RACING Plans For Kumai Will Decide Favouritism

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31094, 24 June 1966, Page 4

RACING Plans For Kumai Will Decide Favouritism

Favouritism for the Dromore Steeplechase at Ashburton tomorrow will depend on final plans made for Kumai.

Kumai is assured of. strong favouritism if he starts, but his immediate programme was in doubt yesterday afternoon.

Kumai’s trainer, H. A. Anderton, said he would like to see the grey given a little more time after his winning performance at Oamaru on Tuesday, but the decision would be left to the owner, Mr T. K. S. Sidey. Kumai’s stablemate, Castle Gregory, a winner at Wingatui two starts ago, but a failure on a firm track at Oamaru, will not run in. the Maronan Handicap, the first leg of the TA.B. double. Shakes should be Canterbury’s brightest hope in this open mile. He has a strong record at Ashburton and has had at least one victory at level weights over the capable Blenheim miler, Careen. That was in the Christchurch Hunt Club’s Brabazon Handicap last July, a week before Careen won the Winter Cup. Careen, the top-weight with 8-11 at Ashburton, has had three failures sience she beat a good field of milers at the Waikato meeting in May. However, with time to freshen since her latest race, on May 28, she rates a strong chance in a field not notable

for the number of class milers engaged. If, as expected, J. R. Dowling takes the mount on Big Smoke—he had not been approached early yesterday

afternoon —this combination will be expected to improve a strong record. With Dowling up, Big Smoke was an easy winner over seven furlongs on the final day of the Dunedin winter meeting. Canterbury horses will have it almost to themselves in the Seafield Handicap, second leg of the double, and the chances of Time and Tide, Natter, Jester Jinks and Morris Francis look brightest.

But stables from outside Canterbury will put form runners into the fields for most races on the programme. Ataarangi (Hinds Hurdles), Farmer’s Giri (Lyndhurst Handicap), Game Call (steeples) and Bellesse and Senator Jack (Moreton Hack) should put Canterbury’s best to the test 1.50 p.m.— MARONAN HANDICAP, £650; Im.

entry:— 070 Big Boy (17) ..7 7 3.20 p.m.— SEAFIELD HANDICAP, £450; 6f.

1870 Careen (13) st. lb .. 8 11 1538 Shakes (2) .. 8 8 4295 SabeU (3) 8 4 1717 Castle Gregory (4) .. 8 3 0671 Big Smoke (5) 8 0 0084 Calvados (20) 7 9 5334 Mogambo (6) 7 9 0880 Beginner’s Luck (21) 7 8 0963 Cobble (7) .. 7 8 1194 Stiver Kingdom (19) 7 8 5083 Sometime (15) 7 8 Brown Brocade (16) 7 7 8606 Even Chance (12) 7 7 3457 Filspar (14) 7 7 0445 Misjudge (9) Skeitheen (11) 7 7 2195 7 7 1249 Stageland (1) 7 7 2770 Scent (8) (18) 7 7 5096 The Missionary 7 7 8144 White Rajah (10) .. 7 7 Balloted out with right f re-

St. lb 2112 Morris Francis (5) 8 12 5048 Rae’s Hope (2) 8 6 4003 Jester Jinks (9) !• 8 2 5617 Natter (12) 8 2 1626 Donnaway (10) 8 1 7600 Apache (7) .. 8 0 8866 Acron (8) 8 0 2186 Gold Shower (3) 8 0 9400 Gabbler (11) 8 0 2708 Mister Bud (4) 8 0 1600 Scribbler (6) 8 0 0665 Taxman (13) 8 0 0755 Time And Tide (1) 8 0