Field Commander looks best in small Stakes field

Press, 2 June 1989, Page 33

Field Commander looks best in small Stakes field

By

JEFF SCOTT

Field Commander is favoured to record his fifth win from six outings when he meets a depleted line-up in the Star Time Caterers Queen’s Birthday Stakes at the Ashburton Trotting Club’s meeting tomorrow.

The field is down to eight with the scratchings of Millie’s Brother and Browngate Johnny, and this should help burgeoning star, Field Commander, more than most.

front-line horses. Southland four-year-old Rayborough Rep continues a successful run for the province at recent Canterbury meetings when he contests the second leg of the T.A.B. double, the Hotel Ashburton Pace.

The Vance Hanover gelding’s only failure to date was when he was used early at Addington on Easter Saturday. As a back runner, his racing has been highlighted by storming finishes and providing he steps away cleanly tomorrow, his powerful finish should prove insurmountable in a small field. He made his C 3 rivals look ordinary winning at Addington last Friday. Field Commander will be trying to give part-owner and trainer, Brian Saunders, and reinsman, Ricky May, their second win in the race in the last three renewals. They combined with Application for an upset win in 1987. That C 8 pacer, incidentally, is back in light work again after injuring a leg in the Ashburton Cup in late December. Lord Magic will dominate the betting with Field Commander tomorrow. The former trialled impressively at Addington on Wednesday and the standing start should hold no peers for Lord Magic. A slight tendency to switch off after reaching the lead in his racing, seems his only deficiency. Lord Magic is a strong finisher with winning form at Addington two starts ago (over 3200 m) to back up his claims. He was a creditable third at Addington last time in C 3 company after drawing badly. Torch Song, which missed much of the summer racing, looked close to his best again with a strong run for second behind Grobbelaar at Addington last Friday, after starting from 10m. The Bo Scots Blue Chip colt is normally a good beginner and could be the pick of the

Rayborough Rep beat race rival, Mystic Bromac, in smart time at Timaru two starts back and was a shade unlucky when the runner-up to fellow Southlander, Rimesaut, at Addington last Friday. The consistent Spring Romp entire was held up on the home turn and finished strongly to get within two lengths of Rimesaut at Addington, in his debut from Allan Beck’s Winton stable.

Mystic Bromac, the drive of New Zealand’s leading reinsman Maurice McKendry, tired at Addington last Friday after improving wide in the middle stages, but his previous form was sound and has each-way prospects. Rimesaut won well last week after enjoying a good run on the outer and should take beating again, while Laurene Dale, Noodlum’s Fella and Benachie Lad (parked throughout at Addington last week), are other possibilities. Pachelbel, a first starter in the Brave Rebel Pace, appears the best prospect for McKendry to extend his premiership lead at Ashburton. McKendry, who goes into tonight’s Wellington meeting with 140 wins for the season, is to fly south tomorrow for five drives.

Pachelbel, a three-year-old brother to Bionic Chance in the Kerslake stable, won his 2400 m mobile qualifying trial by five and a half lengths at Ashburton last week in a smart 3:6.9. He reverts to a standing start for tomorrow’s debut and most eyes will be on him when the barrier strand is released.

Race 6 D 2.5 STAR TIME CATERERS QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY STAKES $8000; three-year-olds; 2400 m. 1 Millie's Brother 1 fr Scratched 2 Browngate Johnny 2 fr Scratched 3 03460 Marmoose 3 fr R A Butt Sound fourth in N.Z. Oaks last month and unlucky last time. Place chances look best here. 4 34205 Honeyman 4 fr K Townley Luckless fifth last week at Addington in age-group race. Another vying for a place and capable of getting there. 5 17792 Torch Song 5 fr J Curtin Strong finish to place behind Grobbelaar in age group race at Addington last Friday. Should improve further and could be dangerous. 6 51444 Admiral Ginger 6 fr A Beck Racing soundly enough but would surprise if he finishes closer than third. 7 00321 Grobbelaar 7 fr C de Filippi Does most things right and well timed run to win last week at Addington. Not the type to win twice on end though. 8 72213 Lord Magic 1 10 B Kerr Smart colt which should run in the first two. Ran 3:21.4 (2600 m at the trials on Wednesday and has the form to support his claims: 9 01111 Field Commander 2 10 RMay Won maiden in 3:7.3 (2400 m stand) by four and a half lengths at Ashburton in March and has not looked back. Big finish to beat C 3 rivals comprehensively at Addington last Friday and winning run should continue. 10 17610 Kotare Tobruk 3 10 R Asquith Deserves respect as the winner of four races In this line-up, but win would be minor upset. Race 7 D 2.40 HOTEL ASHBURTON HANDICAP PACE $6500; C 4; 2400 m. 1 Eddia Ray 1 fr Scratched 2 00400 Trusty Prince 2 fr K Larsen Maiden winner this track and distance in 3:8.7 at this meeting last year. Finding it tougher these days. 3 32655 Netherton Abbe 3 fr M de Filippi Racing soundly and goes well on this track. Could get some of it. 4 26212 Rayborough Rep 4 fr A Beck Won well at Timaru, then ran on well for second to Rimesaut at Addington last Friday. Must be tough. 5 23029 Malvito 5 fr Gerard O’Reilly Big run at Addington for second two starts back but lacked punch last time. Could bounce back at flse odds. 6 36320 Mystic Bromac 6 fr M McKendry Looked close to winning form before failing last week on slushy track at Addington. Worth another chance. 7 00600 Lady Driver 7 fr P Shsnd Improvement needed. 8 71533 Laurene Dale 8 fr K Townley Form runner from in-form stable. Another which would not surprise by winning this. 9 44718 Wood Chip 1 10 RD Butt Came from last for Addington mobile

