Magnitude appeals in Rangitikei Cup

Press, 7 February 1986, Page 22

Magnitude appeals in Rangitikei Cup

Special correspondent Wellington

The wet track kept Magnitude away from Trentham and the Jarden Mile, but the Awapuni miler should come out on top in the Gregg Rangitikei Cup at the Rangitikei Racing Club’s meeting at Awapuni tomorrow. Magnitude has had little luck since he returned from Melbourne and most times wet tracks have not helped. He won the Epsom Handicap at Randwick, but missed in the Ampol when it rained. On resumption he beat all but Abit Leica in the Fletcher Stakes, but then was bogged down in bad ground at Ellerslie in the

Flag Inns Trophy and later managed to finish twelfth of 18 in the Wrightson Handicap. Today he will carry 58kg, but he has a good draw and for once the field will be below a full limit.

Atrapar, the Jarden winner of 1985, did not run a bad race when eighth last week in the Evergreen Stakes. Before, he had finished fifth in the 1986 Jarden on a rainaffected track. His 57kg is a kilo under weight-for-age.

Super Tai, Tommo’s Tornado and Silver Samurai are all handy at the distance and the promising Big Talk gets another

chance. Interest will be taken in the run of Sir Vigilant, which is having his second start after last season’s St Leger. His first run last December at Avondale brough no joy. The second leg of the T.A.B. double will be run on the Sheep and Wool Handicap. The field looks wide open and the best chances look to be Cuspidor and Call Me Stumpy. Cuspidor won the Pahiatua Cup and the Rheineck Cup at Awapuni last December. He missed in the Marton Cup and the Terrace Regency, at Trentham but this company is not nearly as good.

Call Me Stumpy is a recent winner at Otakl whose last-start miss was on a soft track at Hawera. He deserves another chance.

Whata Beauty is a newcomer to the grades. Pulse and Tranquil Sea look to be good chances as well.