COREOPSIS MAY IMPROVE

Southland Times, Issue 24011, 29 December 1939, Page 9

COREOPSIS MAY IMPROVE

— I Aidus In Form For Novice Event ASPIRANT MAY WIN AGAIN If Coreopsis shapes as well as he did at Gore he should show up in the South Hillend Handicap. At Gore he finished second to Gelert, and this placing was a worth-while one as he was made a good deal of use of when he rushed to the front with seven furlongs. The Lee Norris gelding is much more solid than previously. An early mistake cost Geelong his chance at Gore but in spite of this he was a creditable fourth and later finished third in harness. Jenny Bingen is a newcomer while Shanghai Peggy is the most likely of the others off the front line. Imperial Wave will require to improve while Patti Nelson, who will be bracketed with Patch’s Discovery, is a possibility. The last named trotted a great race at Gore from 96yds back and from the same mark again he must be given a chance. If those in front of him make any mistakes he will make it interesting. The choice is for: COREOPSIS GEELONG PATCH’S DISCOVERY NOVICE HANDICAP The draw for barrier positions will be an important factor in the decision of the Novice Handicap which has drawn a field of 29. Icilma was not produced at Gore and the big field here is not likely to favour her. The Rey de Oro mare would, however, only require to hit her hopples correctly to be hard to beat Dawn Direct has shown useful form at times and was a winner at Cattle Flat. Prince Echo is more capable than he showed at Gore when he lost his chance at the start. Brown Cloud is a solid customer and he may have been closer than fourth at Gore had he not made a race of it with Dunalister all the way. His stablemate, Lady Alwyn, has a useful turn of speed and is a possibility. She was badly interfered with in her race on Tuesday but in spite of this finished close up. Kentucky Sun was a fair third behind Indianola and Aidus, but the latter, who is a great beginner should beat her again. Aidus is one of the best beginners about and his Gore placing gives him a great chance. The handicap horses are set a difficult task. Pontoon and Harbinger would be given a chance but the odds are against them securing a good run. pie best credentials may be held by: AIDUS ICILMA "ROWN CLOUD bracket STEWARDS’ HANDICAP Aspirant is almost certain to tackle the Winton Cup in preference to the Stewards’ Handicap, for which Mendel and Foremost Junior stand out. Mendel is still unreliable at the mark and after being hopelessly out of it at Gore he finished right up behind the placed horses. It was a great performance in the circumstances. Foremost Junior Was far from disgraced in being beaten by Aspirant and a repetition of this form will see him showing up. The Winton pacer is one of the most capable in his class as his latest placing indicated. Gentleman Jim is improving with racing and his third to Waterloo Direct and Yc Yan will entitle him to consideration, but he will be giving away time to start. He can be relied on to do everything right. Directly has more ability than most but is not a generous racehorse. At his best he is well up to this class. Ochiltree is returning to her best and her second to Guywin was a worth-while placing. At one stage of her career she looked like going a long way. Golden Miller is the most likely of the others. Most support may come for: MENDEL FOREMOST PUNIOR OCHILTREE WINTON TROTTING CUP Gore form points to Willowbank and Iron Duke playing a big part in the decision of the Winton Trotting Cup. They will meet on the same terms as at Gore when they dead-heated. Willowbank has been brought back to 48yds and Iron Duke to Z~ -ds. Willowbank appeared unlucky at Gore as besides a punctured sulky wheel she was cheeked by Iron Duke boring in over the last furlong. The check may have been only sligi.t but it was at a critical stage and could have made all the difference to the result. Iron Duke has improved with every race he has had this season and he is a better horse now than at any stage of his career. The manner in which he fought out a keen finish at Gore gives him a great chance tomorrow, as there is no questioning his stamina. Aspirant’s win on Tuesday was one of the most impressive of the meeting. The Llewellyn mare showed a brilliant burst of speed and although she wt. required to cover extra ground she was always going like a winner over the last half mile. Although she ’ailed to stay in several of her races last

