Tussle favoured in Cup

Press, 30 December 1988, Page 26

Tussle favoured in Cup

By

JEFF SCOTT

Tussle, a marvel of longevity, is strongly fancied to win her second Canterbury Park Trotting Cup on the first night of the Canterbury Park Club’s New Year meeting at Addington this evening.

The evergreen 12-year-old has shown in her limited racing this season she is still more than a match for her South Island counterparts on most occasions in spite of her advancing years. Handicaps such as tonight’s mark of 20m are virtually treated with contempt by Tussle, which begins at such a rate from a stand she is more often than not in midfield after the opening 200 metres. The depth of tonight’s line-up is not as strong as she encountered when swamped late by Landora’s Pride in last month’s big 3200 m trot, the Dominion Handicap. Yankee Loch, fifth in the Dominion Handicap, is best suited to the 3200 m trips and might prove the best of Tussle’s rivals.

The Yankee Reb gelding went soundly from the backmark of 35m in a capacity field in Wednesday’s Banks Peninsula Cup and is much better placed under these conditions.

Yankee Loch has 3200 m wins at Addington and Ashburton to his credit already this season. Peter Robinson, the trainer of Melvan-

Race 3 T 6.45 PYNE, GOULD, GUINNESS PREMIER MARES’ PRELUDE $8000; mares; C2-C4; mobile; 2000 m 1 00 Giftique 1 It Unlikely to trouble here. 2 9523 Innocent Heather 2 It New Zealand Oaks placegetter last term which raced well at the Invercargill meeting earlier this month. Big chance. 3 3465 Peta Eyre 3 G. Hope It Finished on after slow beginning at Motukarara on Wednesday. Should be thereabouts. 4 Muskie 4 C. de Filippi It Resuming. Others appeal more. 5 4251 Prime Rate 5 D. Butt It Winner this trip in sedate 2:34.3 last month, but sprinted home from the 800 m in 58.3. Runner-up in smart 2:29.6 this distance at Cup meeting and likely favourite. 6 6920 Young Honkey 6 M. Heenan It Likes the distance but others appeal more. 7 4359 Haughty Nugent 7 P. Ryder It Has gone off the boil in last two starts but earlier efforts suggested she would not be out of her depth here. 8 8907 Lady Brandonia 8 .... K. Vincent It Win would surprise. 9 1323 Rosy Score 9 R. Cameron ltd Went down narrowly after trying to lead throughout over 3200 m at Motukarara on Wednesday. Must be tough. 11 5010 Strathbawn 11 I. Cameron It Winner in track record time at Rangiora for mobile 2600 m two starts back, but wilted last time over 3200 m in Westport Cup. Could upset. Scratched: Blondini.

der, the beaten favourite at Motukarara on Wednesday, was of the opinion the Great Evander entire would improve with the run. . “He’s taking more work to get right now that he’s a bit older,” said Robertson. . Melvander failed to quicken m the run home on Wednesday but is worth keeping on side with as a place chance, at least, tonight. Bellam, Troppo and Pitcher all went well enough on Wednesday to be respected, while Kahuna Pele, like Melvander, let down his supporters on Wednesday but had to do more work than any other in the running. Final Offer, which raced solidly at the Invercargill meeting earlier this month, could prove best in the first leg of the T.A.B. double, the Radio 3ZB Handicap, also over 3200 m. Jay Ardlee, always thereabouts, the former northern mare, Belle Jane, which makes her debut from Jack Smolenski’s Weedons team, and Michele Bromac, which should show smart improvement on her two runs at the Invercargill meeting, are other leading fancies.

Race 4 T, TF 7.15 D.N. ADAMS PRINT MOBILE TROT $7500; C3-C5; 2600 m 2 8427 Circular Note 2 R- May It Made Amy Hest work hard for win at Ashburton, then battled a shade at Motukarara two days later. Respect from draw. 3 1338 Point Away 3 G. O’Reilly It Has better record than most and altghough away from racing for a month must still rate a leading chance. Reliable and drawn handily. 4 8000 Galleon Lobell 4 J. Curtin It Win would surprise. 5 9466 Game Dryden 6 R. Geddes It Failed to work clear from third line in Monday’s Banks Peninsula Cup when going well. Should go close. 6 8006 Iseult 6 M. de Filippi It Others preferred. 7 06 Midlands Del 7 R. D. Butt It Big recovery at Ashburton on Monday after breaking early. Has plenty of ability but not the most reliable. 8 5261 Amy Hest 8 D. Townley It Finished best from midfield to win at Ashburton (3200 m on Monday. Consistent and should be close-up again. 9 7070 Innes Lass 9 L. O’Reilly It Not fancied. 10 2001 Zola’s Pride 10. ...K. W. O’Reilly It Rewarded punters at Motukarara after having a perfect run. Could get some of this too. 11 0000 Le Due 11 A. Butt It Not racing as well as he can. 12 Ten Four 12 C. de Filippi It Hard task first-up for seven months. Scratched: Nova Royale. Race 5 T 7.50 YONKERS YEARLINGS HANDICAP PACE $7500; C 4; 2600 m 1 6074 Graecol 1 G. O’Reilly It Better race last time after tangling early at Motukarara. Could be troublesome. 2 780 Margrave 2 J. Hay It Others preferred. 3 1323 Rosy Score 3 R. Cameron It Also engaged race three. Form hard to fault and respect if she starts here. 4 3232 Fiddler 4 M. de Filippi It Just beaten at Motukarara after being in the open for much of the race. Overdue for a winning turn and will start favourite. 5 9772 Avalon Skipper 5.. F. Bebbington It Just caught by Falcon Hanover over 3200 m at Ashburton on Monday. Stays well on his day. 6 1800 Maitland Stream 6. . A. Sutherland It Not fancied. 7 0889 Gasthof UR 1 G. Archer It Never fired on Wednesday. Others might hold. 8 4945 Charles Nero UR 2J. W. Smolensk! It Racing solidly without much luck. Could place. 9 0706 Meadow King 1 .... I. Schwamm 10 No finish on Wednesday after having every chance. 10 2140 Nimble Phil 2 A. Butt 10 No dash on Wednesday in sprint home. Earlier form entitles him to respect. 11 1260 Hoosemedad 3 P. Jones 10 Broke in only start at Cup meeting. Not sighted since.

