Super Maru Beaten Narrowly In Cup

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28347, 5 August 1957, Page 4

Super Maru Beaten Narrowly In Cup

Ben Ledi, from Wingatui, and Sir Valley, from Matamata, returned their doubles supporters £216 14s for £1 when they won the totalisator double, the Paparua Handicap and the Winter Cup at Riccarton on Saturday. There were 1529 5s tickets (1161 off -course) on the successful combination.

Like the Grand National Steeplechase, the Winter Cup finish was dominated by two horses. Sir Valley got up to beat the Brabazon Handicap winner Super Maru by half a head.

Super Maru, which had most of the running, had luck against him. He appeared to be holding the Matamata four-year-old safely at the half furlong, but faltered 2« yards from the post, and Sir Valley nosed him away from victory. Super Maru had damaged a knee, and was Walking lame returning to the birdcage. Sir Valley was bred by Mr A. E. Holden, is raced by Mrs Holden, and trainee) by C. J. Tapp. He is a four-year-old horse by Count Rendered from Valley Girl, by Gold Nib from Flying Hazard, the only foal left by Miss Juliet, which was a half-sister to the New Zealand Cup winner Catterick Bridge. Miss Juliet was from Flying Juliet, winner of 17 races, including the Great Northern Oaks and Takapuna Cup, and £5200 in stakes.

Sir Valley was the only one of Super Maru’s 26 Winter Cup opponents to keep within challenging range of the Brabazon Handicap winner. The Matamatatrained four-year-old got up to win in the last few strides by half a head.

Sir Valley was out quickly from the No. 1 stall, but Super Maru dashed past him inside the first furlong.

Prince Filou was then close behind Sir Valley, and Hot Drop and King of Joy were also well to the fore in the rush for positions.

Super Maru came to the straight a length and a half ahead of Sir Valley and Prince Filou. King of Joy was a length behind them, alongside Keep Time, Desperado, Mighty Dollar, and Hot Drop; then Column, Grand Bank, Peter Willonyx, Copenhagen. Peterford, Great Line, and Gold Caste.

All but Sir Valley wearied of the chase after Super Maru going to the furlong. Sir Valley inched forward under a hard ride and mastered Super Maru when the post was very near. King of Joy was third from the furlong to the end, but was two lengths and a half behind Super Maru. Prince Filou was two lengths back fourth, and the favourite, Peterford, was running on for fifth.

Clinker was sixth, and Peter Willonyx was a fast-finishing seventh. Peter Willonyx had only two behind him after a furlong, and had to make a big run. Golden Fox was next in a gap ahead of the weakening Keep Time. Smuggles, the last but one coming to the straight, showed high speed to finishish 10th. Solstice and King Robin were the slowest beginners. Ben Ledi’s Win Ben Ledi ran jlear in the lead inside the first furlong of the Paparua Handicap. Red Admiral, which led the chase after him from 4he start, tried hard to peg back Ben Ledi, but was safely held by three-quarters of a length. Ben Ledi led Red Admiral by a length and a half on the home turn. Kasr el Nil had put in a big run to join Red Z*dmiral. Appreciate, Teina, and Gundar Haegg (rails) were next in line just in front of Golden Warrior and Conkers King. Next were Melinda Jane, Motueka, Coq d’Or, Copenhagen, Whipsnade, and Golden Morn, and Shoal and Gay Mood were tailing the field. Gundar Haegg moved into third going to the furlong, but could make no further impression though he was running on gamely. Ben' Ledi won handily by threequarters of a length from Red Admiral. Gundar Haegg was a neck back third and then there was a gap of two lengths to the weakening Kasr el Nil.

Golden Warrior was a close fifth clear of Appreciate. Conkers King, Mananui, and Motueka were next on terms ahead of Coq d’Or, Teina, Shoal, Coin’s Edge, Innesfell, Copperfield, Golden Morn. Cashmere. Melinda Jane. Whipsnade Ditched, Plunder, Her Ex, Gay Mood, Landon, and Loyal Chief. Landon was last away, Kasr el Nil was slow, and Shoal drifted. Led all the Way The Riccarton-trained Milling Bay made all the running for a decisive win in the Enfield Hack and Hunters’ Steeplechase, which was his first success over country for Mr J. M. Samson.

The seven-year-old Milling gelding was a late mount for J. H. Hely. Bosky was alongside Milling Bay going along the back, but was outjumped at most of the fences, and Milling Bay ran clear going to the last fence. He stayed beyond challenging distance of the. others after that, winning easily by five lengths. Bosky was strongly challenged 'by Grey Valley from the last fence but just shaded the grey for speed and beat him by half a head. Grey Valley was towards the tail of a packed field starting the last

round and made up much ground from the half mile.