2600 m win two starts back and did not receive the best of runs last time. Could surprise. 10 11460 Benachie Lad 2 10 A Hunter

Talented southerner which was left in open throughout at Addington last week. Earlier form sound and worth considering. 11 21621 Rimesaut 3 10 J Hay Capitalised on good passage to win with a bit in hand last Friday at Addington. Should be thereabouts again. 12 50777 Nat 4 10 RMay Others should hold in this. 13 85945 Noodlum’s Fella 1 20 R Cameron

Game run at Addington last Friday after being in open during 3200 m pace. Due for a change of luck. 14 Bionic Raider 2 20 Scratched Race 8 3.15

Jetbet: 4 Race 1 11.20 CROWES SERVICE STATION HANDICAP TROT $4500; CO; 3200m 1 07-0 King Kerry 1 fr A Scott 2 0 Corsica 2 fr P Shand 3 00 Geyser 3 fr B Arbuckle 4 50 Boyatross 4 fr R Nyhan 5 08-63 Rip Cheval 5 fr G Tait 6 -0-50 Casey’s Chance 6 fr A Simpson 7 20359 Gentle Blue 7 fr D Moore 8 028 My Yankee 8 fr C de Filippi 9 80804 Nod's Delight 9 fr Gerald O'Reilly 10 5080 Game Tempo 10 fr D Nyhan 11 58045 Jophili 11 fr P Shand 12 5007 Gettysburg 12 fr T McMillan 13 33422 Gallant Beauty 1 30 J Hay 14 014F0 Rebel Milne 2 30 A Cowan 15 06252 Double Stitch 3 30 GWard 16 42421 Glovander4 30 M de Filippi 17 76843 Lovely Mood 5 30 P Black 18 -0719 Black Moss 6 30 K Sutherland 19 93710 Guardian Angel 7 30 R Alfeld 20 31070 Reign Hi 8 30 K Townley Emergencies: Game Tempo, Guardian Angel, Reign Hi, Rebel Milne. Race 2 T 11.55 RICHMOND SUPPORTERS PACE $4500; CO; 2400m 1 28 Timely Dream 1 fr L Crawford 2 92000 Wealthy 2 fr P O'Reilly 3 4 Karm Girl 3 fr S Little 4 Clarendon 4 fr 5 52240 Krinkle 5 fr R Cameron 6 44522 Royal Estate 6 fr J Curtin 7 50 Bionic Lord 7 fr M McKendry 8 30239 El Caballo 8 fr R May 9 00000 Willsee 9 fr J Lemon 10 Don Alba 10 fr R Austin 11 0 Tact Bo Scot 11 fr K Townley 12 3 Irish Tom 12 fr A Milne 13 0 Alabama Patron 13 fr R Dunn 14 Meadow Lodge 14 fr R D Butt 15 02350 Ripper's Plat 15 fr L O'Reilly 16 03 Martinmass 16 fr A Butt 17 098-5 Peppi Patron 17 fr 18 34663 Cathedral 18 fr L Keenan 19 56600 Royal Bomber 19 fr G Laing 20 Admiral Foz 20 fr Scratched Emergencies: Willsee. Tact Bo Scot, Clarendon. Race 3 T 12.30 HOUSE OF TRAVEL MOBILE PACE $5000; Cl; 2400m 1 21027 Chip Adios 1 fr J Lemon

