Melvander leading Cup chance

Press, 28 December 1988, Page 28

Melvander leading Cup chance

By

JEFF SCOTT

Melvander, and in-form reinsman Jim Curtin, will be a popular choice for punters in an open line-up in the $14,000 D.B. Banks Peninsula Trotting Cup at Motukarara today. A powerful entire son of Great Evander, Melvander has not raced since running third to the top mares, Landora’s Pride and Tussle, in last month’s D.B. Dominion Handicap (3200 m at Addington Raceway, but races well fresh. Melvander, the runnerup in this race behind Game Command two years ago, has been one of New Zealand’s leading squaregaiters in recent seasons in spite of niggling leg troubles. If anything, the grass surface today should help the 1987 Inter-Dominion Final runner-up more than most.

The eight-year-old’s West Melton trainer, Peter Robertson, is enjoying another successful term, having produced eight winners to this stage of the season. Melvander contributed to this tally when he took out the New Brighton Club’s Ordeal Cup in September, comfortably beating Simon Katz, his younger half-brother Fergy’s Rocket, and Yankee Loch, in a swift

3:19.9 for the 2600 m mobile. Kahuna Pele turned in an eye-catching late run for fourth in last month’s Dominion Handicap, his best run for the season. The Wide Acclaim gelding returns to the scene of his maiden win today, while he posted track records at Orari and Methven on grass surfaces last season.

Kahuna Pele will be trying to make amends for failing in this race last year. He broke when looking in control of the situation on that occasion, but came out a few days later to win the Canterbury Park Trotting Cup in impressive style. Nooky Bear, Robert Cameron’s drive, was a shade on the fat side when he resumed at Ashburton on Monday and trainer, Jim Ferguson, expects an improved showing today.

The Sergio Hanover gelding has failed to deliver the goods for win punters since his brilliant 2600 m victory at Addington in August, but is again worth keeping on side. Nooky Bear is another with a good grass track record and recorded an outstanding first-up win from Ferguson’s stable at Motukarara last season. Jack Carmichael’s stablemates, Yankee Loch and Flameaway, are

others capable on their day. The former trailed well on the all-weather track at Motukarara last week, but faces a stiff task from the backmark of 35 metres today. Game Nian and Pitcher have raced solidly for much of the season and would not surprise by getting some of the money, while the former top young trotter, Tobago, Bellam and Game Dryden, are other possibilities but will need luck in the running. Willem Vink, a first-up winner for the season over 3200 m at Motukarara in October, is favoured to improve on a slightly unlucky third last time out at Rangiora in the second leg of the T.A.B. double, the Avon City Ford pace, over 3200 m.

Fiddler is deserving of a win and was just pipped over 3200 m two starts back on the big grass track at Methven. He backed up that performance with a good third last time out at Rangiora and should not be long opening his winning account for the season.

Rosy Score, Major Bromac, Nimble Phil and Sycamore are others with strong form backgrounds, while Gasthof, which has not had much luck lately, is capable of surprising.

Jetbet: 7 Race 1 11.05 GOLDEN MILE TAVERN HANDICAP PACE $5200; CO; 2200 m 1 0 Mayfair Royal 1. . . J. P. Smolensk! It 2 0630 Ross Allen 2 F. Bennett It 3 0 Lentille 3 R. May It 4 Certain Style 4 A. Butt It 5 57 Happy Miss 5 G. Hope It

6 Morris Dancer 6 .... M. Edmonds it 7 0400 Waiuta Charles 7 . . . . R. Cameron it 8 8298 Grand Prix 8 J. Wigzell It 10 0 Friendly Fred 10 it 11 004 Abbasal 11 M. Heenan It 12 Franco Michael 12. . . M. de Filippi It 14 National Hanover 14 . It 15 0 Coast Clear 15 D. Butt It 16 8497 Special Draught 16 . D. McCormick it 17 2273 Finvarra 17 C. de Filippi it