Sea Front improved several places for fourth three lengths back. The others, led home by Vocalize,, were beaten off. He was a length and a half clear of the surprise favourite. Waffles. Then there was a length to the weakening Ozone. Pukeroa lost his rider at the first fence. Royal Mail fell on landing over the brush at the top of the straight the first time round and Miss Step bumped her rider from the saddle at the first of the stand double. Felicitous broke down and was pulled up near the mile.

Yukon’s Win The Otaki-trained Yukon, which was having his first race since January, successfully started his three-year-old career in the Cashmere Plate, for which he was ninth favourite.

Mr j. Wattle’s Rolled Gold—Reno gelding ranged Del Monte in the lead coming to the home turn and established a slight lead that Med bury reduced but could not bridge. Medbury. a determined finisher, went down by a neck, and Del Monte was another neck back. These three-year-olds had the finish to themselves.

Son Rae’s Bold Run Sea Contour attempted to lead for the last nine furlongs, but was outstayed by the Gisborne-trained Son Rae. which sustained a strong run from the middle of the field, and won going away by half a length. It was a two-horse finish. The others were beaten off, and Native King was the best of them; The pace was slow early, while Gold Tip was leading, and Sea Contour ran through a gap on the inner to lead past the nine furlongs. Baffling Eyes and Armed followed him past the mile, just ahead of Patris, Lady Broie, Gold Tip, Dusty Miller, Son Rae, Hunt the Slipper, and Allan. Sea Contour led past the half mile by a length and a half from Baffling Eyes and Armed, and he appeared to be going well enough to win just efter straightening up. Armed and Marau did not test him. but Son Rae finished brilliantly and Sea Contour could not stall him off. Native King beat the second favourite, Armed, by half a lenjth for third. Then there was a length to Marau, half a length to Hunt the Slipper, and two lengths to Patris.

Brilliant Challenge The Takanini-trained Pulupita sped from the ruck into a challenging position going to the furlong in the Avonhead Handicap, mastered the leaders in a few powerful strides and won soundly by a length from Lord Fane, which was three places ahead of him on the home turn.

Pulupita well earned his success after two minor placings at the Wellington winter meeting. He was the win favourite, firming in favour after an attractive trial last Thursday. Smart did most of the pacemaking. El Jefe was alongside him on the home turn, where Skyrider, Raglan, Edgewood, Lord Fane, and Zareska were close at hand and in close order.

Smart and El Jefe led on to near the furlong, but there were quick changes in an instant, and it was all over when Pulupita made his claim. Pulupita went to the post strorigly, and was not put to the test by any of the others. Lord Fane, running on. shaded Raglan and Taumanu for second, and Port Lanyard, a fast finisher, was three parts of a length behind, fifth.

Masai, . Edgewood, Ihstanter, and Skyrider were next, almost in line ahead of the' weakening Zareska. PUrsef would - not jump away with the others, and lost several lengths. Stage Boy was slow to work up speed, and Masai and King’s Gold gave a little ground at the start.

Medbury, a stablemate of the win favourite, Royal Avon, was in a trailing position on the home turn. He ran the last furlong determinedly but Yukon had command of the situation in the last 50 yards. Del Monte showed characteristic brilliance to reach the lead early and she did not lose it without a game struggle. She was three lengths clear of Captain Hunt, which was several places from the first three on the home turn. Promise, the third favourite, was half a length back fifth. He was just ahead of Captain Hunt on the home turn and improved about three places. All Fair was a fast-finishing sixth three lengths ahead of the weakening Hannibal. Hannibal gave trouble at the start, was sent To the outside. but sped up close to the leading bunch coming to the straight. McCool was the best of the others. Harksheen and Rasputin lost ground at the start. Hot Favourite Successful Revolver’s place supporters lost 6d in the £1 when the Matangi-owned and trained five-year-old won the Trial Hurdles. He joined Le Roi in front going to the last hurdle, and quickly went clear to give J. H. Hely his second winning ride in as many attempts. Hely had Revolver running close to the leaders on the inner from the start. He was alongside The Plainsman just behind Le Roi at the half mile and had the pacemakers measure going to the last flight. He made another contribution to the great record of Mr I. Robinson s Matangi horses at Riccarton. Calpurnia finished doggedly from well back in he field and nosed Garoloch out of second place. Calpurnia was ahead of Garoloch early in the race, but the latter set out to close the gap to the leaders earlier and was third at the last flight. Howdy caught Le Roi close to home, and beat him by a neek for fourth, but was five lengths from Garoloch. The Plainsman, which was weakening, was beaten off, sixth, clear of Tisred. Prince Consort fell at the first flight and Brown Baron and Adversary came down at the mile.