Koral Favoured In Hawke’s Bay Steeples

Press, Issue 31095, 25 June 1966, Page 6

Koral Favoured In Hawke’s Bay Steeples

"The Press" Special Service HASTINGS. There was rain on Thursday night but not enough to make the track heavy for the opening of the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club's winter meeting today.

Yesterday was mainly fine with an odd shower, but there was a drying breeze so the ground will probably be no worse than easy. This should suit the South Islander, Koral, whose brilliant schooling this week has won him favouritism for the Hawke s Bay Centennial Steeplechase, the feature event on the opening day. To Reign, Koral’s main rival, has been working well since he arrived in Hastings, but with the track almost certain to be far from heavy Koral will probably be best suited by it. In any case, he is a better class steeplechaser than To Reign.

The llkaliihood of Henry contesting the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase Instead of the Kennels Steeples adds interest to the feature event because Henry ran second to Prince Robin in the Wanganui Steeples and appears to be the makings of a good performer over big fences. High Disdain still appeals for the Winter Handicap, first leg of the main double, though Elkayel, Laramie, Dhuran and Gillin will all appreciate the easing of the ground with recent rain.

Even so, provided the going does not become heavy, High Disdain, with W. D. Skelton up, should carry the day. Dunraven, Princess Taiaria and Equality are a trio engaged in the Mahora Handicap which will be suited even if the track does soften appreciably and all have good form, Selections:

11 a.m.—Opapa Maiden Plate No. 1: Deep Blue, Comte de Liege, Advertise.

11.30 a.m. Kennels Steeplechase: Henry, Whiroma, Campden. 12.5 p.m.—Opapa Malden Plate No. 2: Rosemint, Kaimoi Star, Umanul. 12.45 p.m. Whakatu Hurdles: Eiffel Tower, Tit for Tat, Arakhan. 1.20 p.m.—Hawke's Bay

Centennial Steeplei: Koral, To Reign, Facade. 2 p.m.—Winter Handicap: High Disdain, Elkayel, Laramie.

2.45 p.m.—Clifton Handicap: Damar. Automaton, Black Knight.

3.30 p.m.—Mahora Handicap: Dunraven. Princess Taiaria, Equality.

4.10 p.m.—Rotopal Handicap: Caplin, Fremont, Royal Guest.

Fields, with form, for the double, are: 11 a.m.— OPAPA PLATE, NO. 1, £300; 6f.—Comte de Liege (18) 8-13; Azul (10), Collingwood (8), Fifty Grand (25), Jazz King (22), Lord Aurora (24), Sunlit (3), 8-10; Salen (6), Spey Royal (27), Strome (9), Advertise (7), Disgrace (4). Lady Darnley (17), Scuff (20) 8-0; Veronlque (26) 8-7; By Court (1), Chev (28), Papagayo (12). Tootler (2) 8-3; Deep Blue (21), Jest-in-Time (16), Redaire (19) 8-0.

Brackets: Deep Blue and Jest-in-Time, Redaire and Scuff. Scratched: AMiplnd'l (14), Fair Nip (15), Escort Lady ((•), Matunuku Blue (11), Vigil. (23), Royal Spoon (13). 11.30 a.m.—

KENNELS HACK AND HUNTERS’ STEEPLECHASE, £500; about 2jm.—Henry (8) 9-13; Prego (13) 9-8; Se'iwyn (12) 9-5: Campden (14), Vane (15), Wheroma (1) 9-2; Aorangi (4) 9-1; Crown Prince (2), Tromphe (5) 9-0.

Scratched: Shahrua (11), Young Souvenir (3), Coaiseam (10), Strickland (7), Polo Pony (6), Scotch Seaman (9).

12.5 p.m.— OPAPA PLATE NO. 2, £300; 6f.—Bara (14), Emir (22), Farlua (17). Gay Marine (11), Kaimoi Star (25), Rawal (12), Sebastian (26), Sir Carl (15), World Bank (27) 8-10; Andantno <lB>, Cameta (10), Cumulus (8), Nigeilila (3), Rosemint (1), Skylit (5), Vai’s Joy (21) 8-7: Free Pass (24), Hula Step (20). Mephisto (9), Sorcery (7). Umanui (2) 8-3; Bold Effort (19). Escorta (28), Longtime (6), Sasinaz (13), Special Mate (4) 8-0.