18 Gold Tross 18 D. Cournane It 19 909 Friendly Rodway 19 L. May It 20 9997 Alba Scott 1 F. Newfield 20 Emergencies: National Hanover, Friendly Fred. Scratched: Lakefield, Parvenu. RflCO 2 11*40 ELLESMERE COUNTRY CLUB RESTAURANT HANDICAP TROT ' $5200; CO; 2800 m 1 Ana Boyden 1 E. Ryan It 2 Masai Mara 2 It 3 Prince Alba 3 1. Keith It 4 0475 Dubois Moss 4 M. Butt It 6 5768 Princess Phillipa 6. .. D. Earnshaw It 7 Lopez River 7 M. de Filippi It 8 3746 Jon Belushi 8 L. O'Reilly It 9 8603 Parfait Du Jour 9 ... . R. Cameron It 10 Guardian Angel 10 It 11 90 Forward Brigade 11. .. A. Simpson It 12 Take Off 12 I. Sutherland It 13 6224 Joy Hest 13 R. May It 14 30 Benah 14 C. de Filippi It 15 402 Rebel Milne 15 A. Cowan It 17 7220 Rip Pocket 17 M. Fuller It 18 3072 Ginger Star 1 J. Curtin 30 19 2236 Overheard 2 K. Townley 30 20 5681 Gala’s Pride 3 G. Archer 30 21 0175 Lovely Mood 4 P. Black 30 22 0130 Montego UR R. Jenkins 30 Emergencies: Guardian Angel, Masai Mara. Scratched: Eiffel Tower, Game Tempo. Race 3 T 12.15 NOAHS HOTEL HANDICAP PACE $6400; C 3; 2800 m 4 0006 Cleff Le Van 4 It 5 1900 The Indiscretion 5 L. O’Reilly It 6 3080 Kotare Platinum 6 P. Jones It 7 O Tai Shan 7 R. May It 8 Swift Hurricane 8 J. Hislop It 9 1060 Sam Chow 9 C. Newfield It 11 0346 Peta Eyre 11 G. Hope It 13 1270 Canasta King 13 J. Gillard It 14 9052 Star Supreme 14 G. Archer It 15 4585 Avian Boy 15 J. Hay It 16 Silver Beam 16 R. Alfeld It 17 0701 Falcon Hanover 1 .... J. Versteeg 10 18 2520 Twilight Time 18. ...M. de Filippi It Scratched: Charming George, Module Boy, Weltimed, Shy Mark, Wood Chip, Lady Rana. Race 4 T, TF 12.50 COMMODORE AIRPORT HOTEL HANDICAP PACE $6000; C2; 2800 m 1 1620 Paleface Walla 1 D. Nylan It 2 0460 Foulden Peer 2 R. A. Butt It 3 9074 Risdon Boy 3 R. Gillespie It 4 6711 Lord Magic 4 B. Kerr It 5 7475 Mister Innocence 5.. C. de Filippi It 6 40 Leopardore 6 S. Enright it 8 4069 Colonel Poplar 8 It 9 8311 Joy’s Girl 9 J. P. Smolensk! It 10 8954 Machismo 10 It 114141 Hindu Rebel 11 R. Cameron It 12 2860 Peterman 12 M. Edmonds It 13 1478 Dalgety’s Gift 13 F. Bennett It 14 3854 Captain Rum 14 G. Ward It 16 0000 Dainty Dish 16 R. May It 17 2890 Lady Brandonia 17 It 18 0007 Lucas Royale 18 T. Newell It 19 0703 All A Dream 19 E. Cowie it Emergencies: Colonel Poplar, Machismo. Scratched: Dixie Tryax, Belle Hattan.