Race 6 D 8.20 RADIO 3ZB HANDICAP PACE $10,500; C 7; 3200 m 1 6868 Belle Jane 1 J. W. Smolensk! It Newcomer to Smolensk! stable after earlier racing for Purdons at Clevedon. Sticks well and keep on side. 2 8505 Lord Kara 2 T. Healy It Honest old campaigner but others preferred. 3 8902 World Of Fame 3 J. Hay It Tried for end to end win this trip at Ashburton, being run down by Wait A Moment. Chance if he gets things his own way again. 4 5314 Jay Ardee 4 L. Grant It Winner 3200 m two starts back at Invercargill, then sound fourth in Ashburton Cup, making ground well late in sprint home. Eachway chance. 5 Aran Blaze 1 R. Cameron 10 Making debut from Greg Hope’s Weedons stable. Placed at trials but stiff task first-up. 6 0738 That’s That 2 G. Hope 10 Last chance at start at Ashburton, but improver’s third to Jay Ardee at Invercargill the time before. Former top youngster worthy of respect. 7 0616 Andronicus 3 J. Boyd It Upset winner first day at Invercargill over 2200 m, then never threatened after early gallop in Invercargill Cup. Could reach a place. 8 8007 Freightman 1 F. Newfield 30 Continued run of outs in Ashburton Cup on Monday. 9 9053 Final Offer 2 R. A. Sharpe 30 Third in Invercargill Cup to Laser Lad and Ankorman a good enough recommendation to win this. Distance won’t trouble. 10 77 Michele Bromac 3... C. de Filippi 30 Top mare on comeback trail. Likely to show quick improvement after two outings at Invercargill this month.

Race 8 D> TF 9.20 D.B. DRAUGHT CANTERBURY PARK TROTTING CUP $30,000; OC; 3200 m 1 0669 Firm Offer 1 B. Clark It Weakened at Motukarara on Wednesday. Improvement needed. 2 0110 Gregory Peter 2 M. Skinner it Broke badly early on Wednesday. Hard to consider. 3 2040 Kahuna Pele 3 E. Cowie it Won this 12 months ago with impressive

front-running victory. Did plenty of work at Motukarara before breaking when handy at the 300 m. Could upset. 4 5807 Westham 4 S. Miller It Raced twice in the day at Methven on December 3. Likely to improve or flatten, but this preparation did improve him last season. 5 0000 Dancing Armbro 5. .K. McCormick It Not fancied. 6 40 Tobago 6 R. Jenkins It No dash on Wednesday in second run back from spell. Likely improver. 7 0370 Nooky Bear 7 R. Cameron It Never a threat after early gallop on Wednesday. Continues to frustrate punters, but could surprise at any time. 8 7200 Game Nian 8 M. Butt It Broke at start on Wednesday. Looking well though and another upset chance. 9 8742 Troppo 9 S. Little It Strong finish to beat all but Lucky Tesp at Motukarara and solid fourth at Methven the time before. Must be considered. 10 6030 Melvander 10 ... .J. W. Smolensk! It Lacked punch when resuming on Wednesday. Much better than that and worth another chance. 11 6106 Flameaway 11 K. W. O’Reilly It Could not quicken after having every chance on Wednesday. 12 5095 Bellam 12 F. Newfield It Good late run in Bank" Peninsula Cup on Wednesday and only needs an ounce of luck to be close up at the finish. 13 4101 Francis Dalrae UR R. May It Keeps getting better and better. Won this trip in 4:13.5 in lower grade on Cup Day last month and winner in fast time for 2000 m mobile on last night of November meeting. 14 3758 Yankee Loch 1 R. D. Butt 10 Made ground from backmark in big field on Wednesday and suited better here. Must be tough. 15 4303 Pitcher 2 M. de Filippi 10 Battled well after having every chance on Wednesday. Not so well suited in the handicaps here. 16 1321 Tussle 1 . . .P. Jones 20 The veteran of the field but racing the best. Run down late in Dominion Handicap (3200 m last month after beginning from 15m and this line-up nowhere near as strong. Emergency: Dancing Armbro.

