RACING VALARIS REGAINS FORM

Press, Volume C, Issue 29621, 18 September 1961, Page 5

RACING VALARIS REGAINS FORM

Ranfurly Handicap At Wingatui

The form book was of little value for the Ranfurly Handicap on the first day of the Dunedin Jockey Club’s spring meeting on Saturday. Valaris, a failure on a North Island campaign not long beforehand, improved markedly to win the race for a second time for Dr. T. Jenkins, a steward of the Dunedin club. Rhythm Rein, one of the strongest form prospects and the each-way favourite, -ran probably his worst race ever, and finished at the tail of the field.

Valaris, W. D. Skelton’s mount, was fourth favourite, and paid £7 to win. He' came to the front outside the! furlong and won by a length from the Gore stayer, Becbarre. Kumai, the second favourite. was a length and a half back third, but was one of the stronger finishers and shaped like an early winner. Valaris was never far behind the pacemaker. his elder half-brother, Cashmere, from ttie mile to the home turn. Cashmere weakened to fourth, but did not go at all badly for a nine-year-old. Valaris was one of two winners for J. C. Hobbs’s Oamaru stable. Valaris carried £3792 15s of a doubles pool of £30.527. Rhythm Rein practically dominating the betting "with £10,443 10s. Bellarook. a stablemate of Becharre, they are tra’red at Gore by E. A. Winsloe, rounded off the double with an easy win in the Telegraph Handicap. Mrs D. F. Turner’s Callander gelding recaptured his best form of early last season, and galloped beyond challenging distance of some smart sprinters some way out. Ravelston, one of the long shots, was second by threequarters of a length from the faster-finishing Royal Order. Royal Order had trouble getting clear in the straight, but it is doubtful if she would have caught Bellarook in any event. Holders of 1013 tickets on the Valaris—Bellarook com-

bination received £99 12s 6d for £l. Gold View was doubles .favourite with 4171 tickets. | Next in order were Royal Order with 4130 and Supreme Effort. 1935. The meeting opened in cold, threatening weather. The track was soft. On-course the totalisator handled £37.007 10s compared with £39,377 last year. Off course betting amounted tho £53.760, an increase of £5519 15s. First Leg Valaris passed the weakening pacemaker Cashmere outside the furlong in the Ranfurly Handicap and stoutly resisted a challenge from Becharre to win by a length.

Kumai started his openclass racing promisingly with a third a length and a half back.

Cashmere ran to the front after a furlong or so and opened up a lead of two lengths on Believe Me going to the mile. Kumai and Astra were next and Valaris was in the next line with Ranganui and Rhythm Rein. Rhythm Rein drifted to the tail of the field and Becharre moved to the middle going to the five furlongs. Otherwise there were no changes. Valaris passed the weakening Astra to follow Cashmere into the straight. The Oamaru horse went on with his run to lead into the last furlong. Becharre ran the race out soundly, but Valaris would not surrender his lead. Kumai came from near the tail of the field in the last five furlongs for third a

length and a half clear of the tiring Cashmere Prince Delaware was another length and a half back fifth and two lengths dear of Night Sock. Astra tired to seventh. Ranganui was eighth and Rhythm Rein and Believe Me were the last two home. Bellarook’s Sprint The Wanderer was slowest away in the Telegraph Handicap but rushed forward to follow Bellarook. Ravelston. Gold View, and Heart’s Pride into the second furlong. Gold View led momentarily near the half-mils, but Bellarook and Supreme Effort were close by, and Royal Order and The Wanderer were prominent in the following bunch. Royal Order became awkwardly placed on the home turn where Bellarook was clear and going easily. Ravelston > followed the Gore sprinter into the last furlong but had a vain chase. Bellarok won handsomely by two lengths and a quarter.

Royal Order worked clear late, and ran Ravelston to three-quarters of a length. Her stablemate, Supreme Effort, was half a head back fourth and then there was three-quarters of a length to The Wanderer. Matlock picked up several ( positions in the straight for: sixth just ahead of the tir ; ing Gold View. Callevo was eighth and was followed in by Attribute, MeGre’or. Happy Birthday, KoraHion. Personify. Andalusia, Heart’s Pride and Bow Tie.