SMILE AGAIN IN FAVOUR

Southland Times, Issue 24003, 19 December 1939, Page 10

SMILE AGAIN IN FAVOUR

GORE TROTTING CUP FIELD KATENE *IS A GENUINE STAYER The field for the Gore Trotting Club Handicap is not a particularly strong one as far as class is concerned, but numerically it is a useful one and the material is available to provide a firstclass race. Very few of the runners have shown anything to recommend them over a two-mile journey, but the majority can be expected to shape well over this distance. At this stage the best credentials appear to be held by Smile Again, Katene and Willowbank. Last season Katene finished third in the Winton Cup and in his last start he beat all but Dusky Sound in the Invercargill Cup. The Great Bingen stallion is a gross customer and he will strip a much improved horse next week. He is an out-and-out stayer but requires a vigorous horseman to get the best out of, him. His form over the distance is better than any other and he is' entitled to be one of the favourites. Coherto has not shown anything like his best for some seasons. As a three-year-old he finished second to Belle Grattan in the Wyndham Cup, but has not been placed since. Labour Chimes does not appeal as a stayer, but Iron Duke is a possibility. He ran a useful race in the Invercargill Cup when he was in the leading division most of the way but stopped in the run home. That race is certain to have improved him. Idealong will require to improve on anything he has yet shown to have a chance. At_ times Seascape has shaped well arid-in the only race she won last year she registered 3min 19 3-ssec for a mile and a-half at Forbury. She has indicated that two miles will not be beyond her. Smile Again’s form at the Southland meeting was most impressive. She won decisively over a mile and five furlongs

and over the same journey later in the day conceded a big start and was placed in 3min 39sec —a particularly good effort. She has yet to be tried as a stayer but the Adioo Guy mare would only require to be in the same form as she was at Invercargill to have a great chance. Other members of this family —Southern Smile and Southern Chief —have won over two miles and Smile Again boasts more stamina than the majority. WILLOWBANK’S CHANCE Willowbank ran a fine race in the Invercargill Cup to finish third to Dusky Sound and Katene. She was one of the leaders right through and will strip a much better mare > next week. Willowbank may turn the tables on Katene at Gore and with Dusky Sound out of the way she must be given a great chance. • Gold Bank proved himself one of the finds of last season, but he did not carry on in the better classes. He was second to Syd-, ney Grand in the Winton Cup and would only require to be-at his best to have a chance. Happy Locanda is more useful than he has at times been given credit for. He came from a, long way back to be placed over a mile and a-quarter in his last start at Invercargill and he is liable to upset calculations. It is a long time since Night Voyage showed any worth-while form and in the last couple of seasons she has won only one race.' There will be others preferred ahead of her. Baron Alfonso won two races last season but his form was only average and did not suggest that he would show up here. Gallinford’s only success last year was over 10J furlongs at Westport and if he has improved at all he will have a chance. College Boy is at an age when her cannot be expected to improve, while from 84yds back Gay Avon is set rather a difficult task. In what promises to be a good race the chances of Smile Again, Katene, Willowbank and Iron Duke will be most considered.