Race 5 T 1.25 BIG SOFTIE HANDICAP PACE $5200; CO; 2200 m 1 4 Nimble Franco 1.... C. de Filippi It 2 Light Gio 2 R. D. Butt It 3 0 Scot Reilly 3 It 4 4 Trio’s Charm 4 S. Little It 5 50 Emory Lord 5 S. Edge It 6 2995 Wibahe Olarno 6 R. May It 7 Bestamin 7 G. Hope It 8 0 Red Moccasin 8 T. Healy It 9 Sake 9 It 10 4644 Ellerina 10 K. Townley It 11 08 Nia Dhu 11 It 12 6 Franco Man 12 D. Nyhan It 13 0802 Zoomee 13 M. de Filippi It 14 Johnny Netherton 14 .... J. Curtin It 15 060 Aristicus 15 It 16 2 King Fella 16 B. Mcßreen It 17 6223 Zola Bee 17 A. Scott It 18 6004 So Sure 18 D. Butt It 19 Rube 19 J. Geddes It 20 In The News 1 C. Ryder 20 Emergencies: Nia Dhu, Sake, Aristicus, Scot Reilly. Race 6 D 2.05 DB DRAUGHT BANKS PENINSULA TROTTING CUP $14,000; C 5; 2800 m 1 3846 Game Dryden 1 R. Geddes It Useful mare, which could reach the placings. One for odds. 2 20 Lucky Tesp 2 R. Nyhan It Placed at Methven two starts back, but broke early last time at Rangiora. Others might hold. 3 5400 Dancing Armbro 1. .K, McCormick 10 Upset winner of this race last year, but only moderate form since. 4 9798 Linda Ellen 2 10 Battled on late at Ashburton on Monday. Further improvement needed. 5 4037 Nooky Bear 3 R. Cameron 10 Looked a run short at Ashburton on Monday when unable to quicken after being wide the last 1200 m. Definite improver for this. 6 0011 Gregory Peter 4 M. Skinner 10 Trotted 3200 m in 4:18.5 from handicap mark in looser grade at Winton last time, but did not measure up in Canterbury last time. 7 0790 Joe Junior UR P, Jones 10 Broke last time at Rangiora. Others preferred. 8 3874 Troppo 1 S. Little 20 Sound stayer and not the least of chances. Latest effort was from long mark at Methven. 9 4 Tobago 2 R. Jenkins 20 Former top youngster which resumed at Invercargill from 40m behind earlier this month. Should improve but may need another. 10 4430 Pitcher 3 M. de Filippi 20 Failed when caught wide in last month’s Dominion, but otherwise his form has been hard to fault. Keep on side. 11 3610 Flameaway 4 K. W. O’Reilly 20 Inclined to mix her form. Set national mares’ mark for 2600 m at the Cup meeting last month. 12 6800 Jamie Higgins 5 .... M. Edmonds 20 At an age now where improvement is not forthcoming.

13 0066 Firm Offer 6 B. Clark 20 Continues to race soundly but has failed to recapture her best for a couple of seasons now. 14 1720 Game Nian 7 M. Butt 20 Tightened and broke in the Dominion, but good second in the N.Z. Trotting Free-For-All at the Cup meeting. Adds to form puzzle. 15 7204 Kahuna Pele 1 E. Cowie 30 Big late run last time in Dominion. Set a couple of grass track records last term and too good to risk. 16 3509 Bellam 2 F. Newfield 30 No luck at the Cup meeting, but could surprise in this. 17 0090 Wedgewood 3 C. de Filippi 30 A previous winner of this race, but finding the going tough these days. 18 1603 Melvande 4 J. Curtin 30 Fine third to Landora’s Pride, Tussle, in last month’s Dominion at Addington. One of the leading chances for this. 19 1375 Yankee Loch 1 R. D. Butt 35 Has been close up all season and looked fit for this fast late run at last week’s Motukarara trials. Might need luck from this mark though. Emergency: Linda Ellen. Race 7 O, TF 2.40 AVON CITY FORD HANDICAP PACE $7500; C 4; 3200 m 1 0132 Rosy Score 1 R. Cameron It Latest placings were at Invercargill, including a second to Glenburn Star last time over 3200 m. Has to be considered. 2 9323 Fiddler 2 M. de Filippi It Won maiden on grass at Motukarara and latest form hard to fault. Just beaten two starts back over 3200 m at Methven. 3 5311 Major Bromac 3 A. Scott It Latest wins were at Methven (grass) and at Oamaru. Goes well on grass and should cope with the rise in class. 4 9760 Graecol 4 K. W. O’Reilly It Should be held on latest performances. 5 1088 Gasthof UR J. Curtin It Winner this track in October with big late finish. Doing his best work late at Rangiora and could surprise. 7 7070 Meadow King 1 . . . ,(l. Schwamm 10 Last at Ashburton on Monday. Not fancied. 8 0214 Nimble Phil 3 A. Butt 10 Disappointed slightly at Rangiora after getting everything his own way in front. Gritty finish to win this trip at Methven two starts back and another with prospects. 10 835 Sycamore 4 P. Kerr 10 Big run for third at Oamaru two starts back, then fifth over 3200 m to Jay Ardee and co. at Invercargill last time. Should be thereabouts. 11 1253 Willem Vink 5 P. Jones 10 Ran on well in cramped quarters last time at Rangiora. Good grass track performer entitled to be one of the favourites. 13 806 Friendly Lord 2 L. O’Reilly 20 Improved effort at Ashburton on Monday, but others preferred here. 14 0 Megatrend UR 20 Never close after breaking early at Rangiora. 15 8902 World Of Fame 1 J. Hay 30 Run down by Wait A Moment when