season, the manner in which she beat Foremost Junior suggests that she will win over further than a mile and ahalf. Mendel, Directly and Foremost Junior may be missing from the field. The race Gold Bank had at Gore may see him strip a much improved horse at Winton. At the top of his form he is a grand stayer. Happy Locanda had every chance at Gore while Embark hat not raced for some time. If he took no harm from his mishap on Tuesday Katene will be in the picture. The Great Bingen stallion is a genuine stayer and has better credentials than the majority in this field. The back markers College Boy'and Vinola are set rather difficult tasks. Those most in favour may be: WILLOWBANK IRON DUKE ASPIRANT PRESIDENT’S HANDICAP Hatrack has been withdrawn from the President’s Handicap, in which the majority of runners will be having their second start for the day. Jock McGrath will not be a starter. Traveltone’s good effort at Gore suggests that she will be hardest to beat but Geelong goes just sis well in harness as in saddle and he, too, will be one of the favourites. Kerrwood Bingen is a newcomer. He has more speed than most in his class but is too unreliable to recommend. The others on the front line have shown little form so far. Betty Drusus will not be out of it from 72yds back, but she was not produced at Gore. At this stage support will come for: GEELONG TRAVELTONE KERRWOOD BINGEN IMPROVERS’ HANDICAP Brown Cloud, Lady Alwyn and Bondsman will be giving away time to start in the Improvers’ Handicap. Gentleman Jim has an earlier engagement but he may be produced here in preference. Real Gold can be relied on to make a race of it all the way and while the last furlong finds him out he will give his supporters a run. Happy King showed useful form at Cattle Flat and he may not be out of it. Harbinger is better placed than she has been for some time. She is giving away time to be in and she may be produced in the novice field in preference. Waterloo Direct will not be out of it from 48yds back as there was a lot of merit in his win on Tuesday for he held off several challengers after making all the pace. Oasis showed improved form in his last start while Drumbunnif was a good third behind Aspirant and Foremost Junior in a fast run race. Loyalist had her chance wrecked at the start at Gore and if she hits out correctly she will be in the running. The favourites may be: GENTLEMAN JIM DRUMBUNNIF — WATERLOO DIRECT bracket LOYALIST FAREWELL HANDICAP / If Aspirant was reserved for the Farewell Handicap she would be backed down to a short price, but like a number of others she is down to race earlier in the day. Scratchings may reduce the field to reasonable dimensions. Viscosa stopped in his race at Gore but he carried the field along at a fast clip all the way and had he not been required to make all the pace the result may have been much different. He is a better horse in behind. From 24yds back Guywin is not out of it as when she won on Tuesday she was required to make up a lot of ground over the last half mile and then finished too well for the others in the fast time of 2min 44 4-ssec. Idlealong L a possibility and while he does not stay too well he has plenty of speed. Willowbank is set a difficult task from 36yds back and the same applies to Katene and the backmarkers Volomo and Gay Avon, both off 60yds. At this stage the best credentials are held by: ASPIRANT—VISCOSA bracket GUYWIN IDLEALONG

REASSESSMENTS FROM . GORE NEW MARKS FOR PACERS AND TROTTERS Reassessments from the Gore Trotting Club’s meeting on Boxing Day are as follows:

Table Line Aldus 1 2 Aspirant 1 18 Blue Spot 1 1 Coherto 1 16 Coreopsis 2 1 Daphne Bond 2 2 Drumbunnif 1 10 Dunalister 1 8 Foremost Junior 1 13 Geelong 2 2 Gelert ■ 2 7 Gentleman Jim 1 8 Gold Logan 2 2 Gold Weed 2 2 Guywin 1 19 Hatrack * 2 16 Idlealong 1 16 Indianola 1 12 Iron Duke 1 19 June Tide 1 1 Kentucky Sun 1 1 Ochiltree 1 15 Patch’s Discovery 2 12 Traveltone 2 6 Waterloo Direct 1 13 Willowbank 1 20 Yon Yan 1 8