Jetbet: 7 Race 1 I TF 5.45 FRED MORRIS MOBILE PACE $6500: C3; 2000m 1 2702 Canasta King 1. . . . ... J. Gillard It 2 4554 Wood Chip 2 . . . R. D. Butt It 3 4077 Innocent Guy 3. . . . . . G. Hampton It 4 0 Aces Wild 4 . C. de Filippi It 5 0807 Kotare Platinum 5. . R. May It 6 5206 Twilight Time 6 . . . . M. de Filippi It 7 0278 Module Boy 7 . . R. Cameron It 8 1931 Happy Hazel 8 . . . . . . . . P. Jones It 9 7604 Waituti 9 J. Hay It 10 1732 Nugent Lopez 10. . . . . . .P. Ryder It 11 3200 Charming George 11 . . F. Newfield it Race 2 6.15 TWIGGERS RESTAURANT PACE $5000; Cl; junior 1 6860 Opening Night 1 . . . T. Butt It 2 Jersey Banker 2 . . . . . . .G. Crofts It 3 2419 Native Burn 3 . R. A. Sharpe It 4 9807 Little Rapa 4 K. M. O’Reilly It 5 2460 Sir Donald 5 . B. Borcoskie It' 6 Mighty Adios 6. . . . . . . . B. Lilley It 7 4908 Million Dollar Fella 7 A. Scott It 8 0430 Eddie Ray 8 . . . . G. Ward it 9 5500 Rio Belle 9 . . . S. Enright It 10 7000 Bernborough 10 . . . . . .C. Dalgety It 11 7800 Streak 11 B. Hale It 12 1922 Difurn Fetta 12 ... . . . . R. A. Butt It 13 2930 The Oracle 13 .... . D. Earnshaw It 14 410 Stylish George 14 . . . . . .R. Austin It 16 9094 Mascara 16 Scratched: Farm Wise. . . . J. Lemon It

Race 7 8.50 CHUNG WAH II RESTAURANT MOBILE PACE $5700; four-year-olds; 2600m 1 2318 Terregles 1 D. Smolensk! It 2 50 Brigadier Boa 2 G. Laing It 3 0267 Hot Oil 3 L. O’Reilly It 4 66 Craig Lee 4 ....... M. Edmonds It 5 Supreme Delta 5 It 6 00 Mighty Cute 6 It 7 9279 Not Guilty 7 E. Cowie It 8 8022 Zoomee 8 R. Austin It 9 5281 Helsinki 9 C. Middleton It 10 222 Barbara Lea 10 S. Thomas It 11 0235 Lady Poplar 11. . . J. W. Smolensk! it 12 3100 Dominion Bitter 12 ... I. Cameron It 13 61 Tai Lumber 13 C. de Filippi it 14 7503 Night Hawk 14 M. Butt it 15 005 Queensland Lady 15 . M. de Filippi It 16 0240 Unique Away 16 P. Borg It Emergencies: Mighty Cute, Supreme Delta.

Race 9 9.50 C.M.P. SUPERTRED MOBILE PACE $5500: C2; 2600m 1 1419 Toss 1 A. Butt It 2 8540 Captain Rum 2. . . G. Ward It 3 7030 All A Dream 3 . . . E. Cowie It 4 01 Triumphant Trio 4. P. Ryder It 5 1504 Precious Wave 5. . J. Hay it 6 4605 Foulden Peer 6. . . .... R. A. Butt It 7 8954 Machismo 7 . . . R. Cameron It 10 8122 Hazlett 10 B. Clark It 11 0 Garlic Kid 11 ... . . . I. Schwamm It 12 0070 Lucas Royale 12 . . . . . . T. Newall It 13 10 Lord Lincoln 13 . . R. May It Scratched: Rusty’s Error, Colonel Poplar. Race 10 10.20 CANTERBURY PARK STEWARDS MOBILE PACE $9000; C5-C6; 2600m 1 5304 Beau Peer 1 . K. W. O’Reilly It 2 8060 Friendly Lord 2. . . . . . .L. O’Reilly It 3 607 False Image 3 . . . J. W. Smolensk! It 4 7028 El Fashion 4 . . . . J. Curtin It 5 3650 Young Eden 5 . . . . . . R. Cameron It 6 0062 Cardinal Star 6. . . . . C. de Filippi It 7 6100 Finest Hour 7. . . . . . . . R. D. Butt It 8 7889 Blythbank Del 8 . . . . .G. A. Shand It 9 055 Bionic Raider 9. . . . . M. de Filippi It