Abit Leica fancied at Rotorua

Press, 31 January 1986, Page 20

Abit Leica fancied at Rotorua

Special correspondent Auckland

Rotorua racegoers with recollections of this time last year will not have much hesitation making Abit Leica favourite in the big Evergreen Lodge Challenge Stakes at the Rotorua Racing Club’s meeting tomorrow.

Abit Leica turned in a memorable performance 12 months ago to take the Evergreen Lodge Stakes and with a background of two wins and two second placings in his last four starts he seems poised to win the race again. Last year Abit Leica came from last and what seemed a well-nigh impossible position to win. A new style of racing these days has had him much closer to the pace. Last time, in the weight-for-age Trantham Stakes on January 18, he went to the front early in the home straight and was caught only close to the finish by Duanette’s Girl.

The time, when he won a weight-for-age 2000 m race at Woodville, he had been prominent all the way. Now a five-year-old, Abit Leica is up Ikg in tomorrow’s weight-for-age

1900 metres from the 57kg he had last year. But he will be carrying, nevertheless, Ikg less than at Trentham the other week.

The hardest for Abit Leica to beat, if she is at top form, will be Eva Grace. At best she could well topple the favourite, she is of such quality. Following her record breaking Avondale Cup win on December 11, Eva Grace was allowed a letup. She showed up well enough evidently when third in an 1150 m barrier trial at Te Awamutu on January 23 but there must be a question whether she will be sufficiently wound up for tomorrow’s test. Mi Share, with 56.5 kg, seems a bit too close to Abit Leica and with a difficult assignment to beat Eva Grace at level weights. But she could take a share of the stake. With two wins and fourth placing in her last three starts Mi Share is racing solidly. It was a particularly good performance that won for her last time, over 160(,m in 1:33.77 at Trantham on January 18, because she was forced over a fair amount of extra ground.

Three starts back Mi Share won the 1600 m McWilliams Marque Vue Handicap at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. From the last 10 of her II starts this season she has only once finished further back than fourth and only three times further back than second.

Clear Gold always has to be respected and Atrapar, Coronal and Lacka Reason, from the Central Districts, . have shown themselves able to go well in company such as this.

Diamond Lover is almost certain to be favourite in the second leg of the double, the Air New Zealand Flying Sprint.

Diamond Lover made a great impression in winning her last three races, the latest a restricted 1400 m at Avondale on January 11 which she ran in a course-record time. This will be her first assignment in class one and the way she gets through it will probably decide her autumn programme.

Diamond Lover has several smart sprinters to beat in tomorrow’s 1150 m, notably Ma Chiquita and Super Tai, but it is not hard to see her again leading all the way.