Balloted out with right of reentry in the following order:— Free Pass, Gay Marine, Sasinaz, Farlua.

Brackets: Farlua and World Bank, Umanui and Bold Effort, Escorta and Longtime, Sasinaz and Special Mate. Scratched: Fair Honey (23), Starita (16). 12.45 p.m.— WHAKATU HURDLES, £550; about lim.—Arakhan (6) 10-5; Eiffel Tower (8) 913; Kurrajong (11) 9-9; Tit for Tat (7) 9-3; Laud (9) 9-2; False Problem (15), Lord Erin (16) 9-1; Emphil (10), Im’ii (14). JebeMe (1), Norway (13), Scot (4), Sing High (2), Surmount (3), Taidapa (12) 9-0.

Scratched: Classified (5) 1.20 p.m.—

HAWKE'S BAY CENTENNIAL STEEPLECHASE, £1700; about 3m—Koral (5) 10-3; To Reign (7) 9-6; Facade (1) 9-5; Count Lin (8), Henry (3) 9-1; Brevity (2), King Ora (6), Super Luck (4) 9-0. 2 p.m.—

WINTER HANDICAP, £1250; Ilf.

6470 Pursuit (17) .77 4684 Royal Ransom (20) 7 7 3026 Summer Flight (19) 7 7 7000 Sunrayed (9) ..7 7 667 Tawa (6) .. ..77 0354 Torere (15) ..77 0090 Trossach (1) ..77 Scratched: Flounce (18), L’Arc (3). 2.45 p.m.— CLIFTON HANDICAP, £500: It.— Damar (11) 8-12; Automaton (7) 8-11; Diamond Red (101, Twigfield (9> 8-8; Balleta < 12> 8-5; My Desire (5) 8-3; Black Knight (4) 8-2: Rossmoyne (6). Surmount (2), Tolly (14) 8-1: Abdication (3), Caveat Emptor (17), Excite (8). Hug (13), Katjang (15), Major Luca (1), Otherwise (16) 8-0.

3.30 p.m.— HAHORA HANDICAP, £800; 7f.

Bracket: Princess Taiaria and Humber. Scratched: Marine (4), David Jeff (15), Gyross (6).

4,10 p.m.— ROTOPAI HANDICAP, £500; Ilf.—Royal Guest (13) 8-10: Bravest (2) 8-5; Cephas (21) 8-4; Happy BciHy (1) 8-3: Caplin (19), Golden Rebel (8) 8-2; Dark Song (14), Lord Snowden (9) 8-1; Arleigh (3), BorsaMno (7), Cox (4), Elucidation (6), Golden Dome (20), Kaikohe (5), Kobe (17), Nebulae (12), Norway (15), Royal and Ancient (10), Royal Dakar (18), Up and Under (11) 8-0. Scratched: Fremont (16).

St. lb 6052 Elkayel (14) . 9 1 2192 Laramie (10) . 9 0 2468 Dhuran (16) . 8 6 0013 High Disdain (7) . 8 2 8056 0633 Big Bill (11) Gillin (12) .. . 8 . 8 1 0 0800 4143 My Contact (4) Wnakamoa (8) . 7 . 7 11 10 0900 Golden Bay (13) . 7 7 5540 Gyross (5) . 7 7 1286 Peter’s Pride (2) . 7 7

6219 Princess Taiaria (14) st. lb 9 0 3221 Dunraven (5) 8 6 8450 Humber (7) 8 5 1210 Astral Blue (9) 8 4 3310 Howe Fair (11) 8 3 9006 Equality (1) 8 1 0883 Sir Juvante (10) 8 1 7042 Watchet (3) 8 1 0000 Comrade (13) 8 0 7900 Dear Pal (2) 8 0 0000 Diacol (12) . 8 0 50 Mossburn (S) 8 0