Grand Filou Might Do What Gay Filou Did

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30956, 12 January 1966, Page 4

Grand Filou Might Do What Gay Filou Did

"The Press" Special Service WELLINGTON. Two years ago Gay Filou won the “Sonny” Smith Memorial Handicap at the Pahiatua meeting and at his next start took the Wellington Cup.

By the look of today’s field, the winner could well emulate Gay Filou. The only difficulty is selecting a winner in such a highclass field.

A win in any race today will not render the successful horse liable to rehandicap for any open race on the first day of the Wellington Cup meeting. In consequence, the “Sonny” Smith Memorial may be regarded as a full-dress rehearsal. Two prominent cup runners are Bandon and Grand Filou, and the way they measure up to each other should be a good guide to the relative merits of the north and central districts horses. Grand Filou won the Summer Cup at Ellerslie at his last start, coming with a storming finish that is usual with him. He is a young stayer on the way up again after a setback last autumn. Bandon, too. is improving. He won the Manawatu Cup narrowly, but most attractively, last’ start, coming again when apparently beaten. Rashid was unlucky m Ban j don’s Manawatu Cup, finishing i almost abreast of the winner.

He won the Wairarapa Cup at his next start, with Vogel Bloem. a subsequent winner, second.

Hawke’s Baj’ form gives John Derry, Alaska, Shady, Sir Barton and, in particular. High Disdain, good chances. The main fear with some of these, and this applies specially to High Disdain, is that they get back In the field.

Two useful staying three-vear-olds are Dark Smudge and Feiramor. Both ran promisingly at Wairarapa, without any luck The second leg, the Ballance Handicap, is a little easier and the three principals should be Te Aro, Prince Hagen and Dalvui, although Star of Kildare ran an improved race last Saturday and Tuskar Rock’s Wairarapa showing after a slow start was the effort worth keep ing in mind. There was rain early in the week, but the weather has cleared and the track has rolled I back satisfactorily. If the showers forecast stay away, the going will be firmer than it was on the first day. Selections:—

Noon.—Fongoroa Highweight: Arlington, Far Cry, Very Dry. 12.35 p.m —Second Trial Plate: June, Ameera, Dusty Lady. 1.15 p.m.—Tararua Hack Handicap: Prenter, Miss Angel, Callander’s Gift. 1.50 p.m.—Nursery Handicap: Vinous, Showtime, Marand. 2.35 p.m.—"Sonny” Smith Memorial Handicap: Grand Filau. Bandon, Rashid.

3.15 p.m.—Hamua Hack Handicap: Tipperary Tom, Ka Wini, Fair Ribbon. 4.5 p.m.—-Ballance Handicap: Te Aro, Prince Hagen, Dalvui. 4.40 p.m. President’s Hack Handicap: Torere, Olympian, Supa. Noon — PONGAROA HIGH-WEIGHT, £450; Ilf.—Far Cry (6) 10-3: Aorangi (9) 9-11: Very Dry (2) 9-6; Llandudno (7) 9-5; Arling ton (11) 9-4: Voltaire (1) 9-2: Everglades 110). Sir Loin (3) 9-1: Opium (4), Aspasfa (8). Gay Chrade (12), Lightning Chief (13) Mighty Nice (5), Nebulae (14) 9-0.

12.35 p.m.— SECOND TRIAL PLATE, £330: 3t—Abdication (5), Amantha <9), Ameera (15), Ana C 3), B-’ow’s Reward (14). Bonzai (20), Char tres (6). Complicated (16), Dusty Lady (1). Gay One (10), Harm ’ess (7), June (11), Keylock (2). Knight’s Fair (17). Lang Syne <10). Lysbeth (13). Morgold (18). Wood Queen (12), Woodwitch (4), Sideshow (21), Zihl (8) 8-5 Bracket: Sideshow and iZhl. 1.15 p.m.— TARARUA HACK HANDICAP, £440: if. — Miss Angel (8) 8-7: Franc Tireur (IS) 8-3: Callander’s Gift (4) 8-2; Valentina (9) 8-0: Prenter 16) 7-13; Fast Com oany (19) 7-10: Ave'yn (20). Grisbi (12), Marine (13), Potico H) 7-9: Elucidation (15), Gurkha (14) 7-8; I.eanel (5) Nimbalina (16), Lightning Ridge (2). Battling (10), Ben Bella (17), Bientot (11), By Dare (3) Gayrene (7) 7-7. 1:50 p.m.—

