DEAD-HEAT AT TRENTHAM

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28182, 22 January 1957, Page 4

DEAD-HEAT AT TRENTHAM

Hot Drop And Zariba (From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON. January 21. The favourite, Ma Reine, led into the’ last half furlorg of the January Handicap at Trentham today, but was nosed out of victory in the last stride by Hoi Drop and Zariba, which the camera could not separate. Hot Drop and Zariba ran the last furlong very powerfully after being near the tail of the field on the home turn. Hot Drop and Zariba both began well, but drifted going to the half-rnile, where they were almost together behind eight horses. Gay Jinx had displaced Summersette in the lead there, and Ma Reine was trailing closely alongside Shaun, and just ahead of Summersette, Desert Cloud, King of Joy, and Can-Can (four wide). Gay Jinx held her lead to the furlong, but Ma Reine ran into a short lead soon after, and appeared to have the race in hand for a few strides. But there was a dramatic change with the arrival of the strongly-finishing Hot Drop and Zariba (outer). Ma Reine was three lengths clear of the weakening Gay Jinx. Then there was a short neck to Desert Cloud, a head to Summersette, a neck to Philadelphia, a nose to King of Joy, and a neck to Benefactor. Desert Cloud was slowest from the stalls, but got a clear run through on the inner to be handy going to the half-mile. Royal Tryst Surprises

Royal Tryst made first-day form valueless in the Mungaroa Highweight. He finished solidly from the middle of the field and caught Dunray, the leader past the furlong, in the last few strides. Royal Tryst, a five-year-old by Royal Chief from the good race mare Serenatao, was well ridden by R. A. Jenkins. He was the 8, 9 favourite and paid £26 0s 6d for a win.

Royal Tryst was in the third line behind six horses going to the half-mile, and was little closer on the home turn, where Dunray and Flying Dragon led, with Red Terror, Coral’s Son and Educated trailing. Dunray had Flying Dragon beaten going to the furlong, but was hotly challenged by Royal Tryst closer to home, and went under by half a head. Champion, which was alongside the winner on the home turn, was running on for third, half a length back. The win favourite, San Diego, improved steadily from well back in the straight for a fair fourth, but his finish lacked race-winning dash. Flying Dragon weakened to fifth two lengths back, ahead of Harleston and Burlwood.

Royal Tryst, which was three times placed in 10 starts earlier this season, is trained at Trentham by W. J. Bromby for Mesdames T. W. Bognuda and W. A. Draper. ' Battling Finish

Sousbois, Golden Gloves, Golden Cavalier, and Teaka staged a battling finish to the Ruapehu Handicap. Sousbois ran the last few yards more strongly than the others, and beat the ninth favourite, Golden Gloves, by a neck. There was another neck to the lightweight, Golden Cavalier, and a length to the weakening Teaka.

R. J. Skelton had Sousbois handy to the lead from the start. Young Marco led early, and was joined at the mile by Wilkin, which went on alone at the six furlongs. Wilkin went clear by four lengths after passing the halfmile, where Young Marco, Strada and Golden Cavalier were closest to him ahead of Sousbois and Teaka.

Sousbois and Teaka moved up to be third and fourth into the straight, where Golden Cavalier was just in front of them. Wilkin was beaten well outside the furlong. where there was little separating Golden Cavalier. Sousbois. Teaka, and Golden Gloves, but Sousbois was strongest in stamina, and was widening his lead in the last few strides.

Golden Gloves outstayed Golden Cavalier for second. Teaka was a weakening fourth, two lengths clear of the favourite. Wanganella. Young Marco was sixth, two lengths ahead of Aer Lingus, then the weakening Wilkin. Strada. Hunt the Slipper, and Mandrake. Win for Zekan Zekan improved on anything he had shown in seven starts earlier in the season xby winning the Nursery Handicap decisively. The Takaninitrained Gold Nib gelding was well ridden by the Riccarton apprentice, N. Hoy. who had him well placed and in the lead at the furlong. The top-weight. Dark Knight, tried hard to close Zekan’s lead near the end, but found the task too great at the weights. Royal Avon, eighth favourite in a field of 15. did best of the South Island horses. finishing third. He was three lengths behind Dark Knight, but made up ground for that placing. Imitation was two lengths away fourth after having his chance. He just beat Black Star, which did most of the pace-making, but was caught outside the furlong. Mexico, second at the three furlongs. finished a moderate sixth ahead of Distant Day and the win favourite. Equal Terms. Equal Terms lost three lengths at the start, dashed up close to the lead leaving the chute on to the course proper, and dropped back outside the furlong. William Paul, the most strongly backed South Island two-year-old. was never near the lead, and was tenth to finish. India carried top-weight of 9-5 to

victory in the Douro Handicap, and was at good odds for a horse which had been only once further back than fourth in seven starts since his win against the hack milers on his home course at Hastings in September.

India, a four-year-old half-brother to the good winners Swanee and Foxhaven, started 22 wide and the former Riccarton horseman, -J. T. Anderson, had him back in the middle of the field going to the halfmile. He had five horses to pass from the home turn, and his hardest chase was after the second favourite. Drowsing. They went into the last furlong abreast, but India just held the lead by a matter of inches for the last 100 yards.

Drowsing started brilliantly wide out. and was three wide at the lead most of the way to the straight. He had the measure of the other leaders on the home turn, but India finished a shade too well and won by half a head.