RACING FIRST LEG WON BY VALARIS

Press, Volume C, Issue 29480, 5 April 1961, Page 4

RACING FIRST LEG WON BY VALARIS

Compensate Has Success In Mile

Valaris, one of the failures on a rain-affected track in the Riverton Cup on Saturday, ran up to his best form on a firm trade to win the Dominion Handicap at Riccarton yesterday. Although hanging badly he mastered Matauwhi and Desert Chief close to home and won soundly by a length and a half. Matauwhi shaded Personify and Desert Chief for second.

Valaris is owned by Dr. T. Jenkins, of Dunedin, and trained at Oamaru by J. C. Hobbs. He is a half-brother by Beaumaris to Cashmere, winner of the hurdles earlier in the day.

He was vigorously ridden by W. D. Skelton, who is having a most successful meeting. Valaris was fourth favourite and paid £8 12s to win.

The light-weight Matauwhi tried for an all-the-way win, and ran it out gamely. He appeared to set a solid pace to the half-mile, where several of the others were feeling the strain. Many were surprised that the winner’s time was as slow as 2min 7 2-ssec for a mile and a quarter. Surprise deepened when Flagon recorded 2min 6sec in beating the hack stayers over the same distance later in the day. There was a complete lack of pace for the first half-mile in Flagon’s race. Compensate, eighth favourite of 11, rounded off a good double with a decisive win in the Templeton Handicap Compensate has been a good winner for Mr V. A. Voyce, but this was his first win at Riccarton. Now trained at Orari by P. H. C. Stock, Compensate was ridden by the trainer's son. L, D. Stock, who was able to claim a 4141 b allowance. Holders of 651 5s tickets on the Valaris-Compensate combination received £193 for £l. Vitamise, a strong favourite, could do no better than eighth. He carried 5381 tickets. On-course, the totalisator handled £53,155 10s, including £6398 in doubles, compared with £61.964 last year But there was much heavier off-course betting than last year. Off-course investments totalled £73,259. including £31,607 10s in doubles, compared with £48,122 10s. Combined on and off-course Investments totalled £ 126,414 10s. an increase of £16.328 on last year. Matauwhi Leads Matauwhi ran clear after a furlong or so in the Dominion Handicap and opened up a lead of three lengths going to the six furlongs. The favourite Desert Chief had the trailing run on the Inside alongside Gaytana and

just ahead of Kelp and Valaris. Lightning Boy was next in a gap of two lengths and was being closely followed by Kastanea, Olympic Flame. Personify, and Becharre. Desert Chief, Valaris, and Gaytana reduced Matauwhi’s lead between the three furlongs and the home turn. Skelton had made ground on the inside on Valaris, but brought him wider on the home turn. Desert Chief was Matauwhi’s first challenger. It looked a likely challenge for a moment, but the Riverton Cup winner was showing signs of tiredness going to the furlong. Matauwhi resisted strongly, but was clearly outfinished by Valaris, though W. D Skelton was busy keeping him straight Personify made a strong late run from the ruck, but could not peg back Matauwhi for second. Desert Chief, close at hand fourth, was three-quarters of a length clear of Becharre. one of the fastest finishers in the race. Then there was a length to Revolver, an improved horse tor his race in the Great Autumn Handicap. Volterra led the others home, but was in a gap. Second Leg Compensate caught Minglow close to home in the Templeton Handicap and beat the Wingatui by threequarters of a length going away. It was a two-sided finish. Happy Birthday being two lengths back third and a length and a half clear of Blonde Sprite. Compensate was in the leading bunch from the start, and was settled into a trailing position when Minglow dashed clear at the six furlongs.

Minglow started the last five furlongs two lengths

clear of Compensate and Tamarisk. The favourite, Vitamise was moving forward behind Newmarket and Blonde Sprite in the next bunch. Treasure Mine was then second to last two places behind Happy Birthday. Aquinas, the last away, was the tail-ender. Vitamise made a run on the outside on the home turn, but he shortened stride outside the furlong. There Minglow was keeping up a strong gallop in the lead, and looked as if she might win her second Templeton Handicap. But Compensate finished faster on her right, and beat her handily, though it was late when he got to the front. The consistent Happy Birthday easily beat Blonde Sprite for third. Treasure Mine was a solid finisher for fifth a length and a half clear of Newmarket.