NURSERY HANDICAP, £320: sJf.—Vinous (1) 7-11: Game (13) 7-10: His Lordship <3), Merrick '6). Too Shy (12) 7-10: ChevlMe <l6), Lin Dai (17), Show Time 'll). Wig (2) 7-9: Gold Miint (8), Marand (9). Starula (4) 7-8: Constellation (15), Golden Mist <7). Kester (5), Norma’s Lass (10). Super Sal CIS) 7-7. Scratched: Clarisima (14). 2.35 p.m.— "SONNY” SMITH MEMORIAL

entry: 8090 Goldtone <18) ..7 0 0000 Strontian (1) ... 7 0 0790 Sea Prince (26) 7 0 Bracket: Strontlan and Sea Prince. Scratched; Diacol (22), 3.15 p.m.— HAMUA HACK HANDICAP, £420; 6f—Tipperary Tom (3) 9-2; Ka Wini (1) 8-10: Barclay (4) 8-2; Talavera <6) 7-11; Kid Gloves (13) 7-10; Fair Ribbon (5), Whittle (11) 7-8; Bahia (1). Bill (7). Blue Glare (8) Knight’s Command (2). Mendel c 9) 7-7. Scratched: Callander's Gift (12). 4.5 p.m.— BALLANCE HANDICAP, £650; 6f.

9 Subair (16) . 7 0 4040 Topless <S) 7 0 Scratched: Jan Eyre (15). HANDICAP, £600: Um.—Supa (13) 8-10; Roley (6) 8-7: Torere (3) S-6; Tinsel (16) 8-3; Switch (15) 8-0: Fingala (12). Justify (10) 7-12; Dark Chock (1), Olympian (7) 7-11; Watchet (22) 7-10; Bonny Chat (20), Gave All <2). Omahaki (9). Otherwise (4). Taxsonia <8) 7-8: Justice Mack (14), Sue (19). Lady Janus <l7> 7-7. Balloted out with right of reentry:—Gayemana. Truegent (18), Traigo (5). Kirkmay (11) 7-7.

HANDICAP, £1135; Ilf. st. lb 9651 Bandon (7) 9 2 3333 Laramie (14) 8 8 0 Re-Echo (10) 8 8 0250 Gymkhana (19) 8 1 1021 John Derry (4) 8 1 4241 Rashid (17) 8 0 0041 Grand Fiiou (5) 7 11 7044 High Disdain (4) 7 10 5878 Alaska (13) 7 9 5492 Shady (20) 7 8 0073 Sir Barton (11) 7 6237 Marise (23) 7 3 6074 Patanga (9) 7 3 2400 Bright Coral (15) 7 9 0087 Sir Torre (25) 7 2 0 Dine And Dance (8) 7 1 1014 Feiramor (24) 7 1 0090 Hi-Minx (21) 7 1 44 Dark Smudge (2) 7 0 6570 Fascinate (3) 7 0 0088 Straight Irish (16) 7 0 0006 Trossach (12) 7 0 Balloted out with right of e-

st. lb. 1210 Prince Hagen (6) .. 8 0412 Te Aro (3) 8 0 4503 Star Of Kildare (4) 7 10 5585 Donald Dinnie (5) .. 7 10 2323 Dalvui (1) / 8 Dunmure (13) 7 3 0073 Tuskar Rock (9) .. 7 9 5402 Super Time (2) 7 2 8935 By won (7) 7 1 0435 Count Carmel (12) .. 7 0 0000 Gaynova (10) 7 0 0077 Lady Mataara (11) 7 0 0809 Prince Mahmoud (14) 7 0