The Clippie has winning ways in Canterbury

Press, 21 April 1979, Page 20

The Clippie has winning ways in Canterbury

By

J. J. BOYLE

1 he Clippie will give the Dennis brothers, of Southland, their second successive win in the race if, as expected, she triumphs in the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Warstep Stakes at Riccarton today.

She is unbeaten in two starts on her present Canterbury campaign, and in the first of them, the Inglewood Stakes at Rangiora, she had the New Zealand St, Leger winner, Tui’s Lass, behind her.

Tui’s Lass, with the premiership in the Broadlands Series safely in the bag after earlier triumphs, will be at Ellerslie today in a bid to win the Great Northern Oaks, and there will be no serious challenger to The Clippie for the role of favourite in the Riccarton 2000 m race for three-year-old fillies.

The Fantasy, surprise conqueror of Polly Porter in the Warstep Stakes a year ago, will be back to sprinting in the Waltham Handicap, second leg of today's T.A.B. double, and she is high on the short list of fancies. She was just touched off

jby Yipp’s Secret in the D.B. Galaxy Stakes on the second day of the meeting, and if 'that run did not take the sharp edge off her form she should throw down a strong challenge to Spy Force and

company at 1400 m today. Th Clippie and The’ Fantasy will both be ridden by the successful Wingatui horseman. Allie Robinson. There will be much else to engage southern interest today, especially another Mr Ay Bee Yipp’s Secret clash in the Great Autumn Handicap. But Canterbury should come into its own withi ts two-year-olds in the Champagne Stakes. Scotch Mist will be on trial for the weight-for-age Kelliher Plate at Avondale next ednesday when he runs in the Champagne Stakes today.

He would have to win today’s race well to raise stable confidence in his ability to win an all-aged race at 1600 m at Avondale; and it is pretty certain he will have plenty’ to do today to contain the Riccarton-trained filly, Aegean Sea. a winner under handicap conditions last Monday, and third [ behind Owhtata Son and Scotch Mist at Rangiora a ‘week earlier.

Scotch Mist carried 10.5 kg more than Aegean Sea when he beat her by half a length |for second in the Rangiora race.

Aegean Sea will come into the Champagne Stakes 9.5 kg worse off, an advantage likely to assure Scotch Mist of favouritism. But on the roomier Riccarton track the improving Aegean Sea will surprise many if she does not place Scotch Mist under heavy pressure today.