Favourite Bargoed Wins St. Leger

Press, Volume C, Issue 29467, 20 March 1961, Page 4

Favourite Bargoed Wins St. Leger

Bargoed had a battle to justify his favouritism in the New Zealand St. Leger Stakes at Trentham on Saturday. Rural Loch, one of four hacks in the field, ran Mr and Mrs T. W. Langford’s Takaninitrained colt to a head at the end of a trulyrun 14-furlong contest.

at the end of a truly-

Bargoed, a close relation of Beaumaris, was expertly ridden by G. F. Hughes, who capitalised on the colt’s sharp sprint to the best advantage. It seemed likely that Bargoed would be lost to New Zealand racing a few weeks ago when a Californian owner offered 12,000gns Negotiations broke down after the offer was accepted, and Mr and Mrs Langford have shown no interest in more recent inquiries. Bargoed has now. won seven races in a busy season, which he started with a win against hack sprinters at Franklin on August 6 Altogether he has earned £8155 He was an unlucky third behind Stipulate and Challen in the Great Northern Derby, but had rich compensation when he beat Karina narrowly and others, including Cadiz, easily in the weight-for-age King's Plate at Ellerslie. Rural Loch forced Bargoed to run the distance in 3min for his win. Rural Loch was an undistinguished third in the race for hack stayers won by Navarro a week earlier

But permission was given for him to race in blinkers on Saturday, and he ran the race out in the style of a promising stayer. Senor, the second favourite, came from second last over the last half mile to finish fourth, a length behind Bright Coral, but an inquiry followed the race. It affected Bright Coral, which was relegated to fifth, Senor and Dashing Star being promoted one place. The announcement was made about an hour and a quarter after the race was run. and many tickets for a place on Senor had been discarded. Bright Coral’s dividend would have been £2 19s 6d Senor paid £1 10s 6d. Dashing Star led them over the first half mile in 53 3-ssec, but Vane supplanted her before they started on the last half mile. Vane went away to a lead of three lengths going to the half mile, where Dashing Star was running alone in second position two lengths ahead of Lord Nikita and Bright Coral. Bargoed was next alongside Rural Loch, and then there was a length to Senor. Te Ngutu was last. Dashing Star joined Vane coming to the home turn, and Bright Coral and Bargoed were then in close touch with the leaders. Lord Nikita had gone back to the tail of the field. Ridden with hands and heels. Bargoed came to the front a good way outside the furlong But he could not stay clear of Rural Loch The race could have gone either way at the half furlong, but Bargoed appeared to hold a slight edge in the last few strides. Senor passed Dashing Star close to the post to finish fourth, from which he was promoted after the inquiry. The others were beaten off. They ran the last mile in Imin 4O3sec. and the last half mile in sO2sec on a dead track