Silver Mask ready for home-track victory today?

Press, 2 June 1989, Page 32

Silver Mask ready for home-track victory today?

By

DAVID McCARTHY

The Wingatui-trained Silver Mask could be ready for a bold bid on his home track in the “Otago Daily Times” Handicap at the Otago Racing Club’s meeting today.

The Silver Blaze four-year-old has had a relatively light racing career but a highly successful one with six wins from twenty starts and if today’s race should produce the seventh it will be a popular victory. Silver Blaze’s trainer, John Heasley can only have bitter memories of the last 1600 m feature run by the Otago Racing Club, the Countdown Three-Year-Old Final, which saw the demise of the stable’s highly promising three-year-old, Fiesta Point.

Silver Mask has had setbacks during his career but the stable have always rated him well above average and he has been especially effective on soft and heavy tracks. He showed his first form on this campaign running home well over 1600 m at Invercargill on May 1; ran on solidly over today’s distance again at the Otago Hunt on May 15 and was again solid over a distance short of his best at Gore. Silver Mask has drawn reasonably well and a bold run will be no surprise. There are plenty of dangers up in the weights. Narrative is nearly ready to show form; Diamond Annie is a smart metric-miler and highly respected in this line-up while the up and coming Grey Guard will have many supporters.

Down in the weights former stablemates Art Banquet and Berber pose upset problems for the favourites. Art Banquet has mixed form on winter footing but is a smart mare on her day and rarely out of the money on her former home track. Berber is one for longer odds but hinted at Oamaru he could finally be returning to form. He usually strikes it about this time of the year.

A change of rider will probably ensure frustrated followers of Our Greatest give her one more chance in the second leg of the Owners’ and Trainers’ Plate.

Our Greatest has been consistency itself in recent starts but not powerful enough to land a win dividend for her army of supporters. A strong pace, plenty of room and a big track are three essentials to see the mare at her best and none of the three applied at Oamaru. Jan Cameron replaces Roland Saxton today perhaps to encourage the mare to settle if the pace is not genuine. Gem Again went a big race at Riccarton and there are credible upset factors such as Another Day, Four Figures, Wee Jimmy and Galloping Gourmet to make things interesting. For longer odds Comparable, which relishes Wingatui, may appeal.

3 66023 Graikos 7 63 D Crozier 4 96892 Approbation 1 62.5 C Pemberton 5 Beaualan 5 62.5 Scratched 6 2-403 Doctor So 11 62.5 K Langford 7 F 4837 Come True 13 62 N Ridley 8 4-774 Ebony Knight 10 62 C Wright (a) 9 000-4 Esperanto 4 62 A Mavor 10 98487 Kowhai Prince 3 62 T Belsham 11 80-35 Mr Monty 8 62 A Cowan 12 70085 South Of Saltfleet 12 62 T Hazlett (a) 13 0-005 Travel Alone 6 62 DShaw Race 5 1.45 THE MAIDEN 1600 $4500; 1600 m 1 58609 Banker's Boy 20 55 A Bennett (4.5) 2 0-774 Cassia 11 55 R McAra 3 03042 Ibetya 5 55 R Saxton (a) 4 24824 Imperial Eve 14 55 J Cameron 5 97363 Knight Girl 2 55 C Johnson 6 00436 Loch Guard 19 55 S Allen 7 74050 Lochalsh 7 55 H Malcolm 8 25960 Manor Lad 15 55 S McCann 9 77845 My Belle 18 55 S Cook (1.5) 10 88206 Perry Range 4 55 D Hancock (3) 11 0 Point The Way 8 55 D Anderton (1.5) 12 Real Hawk 3 55 Scratched 13 793 Santana Lass 6 55 A Robinson 14 0 Spycatcher 9 55 P Richards 15 08-78 Star Rio 1 55 R Bruce 16 03432 Tympanum 16 55 T Kennedy 17 870 Western Monarch 12 55 C O'Brien (2.5) 18 32499 Wunit 10 55 L Harwood (4.5) 19 070-0 O’Navillus 17 55 L Cook (2.5) 20 0089 Paula’s Pride 13 55 S Allen Emergency: Paula's Pride. Race 6 D 2.20 OTAGO DAILY TIMES HANDICAP $10,000; Cl; no allowances; 1600 m. 1 00005 Narrative 9 57 C Johnson Good winter galloper third-up from spell after solid fifth at Otago Hunt meeting. Must be considered. 2 66816 Diamond Annie 1 56.5 S McCann Bold winner this distance, soft track, at Hororata May 13 and useful sixth over less ground following week. Has a win chance back to 1600 m. 3 13113 Grey Guard 13 56.5 P Richards Smart galloper on the way up and unlucky to be only third last time out at Otago Hunt meeting. Has plenty of weight for what he has done. 4 14154 Bloodstone? 55.5 D Anderton (a) Would have been closer than fourth at Riccarton last start (2000 m but for getting bogged down in soft ground. Good effort time before at Trentham. This could be a shade short. 5 55824 Becher 11 55 R Bruce Useful run two starts back at Invercargill but not so smart last time out at Gore. Place