attempting all-the-way win in Monday's Ash- . burton Cup (3200 m Could need some luck from this mark. Scratched: Charles Nero, Beau Peer, Bionic Raider. Race 8 3.15 PYNE, GOULD, GUINNESS BLOODSTOCK HANDICAP PACE $5200; CO; 2200 m 1 7 Module Dragon 1 It 2 0370 Princess Wilma 2 ... D. Earnshaw It 3 0 Honkin Kiwi 3 R. May It 4 Forest Fire 4 ......... J. Curtin it 5 7400 True Nood 5 T. McMillan It 6 0 Whywoody 6 M. Gillum It 7 68 Better Luck 7 R. D. Butt It 9 464 Rosewood Kalannie 9. C. de Filippi It 10 50 Chip Adios 10 L. O’Reilly It 11 4605 Kotare Tobruk 11 R. McCord It 12 0602 Lanyon 12 M. de Filippi It 14 07 Double Logan 14 B. Clark It 15 Title Holder 15 R. A. Butt It 16 7 Good Prospect 16.... B. Mcßreen It 18 Prince Module 18 ..... J. Wigzell It 19 7 Scottish Manor 19. . . M. Edmonds It Emergency: Module Dragon. Scratched: Franco Bound, Clever Byrd, Grampian. Rnra Q cn ARGYLE LINCOLN HANDICAP TROT $6000; C2; 2800 m 1 8440 Paul Dean 1 K. Sutherland It 2 3803 Special Star 2 A. Cowan It 3 0000 Taumutu Del 3 It 4 0030 Newton Grange 4 S. Little It 5 7400 Some Fire 5 it 6 0 Billy Joel 6 J. P. Smolensk! it 7 9680 Tintern Pride 7 J. Meikle It 9 93 Curling 9 P. Jones It 10 2200 Zola’s Pride 10 .... K. W. O’Reilly It 11 4127 Lotus 11 R. Prendergast it 13 0842 Circular Note 2 R. May 20 14 1044 Nova Royale 3 J. Wheeler 20 15 2800 Galleon Lobell 4 20 16 6093 Rich Return 5 P. Kay 20 17 9551 Sandy Del 6 J. Curtin 20 18 0755 Look 1 C. de Filippi 30 19 435 Bulla Mattari 2 A. Butt 30 21 9153 Earl Evander 4 .... S. Cruickshank 30 22 1399 Hickory Stick UR ... I. Sutherland 30 Emergency: Taumutu Del. Scratched: Perfect du Jour, Waimea Bret, Amy Hest. Race 10 TF 4.25 STAMFORD CARDS HANDICAP PACE $5500; Cl; 2000 m 1 4108 Just A Rebel 1 D. Nyhan It 2 74 Dream Come True 2 ... J. Gillard It 3 3000 Salazar 3 R. Stockdale It 4 37 Friday 4 R. May It 5 6441 Regal Baron 5 R. Cameron It 6 6660 Franco Reign 6 It 7 41 Stylish George 7 D. Butt It 8 6214 Supreme Monarch 8 .. . ,P. Shand it 9 605 Calculator 9 it 10 Balonne 10 G. Hope It 12 0065 Bionic Gold 12 .... . ,G. D. Shand It 13 0312 Shuttle 13 P. Jones it 15 6291 Peppy Sovereign 15. .M. de Filippi it 16 5310 Dominion Bitter 16 ... G. Johnson It 18 5150 Spanish Armada 18. .C. de Filippi It 19 5321 Kotare Salvo. 19 A. Butt It Scratched: Lumber Prince, Cruise Ship, Diamond Fella, Machismo.