in the Radio Pacific Sires’ Produce Stakes. It has been Come Racing’s misfortune that, in all the big races, he has drawn badly. This time he has No. 13, but even so, he deserves the greatest respect. Regal Echo returned to racing at Paeroa on Tuesday after a short break and won nicely without being extended. He should be a better horse tomorrow. The Verners would not risk him otherwise. Raie Lunaire is the first foal of

Rajeunir, the 1982 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes winner, and already looking smart with a first-up second to Lieutenant Brooke and then a win. Lieutenant Brooke is likely to make the pace tomorrow and his chances should not be underestimated, while Governor’s Fling is also likely to be a strong contender. Vizor, Dark Lace and Field Dancer look the ones to beat in the Nolan Handicap, the first leg of the double, and Bourbon boy, Jimmy Te Cobai, Courier Bay and Golden Impala the most likely in the second leg of the double, the Campbell’s Liquor Stores 20,000. Having a sprinter of Courier Bay’s class at Ellerslie for a May meeting is almost unthinkable. It is certainly an indication of how dry the autumn has been.

Jetbet: 2 Dhaq 1 11 40 TANALITH HURDLES TRIAL $15,000; 2800 m 1 1241 Dinah’s Card 8 B. McDonald 64.0 2 2115 Scotch Prince 9 P. Tims 64.0 3 0012 Candy Case 5 S. Dennett 63.0 4 90 Jimmy Mellay 2 K. Burke 62.5 5 8625 Dark Red 11 T. Autridge6o.o 6 3323 Rubber Ring 3 B. Revell 60.0 7 9734 Hike 10 59.5 8 0034 Balblair 1 T. Gillies 59.0 9 67 Count Fox 7 M. Douglas 59.0 10 0910 Fearless Lad 4 R. Cassidy 59.0 11 7790 Nalokua 6 . . . G. Cave 59.0 Race 2 12.15 JACKPOT MAIDEN $10,000; 1400 m 1 292 Berlioz 9 A. Tweedie 55.0 2 3372 First Party 1 55.0 3 2002 Golden Flash 5 G. Childs 55.0 4 4002 Lady Tyack 18 B. Jones 55.0 5 223 Miss Aptitude 17 P. Johnson 55.0 6 7492 On The Mark 14 .... L. O’Sullivan 55.0 7 8392 Red Oil 8 55.0 8 8802 Regal Rouge 15 R. McKay 55.0 9 0902 Sheer Speed 20 55.0 10 9032 Tainui Downs 19 J. Collett 55.0 11 192 Zama Boy 2 M. Coleman 55.0 12 3 Clonolea 16 55.0 13 9663 Jimmy Kain 11 55.0 14 2803 Shu Fly 7 L. Cropp 55.0 15 0043 Spidermac 4 55.0 16 0803 Spring Valley 3 D. Lang 55.0 17 0003 Swanilda 6 55.0 18 4304 Mick’s Reason 13 55.0 19 83 Grosvenor Heights 12 .... P. Tims 55.0 20 4030 Worldwide 10 G. Cooksley 55.0 Emergencies: Swanilda, Mick’s Reason, Grosvenor Heights, Worldwide. Race 3 12.50 NESCAFE STEEPLECHASE TRIAL $15,000; 4150 m 1 0987 Seeyoulater 9 62.0 2 8031 Zamarino 11 P. Tims 62.0 3 0027 Bruton Muss 5 61.5 4 0103 Hex 1. . T. Gillies 60.5 5 0624 Glen Aros 4 60.0 6 0 Kirrajack 7 60.0 7 5903 Lucan 10 T. Autridge 59.5

8 6377 Alldat Jazz 3 59.0 9 650 George’s Pride 6 . . . . . . T. Archer 59.0 10 0096 Main Boy 8 11 3001 Major 2 . . R. Collett 59.0 Race 4 1.20 NEW ZEALAND BREWERIES HANDICAP $10,000; 2100m I 3703 Batterill 15 . . .B. Jones57.0 2 5241 Tristeke 5 57.0 3 0461 Akarana Bay 7 55.0 4 5117 Ngaitai Chief 2 55.0 5 9736 Princess Natasha 1 . . . B. Sargent 54.0 6 0066 Easterly 6 53.5 7 4204 Veronakelly 8 53.5 8 0140 Aza Knight 14 52.5 9 3097 Genuflect 12 M. Coleman 52.5 10 8594 Silver Kris 10 . . D. Peake 52.5 11 0850 Endear 13 L. O'Sullivan 52.0 12 2070 Sirpier 3 51.5 13 70 Glen Hush 9 W. Robinson 51.0 14 3000 Viko Lad 4 51.0 15 9000 Kelly Light 11 50.0 Race 5 1.55 LION RED HANDICAP $10,000; 2100m 1 2200 Lohnro 15 . . G. Childs 56.0 2 6521 Cast The Gauntlet 13 . . . L. Cropp 55.5 3 7167 Brovero 3 ,G. Cooksley 55.0 4 6068 Jacks To Open 10 . . . M. Coleman 54.5 5 4225 Anouska 11 . . P. Johnson 53.5 6 0023 Rahtelle 7 53.5 7 2264 Regal Wey 5 C. Treymane 53.0 8 6518 Hyde 12 L. O’Sullivan 52.5 9 9850 Rayner’s Lane 6 . . . . 52.5 10 03 Band On The Run 4. . 52.0 11 50 Ace Command 1 . . . . W. Robinson 51.5 12 9000 Sugar Row 14 51.5 13 5080 St Mark 8 51.0 14 0840 Count Sian 2 50.0 15 5009 Lonely Bruno 9 55.0 Race 6 T, TF 2.30 LAURENT PERRIER CHAMPAGNE $60,000; two-year-olds; 1400m 1 1933 Come Racing 13 ... . .G. Cooksley 54.5 2 1331 Governor’s Fling 6 . . . 54.5 3 6501 Karioi Kid 2 54.5 4 2101 Lieutenant Brooke 7 . . 54.5 5 2 Mr Hundalee 8 L. O’Sullivan 54.5 6 804 Oakwood 5 54.5 7 1101 Regal Echo 12 . . G. Childs 54.5 8 2744 Thai Affair 10 . .D. Healey 54.5 9 Triumphal Mac 17 . . . . . . B. Paul 54.5 10 Western Alliance 3. . . 54.5 11 2983 Endearment 15 54.5 12 5241 Espiare 4 M. Coleman 54.5 13 4751 Rage Up 16 54.5 14 21 Raie Lunaire 11 . . L. Cropp 54.5 15 1634 Sarah Fay 9 . . J. Collett 54.5 16 3960 Takahe 1 . . D. Peake 54.5 17 1212 Te Akau Star 14 ... . . P. Johnson 54.5

