North Island horses likely to take the honours again

Press, 11 August 1988, Page 30

North Island horses likely to take the honours again

It has been five years since the South Island saddled the winner of the Winter Cup, when outsider Noble River pushed his big white blaze across the line first. For the South Island to be successful again this year will mean an upset of the same proportions, as .the International Trucks Winter Cup ($50,000), has drawn some of the best milers in the country.

Rongonui, the winner of the White Handicap at Trentham in early July, will be down on a one-hit campaign, as will Shearkhan. While both have an exceedingly strong form

background, it is the horses that have already been on display at the meeting which could determine the finish. Go Bush won the Paparua Handicap with ridiculous ease, and this coupled with the -fact that he has not incurred a penalty from last week should make him the obvious favourite. The extra 200 m of the Winter Cup will also be to his liking. Out of his ground early last week, he produced a storming finish to easily beat Beach Tango. Spanish Star is another who will appreciate the extra distance. After losing four lengths at the start he made good

ground in the dying stages. Atishu has already won a couple of big races at the track, defeating St James at this meeting last year, then dead-heating with Red Hawk on the first day. At the time of writing he is not a definite starter for the Winter Cup but he has the class and pull in the weights to be dangerous. All is not necessarily gloom and doom in the southern ranks. Seve was one of the first horses to reverse Pat Corboy’s dreadful run of luck, while No Techie had his preparations topped off in the 1200 metre Selwyn Handicap on Wednesday.