RACING PARLIAMENTARY HANDICAP

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31109, 12 July 1966, Page 4

RACING PARLIAMENTARY HANDICAP

Elkayel The Likely Winner

(From Our Own Reporter)

WELLINGTON.

The record of Elkayel is studded with some notable minor placings behind some good horses. One such place was behind Kumai in the Parliamentary Handicap at Trentham two years ago. Another was a second to Polo Prince in the Melbourne Cup a few months later.

Elkayel will bid for Parliamentary Handicap honours again at Trentham tomorrow. The redoubtable Kumai probably will oppose him again, but this time the Waikato stayer is selected to beat Mr T. K. S. Sidey’s grey.

The seven-year-old Elkayel is a year younger than Kumai, and is 51b below him in the weights. Kumai has 9-4. Two years ago he won the Parliamentary Handicap with 9-7 and his third Winter Oats with 10-0.

In two years, however, some of his speed has been dulled, and his connexions feel that he will be at his “right weight” tomorrow in the light of his form on the flat in recent months. B. J. Anderton, who brought Kumai north and rode him to win the Trentham Hurdles on Saturday, feels that Mr Sidey should pass over the Parliamentary Handicap and concentrate on the Winter Hurdles next Saturday. Anderton feels that Kumai will be unable to produce one of his sharpest runs in the Parliamentary Handicap after a programme in which jumping has predominated. If his rider has his way Kumai will not run. However the decision has been left to the horse’s trainer, •H. A. Anderton, who is keen to see the Kurdistan gelding attempt the notable feat of Nukumai, which won the Trentham Hurdles, the Parliamentary and the Winter Hurdles in the 19205. K

Decision Today A decision about Kumai may now be delayed until this morning. “The horse is well, and as things stand at present the horse is running,” B. J. Anderton told “The Press” yesterday.

If kumai adds a third Parliamentary Handicap to his

magnificent Trentham record tomorrow’s patrons will give him a grand reception. It would certainly be a memorable victory for a horse that has become a great favourite at Trentham. The veteran of the field, but certainly not one of the lesser lights, is Count Filou. He won the Parliamentary Handicap three years ago and now, at 10 years, his form has at least suggested he is a place possibility from well down in the weights. Count Filou has 7-9, 11b less than Chatty Lady, which will have solid support after a brilliant win at Wanganui last week. Certain is another laststart winner in the field, but a disappointing gallop at Trentham yesterday has dropped him from favour. At best the Washdyke three-year-old would have to be given a strong chance because he has won at Trentham in the winter and has mastered the Parliamentary Handicap distance. Gus was an expensive failure in the Whyte Handicap, • but it was excusable for a • young horse which had never • raced before in worse con- • ditions and was obviously • troubled by the mud and slush being kicked up into his face by rival runners. Gus’s winning record has been notable for his strong j finishes, and it would not be a major surprise if he emerged on top or, at least, ’ reached one of the minor ' places with 8-1. Sprint Fancies Queen’s Poet, David Jeff, . Princess Taiaria and the light-

weight, Topsil, may be the pick of the field for the Members’ Handicap, second leg of the T.A.B. double.

Queen’s Poet was a good second to Maria Mitchell in the mile Whyte Handicap. This appeared to be a performance of equal merit to David Jeff’s win at six furlongs in the Stewards’ Handicap, in which the class was weaker. The final bearing on their chances could be the weights. The scale is higher in the Members’ Handicap, but Queen's Poet will run a furlong less than she did on Saturday, and she won twice at seven furlongs at Ellerslie last month. Princess Taiaria’s sixth in the Whyte Handicap was a fair run. She was the first to go after the winner and felt the strain running to the furlong, but one of her best runs would give her a great chance.

Topsil started another campaign promisingly with a second over six furlongs at the Maramarua Hunt meeting. She impressed in her gallop yesterday. Trentham conditions at their worst'should not trip the Le Filou mare, from Matangi.

Equality has a well-earned reputation for unreliability. He might be at long odds, but a placed run from him would not provide one of the major surprises.

Shakes and Wiri also ran a long way below their best on Saturday, and their failures could be attributed, perhaps, to the unusually wet track. Unless there is more rain today the ground will be different tomorrow.

“If it stays fine the ground will be like plasticine on Wednesday,” one of the North Island jockeys said yesterday.

there will be an on-course double on the Corunna Hurdles and the Juvenile Handicap.