2 52490 Saigon Lord 2 fr A Milne 3 20300 Little Rapa 3 fr G Laing 4 07728 Salazar 4 fr R Stockdale 5 22514 Periscopes fr A Butt 6 Mister Plod 6 fr Scratched 7 09280 Franco Michael 7 fr R A Butt 8 49537 Forest Eagle 8 fr P O'Reilly 9 Emily Franco 9 fr Scratched 10 43083 Supreme Monarch 10 fr P Shand 11 76146 Annamer 11 fr K O’Reilly 12 5-090 Delegation 12 fr 13 -0588 Diamond Fella 13 fr L Crawford 14 06310 Kotare Alpha 14 fr R Asquith 15 00240 Lightning Loa 15 fr A Beck 18 00461 Big Trouble 16 fr M Heenan 17 La Chandelle 17 fr Scratched 18 Keyword 18 fr Scratched Race 4 T 1.05 RX PLASTICS PACE $4500; CO; 2400m 1 20080 Patronazo 1 fr R May 2 64-0- Comedian 2 fr 3 02363 Ashley Way 3 fr K Townley 4 7 AmberAdios4 fr L Kerslake 5 53593 Sadowa5 fr R Dunn 6 64207 Rosewood Kalannie 6 fr C de Filippi 7 903 Countess Girl 7 fr M Edmonds 8 3047 Sumgait 8 fr A Butt 9 8840 Be Prepared 9 fr G Laing 10 42005 Zola Bee 10 fr M McKendry 11 00730 Lady Poplar 11 fr J W Smolensk! 12 Damocles 12 fr J Curtin 13 68352 Bay Rum 13 fr J Hay 14 004 Halma 14 fr R Stockdale 15 -0008 Moonlight Singer 15 fr 16 47984 Ariel 16 fr D Hadfield 17 0-08 WibaheDhu 17 fr 18 7789 Clinger 18 fr A Milne 19 Mid Oft 19 fr M de Filippi 20 07025 Parkfield Lass 20 fr M Price Emergencies: Zola Bee, Moonlight Singer, Amber Adios, Wibahe Dhu. Race 5 1.35 MID-CANTERBURY STROPPERS PACE $5500; C2; mobile; junior drivers; 2400m 1 14593 Mighty Chip 1 fr L Mathieson 2 62107 Sir Sholty 2 fr K Neither 3 60003 CharsiMe3 fr 4 71528 The Optimist 4 fr R Sharpe 5 17254 Chip Em 5 fr R A Butt 6 55440 Bay Loch 6 fr GWard 7 10009 Rusty’s Error 7 fr J Howe 8 33155 MascaraS fr A Scott 9 10710 Hol Oil 9 fr J Lemon

10 27067 Spanish Armada 10 fr G Crofts 11 84850 The Bellbird 11 fr T Butt 12 00495 Always Smile 12 fr B Borcoskie 13 40112 Kawatiri 13 fr B While

PALMERS WHITE MEATS HANDICAP TROT $6000: C3; 2400m 1 53145 Overheard 1 fr K Townley 2 09407 Bruno Heat 2 fr R Prendergast 3 72559 Sandy Del 3 fr R May 4 62166 Game Magic 4 fr I Cameron 5 20287 Princess Armbro 5 fr S Miller 6 90840 Gypsy Major 6 fr D Jones 7 609D0 Nova Royale 1 10 J Wheeler 8 30111 Begin The Beguine 2 10 M Pash 9 30885 Some Event 1 20 K Coutts 10 044F1 Evander Hest 2 20 A Malcolmson Race 9 3.50 BRAVE REBEL PACE $4500; CO; 2400m 1 P Doura Chip 1 fr M Heenan 2 Pachelbel 2 fr M McKendry 3 2028 Koau'Kid3 fr R Anderson 4 04800 William Young 4 fr R Asquith 5 000 Caring Smile 5 fr R Needham 6 49 Rinaldo 6 fr C de Filippi 7 60682 Rostriever Reign 7 fr A Scott 8 98304 Solitude 8 fr K Townley 9 8-50-Star Bar 9 fr K Larsen 10 05768 Chante Q'Amour 10 fr GWard 11 006-0 Winter Spirit 11 fr R Burton 12 07603 Bar Count 12 fr E Swain 13 -OSOSorrel Del 13 Ir G A Shand 14 Misty Milne 14 fr R Jones 15 9-0 Fire 15 fr J Hay 16 Finalize 16 fr 17 00930 La Serviette 17 fr P Wilson 18 50-00 Little Johnny 18 fr I Cameron 19 770-0 Lumber Jane 19 fr T Healy 20 Doctor Pete 20 fr J Lemon Emergencies: Fire, Chante D'Amour, Finalize. Doctor Pete. Race 10 4.25 PYNE, GOULD, GUINNESS LTD MOBILE PACE $6000; C3; one mile 1 Flying Legend 1 fr Scratched 2 21040 Avanti2 fr R Tatterson 3 05000 Gilda James 3 fr K Townley 4 10111 Cruise Ship 4 fr G Nyhan 5 13957 Robin’s Gold 5 fr A Milne 6 Adina Bebe 6 fr Scratched 7 46243 Friday 7 fr R May 8 00700 Trader Mir 8 fr A Malcolmson 9 Kotare Helmsman 9 fr Scratched 10 70006 Crowley 10 fr M de Filippi 11 0800F Nat’s Girl 11 fr M McKendry 12 30800 Lord Raja 12 fr C de Filippi 13 33121 Amiable Poplar 13 fr A Beck 14 19664 Trendy Miss 14 fr 'B McLellan 15 99658 Cavalry Man 15 fr A Butt 16 95000 Lady Carbine 16 fr D Jones