chance, on useful record here. 6 26706 Black Arrow 10 55 S Cook (a) Failed to see out 2000 m last start and disappointing over 1600 m at Invercargill start before. Others preferred, though- some place hopes. 7 40302 Seve 4 55 T Kennedy Bold run at Oamaru last week after shock failure in bog at Riccarton. Worth considering here. 8 90542 Silver Mask 3 55 C O'Brien Has had three starts on present campaign and hinting at winning form. Smart in bad ground. Hard to beat. 9 51105 Art Banquet 12 54.5 L Didham Couldn’t handle Trentham two starts back but useful effort at Riccarton after that. Bold 1200 m winner here before going to Trentham. Win show. 10 0 Count Claudio 6 53.5 J Cameron Promising jumper probably needing more ground than this. 11 85464 Berbers 53 RMcAra Close fourth at Oamaru last week best show of form for some time. Smart at best and likes this distance. Bolter. 12 31090 Leveldeen2 53 J Cameron Useful metric miler but might need more ground than this in open company. 13 Tourneur 8 53 A Bennett Long spell from racing and will need this. Race 7 O 2.50 OWNERS’ AND TRAINERS’ PLATE $7000; 0-4 wins; no allowances; 2200 m. 1 74271 Wee Jimmy 2 57 T Kennedy Easy winner at Oamaru after unlucky run second day at Riccarton. Honest little horse quite capable of winning again. 2 40110 False Image 10 56 G Williams Showed nothing at Oamaru in first run for some time and might need another one. 3 56442 Nearly Thyme 3 56 S Cook (a) Rarely seems to make it to the line first but consistent and good effort in moderate Cl field last start. Upsetter. 4 12223 Our Greatest 1 56 R Saxton Consistency sure to make her favourite again and bigger track here should help atone for Oamaru defeat. One paced but hard to go past. 5 40269 Rakau Tender 9 56 A Robinson Failed at Invercargill May 9 in first run since January. Others preferred to win. 6 49511 Another Day 12 55.5 S McCann Much improved galloper with fine record here. Might not like it too heavy. 7 28000 Comparable? 55.5 CJohnson Still on the way up and might upset a few here. Needed last two runs and previous winner course and distance. Keep onside. 8 21213 Gem Again 8 55.5 P Richards Came from a long way back in bad ground for third to two good horses last start at Riccarton. Win chance. 9 37036 LadyCrepello 14 55 H Malcolm Battled last start over this distance. In spite of style of racing yet to be really convincing

beyond 1600 m. 10 80978 Dalmatic 11 54 R Saxton Mixed form recently. Has ability but hard

to follow. 11 57005 Four Figures 6 54 R Bruce Useful run here April 25 on firm track and

prefers easier going. Not often out of the money here and could upset. 12 01050 Galloping Gourmet 13 54 L Cook (a) Fair run here two starts back but hard to follow. Win four starts ago over 2000 m at Riccarton at Easter. 13 7 Jubilee Boy 4 54 S Allen Useful race here April 25 in first race since previous July. 14 00005 Riwai 5 52 R McAra Recent efforts have been as hurdler.

