RACING Donna Bella Reverses Form At Trentham

Press, Volume C, Issue 29633, 2 October 1961, Page 5

RACING Donna Bella Reverses Form At Trentham

"The Press” Special Service WELLINGTON, October 1. A sharp form reversal by Donna Bella in the Here Nikitini Memorial on the final day of the Otaki meeting at Trentham was greeted with a mixed reception. On the first dav, when favourite, she retired from a handy position at the half-mile to tenth at the post. On Saturday, after being in or near tlie lead in the early and middle stages, she went clear with four furlongs to run and was never in danger thereafter.

Her fi rat-day lapse is in- 1 explicable. She had won at her two previous attempts, her training was of the highest standard and she had never looked better. She continued to thrive last week and most betters were prepared for tear to show her true worth on Saturday. to the extent of making her the 2'3 favourite. Her owner-trainer. Mr P I-xiis. again supported her substantially, but not to the extent of £l5OO which he wagered on her the previous week. She was ridden by W. D. Wylie in place of T. J. Rudd, who had been associated with her previously. The change may have played a part in her improvement as it is thought she may have become too familiar with Rudd’s tactics. The Niki’ini Memorial was the first leg of the double which was completed by Toureg in the Wehipeihana Manorial. The return for £1 was £92 Is. Toureg raced consistently early in the winter, but had been disappointing in his latest starts. He was several p aces back with two fur--1 >nes to run. but finished brilliantly on the outside to beat the favourite. Erldon. going away. Toureg was the seventh favourite in a field of IS and returned £l4 4s 8d and £4 8 6d on the win-and-place machine. Other winners at tioublefiaure odds were Blue Gem <£lS 10s). Voracious (£l2 15s), and Tidal Wave (£lO 3s>. Impressive performances w were credited to the three-year-old, Cavalier, and the two-year-old. Dacron. Cavalier showed great courage to win the Pukekaraka Hack Handicap after conceding the leaders two lengths at the furlong, and Dacron showed pace above average to lead throughout the Juvenile Handicap for an easy win Much tn-re should be heard of them as the season progresses. Riecarton Winners A small Riecarton cont ngent had a fair measure of success. Thumper and Tidal Wave ."■coring and Packwood and Derailment ga ning minor places. In the Puketoi Hack Hurdles Thumper allowed Edrenbe’l and Corusca’e to run each other out pacemaking and then had little difficulty to run down Edrenbelf in the last furlong to win by two lengths and a half. Packwood, after being in the middle to the straight, battled on for an unimpressive third. 12 lengths away. Tidal Wave was alwavs In the first four in the Rahui Hack Handicap. He joined issue with Te Ngutu inside the furlong and sna'cbed a nose victory. Tidal Wave had to survive a protest from B J Langford, the rider of T’ Ngu'u. on the grounds of >r herference over the last quarter of a fur’ong. After a prolonged inouirv the comm’Cee found there was insufficient evidence to sup-.

port the protest. Langford’s deposit was refunded. Derailment was prominent behind the pacemakers throughout the Otaki Hack Handicap, but eould not run on as resolutely as Voracious or Sweet Summer which finished ahead of him.

Derailment looked as though he would be benefitted with the race and it should not take him long to regain winning form on his northern campaign. His s’ablemate, Springsure. heralded an early winning turn when he finished fast on the outside for seventh in the Manuao Trial. His effort was meritorious as he was a clear last crossing the junction to the course proper. Centesimo made no impression in the Pukekaraka Hack Handicap. She was alw’ays a long way back and beat only two As on the first day. Studio attended to the early pace in tee Rere Nikitini Memorial, but he began to give ground from the half-mile and merely plodded on in the straight, a distant eighth. He may do better when the grmmd firms. Riccarton’s only representative in the Juvenile Handicap. Last Mate, was not as forward as the northern vounesters. He began well, but drif'ed rruick’y and finished last He will be all the better for the experience, but the two-vear-old opposition in the Wellinetc-n district is strong this seasen. Gabelle Wilts There was good support for Gabelle in the Wehipeihana Memorial, but after making the pace for the first halfmile she retired and finished eighth. Although she has not been reliable in the past, she has the pace to make her presence felt in sprint events during her northern campaign if she decides to reproduce her best. Vitamise looked as if he would be all the better for the race when he paraded for the Wehipeihana Memorial and he raced accordingly. In addition he should

be more at home over a slightly longer journey than six furlongs. Roa, a surprise winner on the first day was again prominent throughout the Rahui Hack Handicap and finished a creditable fourth. She is holding her condition well and should give another good account of herself at the Mas'.erton meeting. Her stablemate. Whiohau. was always a long way back in the Puketoi Hack Hurdles. He ran on slightly from the half-mile for fourth, but was more than 20 lengths from the winner. The weather wae overcast and cold and the track was dead. There was an attendance of 3700. The on-course totalisator handled £69.253 10s, against £54,770 on the corresponding day last year when the meeting was held at Otaki. The total for the meeting was £147.350 against £115,542 10s last year.