RACING Promise’s Overdue Success At Oamaru

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29235, 20 June 1960, Page 4

RACING Promise’s Overdue Success At Oamaru

Promise came to the end of a long run of near misses and creditable minor placings at Oamaru on Saturday when he outstayed the others in the Oamaru Winter Cup.

This was Promise’s first win since January 1, 1958, when he beat the hack stayers at Waikouaiti. In the meantime he had raced 32 times and had recorded 21 minor placings.

Promise is a five-year-old gelding by Golden Souvenir, the outstanding New Zealand stayer of his time, from Frances, the Auckland Cup winner in 1948. He is owned by Mr J. P. V. Herlihy, of Central Otago, and is trained at Wingatui by H. A. Anderton.

Promise’s immediate form background was two placings at the Dunedin meeting, and another at Invercargill.

Promise achieved victory after a struggle with Matlock and Column in the straight. He ran the mile in tain 5 l-ssec, a good .gallop for which Promise’s stablemate, Subside, was largely responsible. Subside carried the field along . at a strong rate to the straight

The Riccarton-trained Kelp, which ran fifth, was the win favourite, but Promise had strongest backing on the double. Promise carried £6461 10s of a doubles pool of £28.310 10s.

Matlock was second ehoiee, carrying £5895 10s, and Kelp was next best supported with £5060. Kinsimm was a surprise favourite for the Grange Handicap, the second leg of the double, but justified favouritism by beating her eight rivals. This was Kinsimm’s first win this season for her Southland owner, Mr R. J. Woods,

She is trained by R. J. Cochrane, and is a stablemate of Grey Jacket, a strong finisher for third. The stablemates were separated by Black Star, a bold finisher on the outside.

Kinsimm was only fourth choice for the double. There were 3313 5s tickets on the PromiseKinsimm combination, which paid £2B 5s for £l.

Grey Jacket carried 5890 tickets, Marsana 3536, Ben Ledi 3417, and Black Star 2396.

The track waa in splendid winter order and the weather held fine but overcast The tota lisa tor handled on course £24.507 including £3074 on the double, compared with £23,846 5s for the same meeting last year, an increase of £BBO 15s.

Solid Finish Promise outstayed Matlock and Column in an interacting finish to the Oamaru Winter Cup. They had the finish to themselves after they passed the tiring pacemaker Subside outside the furlong. Promise, which had the inatde running, beat Matlock by three parts of a length. Matlock could not last it out strongly enough after leading momentarily near the furlong. Subside was in front in a few strides and galloped strongly to the mile two lengths clear of Column and Vamoose. Promise and Matlock paired off in the next line in a gap of two lengths, and then there was a gap to Cornflake and Panel, and another to Lightning Boy, Kelp, and Kastanea. Subside widened her lead to three lengths going to the six furlongs, and still held that margin starting on the last half mile. Vamoose was then beaten, and Matlock and Promise were running up to Column. Cornflake and Kelp were closest of the others, passing the weakening Vamoose. Subside came to the straight with a lead of two lengths, but Promise.

Column, and Matlock quickly closed that gap. Promise was under heavy pressure on straightening up, but he still managed to outrun Matlock over the last half furlong. The veteran Column was a good third three-quarters of a length back. Kastanea made ground from the half-mile for fourth but in a gap of two lengths. He nosed his stablemate Kelp out of that place. The weakening Subside was two lengths back sixth. Then there was a length to Lightning Boy, a length to Cornflake, two lengths to Panel, and a short gap to Vamoose. The Second Leg Kinsimm came from three places back on the home turn to win the Grange Handicap, the second leg of the double. Kinsimm won by half a length from the fast-finishing Black Star, and then there was a neck to Grey Jacket, another solid finisher. Kinsimm ran in the middle of the field from the start. London Tower ran to the front at the five furlongs, and the stablemates Mitre Peak and Ben Ledi ran abreast behind him.

Kinsimm ran in the next line alongside Marsana and Dulcet. London Tower shook off challenges from Mitre Peak and Ben Ledi without much bother when they came to the straight, but was in difficulties when Kinsimm came at him. Kinsimm led for the last 100 yards or so, establishing a lead Black Star and Grey Jacket reduced but could not bridge. Black Star was forced wide when Grey Jacket was pulled away from the Inside on the home turn, so there was merit in his run. Grey Jacket jumped out quickly frnip the inside, but drifted in * few strides, and had only Mary Dee behind him at the half mile. He was still badly placed on the rails until he came to the straight. London Tower was a weakening fourth half a length back. Then there was a length and a half to Marsana, which shaded Ben Ledi. Mary Dee led the others in.

Careless Riding Fine S. J. Diack, rider of Peak Effort, winner of the Trial Handicap at Oamaru on Saturday, was chatped with causing interference to the second horse, Chow Ming, ridden by A. J. Stokes, within the last furlang. After hearing evidence, the committee decided to leave the judges placings stand, but fined Diack £lO for ear l ss tiding. D. N. Hadfield had to ebeck his mount. Lightning Boy. short of the winning post in the Oamaru Winter Cup. through Subside shifting ground. B. P. Kennedy, the rider of Subside, was cautioned for not keeping his mount straight.