Jetbet: 7 Race 1 11.40 HECTOR ANDERTON MEMORIAL BRUSH HURDLES $6000; maidens; 2900m 1 22542 Lord Vermillion 9 64.5 A Mavor 2 -272 Bernardone 7 63.5 P Richards 3 96533 Catential 8 62.5 A Cowan 4 86796 Dan 4 62 C Pemberton 5 -8000 Davan 10 62 S Anderton 6 44993 Hammy’s Turn 3 62 N Ridley 7 00803 Hone Hi 1 62 T Hazlett (a) 8 40976 Mingle 2 62 C Wright (a) 9 079Red Jewel 5 62 H Pateman 10 00007 Sanctitude 6 62 DShaw 11 -0609 Vrinsk 11 62 T Gibbs Race 2 12.10 FIRST MURRAY ACKLIN APPRENTICES $5500; 1-2 wins; apprentice riders; 1600m 1 02187 Analogue 12 56 L Harwood (3) 2 30008 Audly 7 56 D Anderton (1.5) 3 37030 High Goal 2 56 S Cook (1.5) 4 79-00 Know Angel 8 56 T Phillips (3) 5 04379 Nickle Nearco 3 56 A Bennett (3) 6 38080 Ocean Comet 9 56 R Saxton (a) 7 37464 Shady O'Toole 4 56 J Collis (2.5) 8 11 Spardeck 6 56 B Quayle (3) 9 8-759 Friv 1 53.5 L Cook (2.5) 10 01009 Le Star 10 53.5 11 80778 Limerick 11 53.5 A Campbell (4.5) 12 71792 Mr Amuri 5 53.5 T Stephens (3) Race 3 12.40 MAIDEN DASH $4500; 1000m 1 00008 Alister John 13 55 L Cook (2.5) 2 Annie Ore 18 55 S McCann 3 52484 Double Mission 11 55 T Kennedy 4 65433 Jihad 9 55 B Quayle (4.5) 5 0Mountain Melody 6 55 G Foote 6 -6834 Oban Lad 4 55 R Bruce 7 49River Gem 16 55 C Johnson 8 52679 Sam Quentin 1 55 S Allen 9 07900 Silver Diamond 7 55 D Anderton (1.5) 10 Solar Supreme 17 55 Scratched 11 39 Deuce Flight 3 53 R Saxton (a) 12 Mine Host 12 53 C O'Brien (1.5) 13 Sim Boh Road 5 53 Scratched 14 Vibrant Style 2 53 P Richards 15 Dark Note 14 53 Scratched 16 8Dapperman 15 55 A Bennett (4.5) 17 Gold ’N’ Richea 10 55 R McAra 18 Willow Downs 8 55 Emergency: Willow Downs. Race 4 1.10 STAN MCKAY MEMORIAL STEEPLECHASE $6000; maidens; 3200m 1 -2-23 Merry Stride 2 64 T Gibbs 2 63602 Bilbah 9 63 S Anderton

Race 8 T 3.25 SECOND MURRAY ACKLIN APPRENTICES $5500; 1-2 wins; apprentice riders; 1600m 1 11064 Auburn Rose 3 56 D Anderton (1.5) 2 17354 Cabaret 12 56 C O'Brien (2.5) 3 13213 Gyst 7 56 L Harwood (3) 4 07352 Hartley 11 56 R Saxton (a) 5 80048 Hot Topic 9 56 LCook (2.5) 6 90006 Pretty Edition 8 56 A Bennett (3) 7 7-904 Southern Hope 4 56 T Stephens (3) 8 6-005 Wrey’e Beau 6 56 S Cook (1.5) 9 62054 Galaxy Light 2 53.5 D Hancock (3) 10 Gay Voyager 10 53.5 Scratched 11 87800 Meadow Maid 1 53.5 B Quayle (3) 12 0-597 Whiteway5 53.5 Race 9 T 3.55 FOODLAND LOTTO $5500; 1 win; 1200m 1 -7963 Air Mail 9 55 D Anderton (1.5) 2 94515 Bryn 1 55 S Cook (1.5) 3 02878 Dark Charger 4 55 G Williams 4 30742 Dogwoods 55 R Bruce 5 21645 Family Command 7 55 C Johnson 6 12 Kalyara 10 55 C O’Brien (2.5) 7 1 Lady Lenore 8 55 A Robinson 8 09008 Misty Sands 2 55 S Allen 9 -631 Morvatan3 55 R Saxton (a) 10 17808 Precious Girl 6 55 P Richards 11 28571 Scotch Lad 11 55 L Harwood (4.5) Race 10 T 4.30 OTAGO OWNERS AND TRAINERS TELEGRAPH HANDICAP $7000; 0-4 wins; no allowances; 1200m 1 44711 Bridget Beaufort 14 57 R Saxton (a) 2 11322 Kish Shu 11 56 S Allen 3 34802 Stand Down 4 56 L Didham 4 65639 Mistella 6 55.5 C Johnson 5 4-366 Penstrip 1 55.5 T Kennedy 6 14917 Gay Ellery 2 55 P Richards 7 02982 JoChellelO 55 D Anderton (a) 8 65358 Rakau Reefton 8 54.5 S McCann 9 Financiere 3 54 Scratched 10 686-8 Master Bijou 13 53.5 A Campbell (a) 11 06001 Miss Vogue 5 53.5 R Bruce 12 69539 Duisburg 12 53 J Collis (a) 13 00-64 Reigndale 9 53 K Kenyon (a) 14 40066 Full Crown 7 52 R McAra