CASSADO BEATS SURFMAN

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27490, 26 October 1954, Page 5

CASSADO BEATS SURFMAN

TOKARAHI HANDICAP AT OAMARU Cassado, after taking the lead at the end of three furlongs in the Tokarahi Handicap at Oamaru yesterday, was not afterwards headed, and she ran on solidly in the straight to hold off the first-day winner, Surfman. There was very little pace on in the middle stages of the race, and most of the field was pulling until half a mile from home, when the pace went on. Surfrrtan gradually moved up to Cassado and was within a length of her at the straight entrance, where Sandy River, Golden Marino, Captain King, Terowie, and Signet Ring were all handy. Cassado and Surfman had the finish to themselves, with Cassatdo finishing slightly the better to win by a length. Surfman was never far from the leaders and he ran on well for his placing. He had a length to spare over Sandy River, which finished on without looking likely to trouble Cassado or Surfman. There was a gap to Golden Marino, which shaded Captain King, Terowie, and Mighty King, with a gap to Signet Ring. Full Shot broke at the start, and Signet Ring and Surfman were a little slow. Recruit Stays On Recruit, a winner on the first day of the meeting, led from end to end to win the Waitaki Handicap. The Light Brigade trotter set a sound pace which had most of the others in trouble with more than half a mile to run. Larnie Scott was handy all the way, and he followed Recruit over the last six furlongs. These two drew right away from the field over the last three furlongs, and at the straight entrance they were eight lengths in front of Moth, which broke soon after and checked Young Atlas. Sure Phoebe was next, well clear of Lady Biddy. Recruit was chalenged by Larnie Scott over Ihe last bit, but he had too much in reserve and won well by a length after trotting the two miles in the smart time of 4min 33 l-ssec. Larnie Scott, which conceded the winner 24 yards, trotted another fine race for second, and he was far from disgraced. He was 15 lengths in front of Sure Phoebe, which battled on for third, three lengths in front of Moth, which broke several times in the running. Young Atlas was two lengths back next, well clear of Josedale’s Son and Lady Biddy. Another Upset Dalise, which had not raced kindly on Saturday, caused another upset when she led practically from end to end in the Fembrook Handicap. Dalise set an easy pace in the middle stages of the race, and the field closed on her racing to the straight, where she was followed by Adan, Waitaki Joe, Star Beam, which had moved up over the previous furlong, Nipalong, and Bobby Brigade. Dalise always had the upper hand over the final furlong and she won most convincingly. Star Beam, which broke at the start and again at the end of a furlong, had a good run on the inside all the way. She finished strongly, but had no chance with the winner. Adan, which had had a perfect run all the way just behind the pacemaker, did not run on as well as expected, and he held on for third, three lengths in front of Waitaki Joe, which had been a little slow early. Nipalong was a length away fifth, ahead of Bobby Brigade, Victory Nelson, and Misty Grattan. Titania broke at the start and in the running. Astrakan Surprises The Oamaru-owned and trained Astrakan brought a welcome change to J. Wallis when he won the Meadowbank Handicap. This was Wallis’s first win since he won with Kerwood Bingen about 10 years ago. Astrakan was always one of the leaders, but he was passed by Quite Contrary with one mile to run. These two went right away from the field over the last half-mile, and they turned into the straight four lengths in front of Young Atlas, with a similar gap back to Devon, Bay Queen, and Sheffield’s Beauty. Astrakan took the measure of Quite Contrary early in the run home, and he did not have to do his best to win. Devon, which had been slow early and raced sluggishly in the middle stages of the race, finished with a fine burst in the straight to cut Quite Contrary out of second place. Devon’s effort was a smart one. Young Atlas, which had never been very far away, was right up in fourth nlace, well clear of Sheffield’s Beauty, Bav Queen, and Jocoly Solidly supported horses in Te Waihopi and Suredale were among those to break early.