Race 7 T 3.05 NDICAP n THE CLONBURN HA $12,000; 1300r 1 5213 Rhythmic Dancer 6. . . . . 57.0 2 3642 Raisem Raz 13 ... . . . D. Bradley 56.5 3 0749 Honeymoon Eve 2 . . . . . .B. Jones 55.5 4 8608 Tasman Dancer 14. . . W. Robinson 55.5 5 5036 One Pound Foolish 4 . . . C. Cosstin 55.0 6 9546 Rongonui 9 . . . . D. Lang 55.0 7 2300 Shy Di 1 . . A. Tweedie 55.0 8 2114 Precision Plus 12. . . 54.5 9 2507 Pikorrie 8 . . P. Johnson 54.0 10 5307 Wind Spirit 10 .... ,L. Ballantyne 53.0 11 2826 Jim Pike 11 52.5 12 7130 Kindermann 7 . M. Coleman 52.0 13 0 Town Hero 5 51.5 14 2641 Dandy Devil 3 . . . L. Cropp 51.0 Race 8 D, T, TF 3.40 THE NOLAN HANDICAP $20,000; 2200m 1 3081 Field Dancer 9 . . . . . M. Coleman 57.0 2 6933 Derriana 5 . . . . P. Tims 54.0 3 0646 Prince Avila 4 . L. O’Sullivan 52.0 4 5301 Dark Lace 7 . . . ,B. Jones 51.5 5 3000 Lord Zirito 13. ... . . . P. Johnson 51.5 6 0661 Plume D’Or Veille 10 ,L. Ballantyne 51.5 7 8303 Vizor 6 . . . G. Childs 51.5 8 4125 Penkara 2 50.5 9 0770 Ragatan 8 . . . . D. Lang 50.0 10 8045 Exchequer 3 . . . L. Cropp 49.5 11 3911 Chigarow 11 49.0 12 2588 Ngatira Belle 12 . . . . . . D. Peake 49.0 13 9835 Old Pat 1 49.0 Race S 1 D 4.15 CAMPBELL’S LIQUOR STORES $20,000; 1600m 1 1033 Courier Bay 8 . . . G. Childs 58.5 2 0323 Bourbon Boy 7 . . . . . . A. Tweedie 54.5 3 7000 Great Estate 4 . . . . . ,G. Cooksley 52.0 4 6471 Old Nick 3 . M. Coleman 52.0 5 0630 Royal Grit 16 52.0 6 8844 Jimmy Te Cobai 6 . . 51.0 7 7355 Matthew Ryan 12. . . 51.0 8 0039 Snabben 13 . . .T. Archer51.0 9 0664 Golden Impala 1 . . . . L. O’Sullivan 50.5 10 1615 In Pursuit 3 . . P. Johnson 50.5 11 2410 Just Sneeze 15... . . . . . D. Lang 50.5 12 2900 Tommy’s Mate 11 . . . . . D. Peake 50.5 13 9433 Beach Tango 10 . . . ,L. Ballantyne 50.0 14 7020 Mr Mint 14 50.0 15 5876 My Torpedo 9 . .H. Malcolm 50.0 16 9002 Varo’s Son 2 . . . L. Cropp 50.0 Race 10 TF 4.45 WINSTONE HANDICAP $10,000; 1600m 1 1874 Historian 5 57.0 2 2523 Storm Damage 3. . . . .G. Cooksley 55.5 3 5022 Tommy Tudor 4 . . . . M. Coleman 55.5 4 4161 Headmaster 8 . L. O’Sullivan 55.0 5 1142 Komak 20 55.0 6 6360 Miss Jaybeejay 6. . . . . . G. Childs 55.0 7 0001 Brun 9 54.5 8 0005 Godeck 14 54.5 9 3418 Zither 2 . . . L. Cropp 54.5 10 4377 Repatitian 18 . . . . P. Tims 54.0 11 0307 Fleetward Lad 15. . . 53.5 12 2632 High Interest 19 . . . . . . .B. Jones 53.5 13 2480 Niptide 16 . . .D. Healey 53.5 14 Bay Anchor 17 ... . 53.0 15 0570 Judge And Jury 12. . 53.0 16 7459 Milimili 21 52.5 17 7026 Nobilitas 11 . . S. Dowling 52.5 180117 Red Fleet 22 . . P. Johnson 52.5 19 3751 Heavena 13 52.0 20 0042 Silver Sky 1 51.5 21 7967 Styzyguy 10 51.5 22 0068 Neon Blaze 7 51.5