Main Race At Westport Won By Matauwhi

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

Main Race At Westport Won By Matauwhi

(From Our Own Reporters WESTPORT, October 1. The Riccarton-trained Matauwhi confirmed his good form in running second to Compensate in the Geraldine Cup on Monday by winning the Licensed Victuallers’ Handicap, the main race and first leg of the double, on the first day of the Westport Jockey Club’s spring meeting yesterday.

Matauwhi, a black gelding trained by J. S. Shaw for. Sir Ernest Davis and Mr R. P. Thompson, was well handled by the apprentice. O. Anning. who had him well placed in fifth position almost throughout. He came right away in the last 100 yards. Subside tried to lead all the way and held on for second while Omaha, not so well placed early, came on for third. Slatey. which had missed the jump out and had tailed the field for a mile, came fast for fourth, just shading Water Boy out of that position. Then came Korallion, Volterra, Skyrain, and Gaytana. Ocean Melody fell at the turn for home when well placed but her rider, B. J. Anderton, was not injured. The leading bunch for a mile was Subside, Ocean Melody, Volterra, Skyrain. Matauwhi, Korallion, Water Boy, and Omaha. There was little change to the turn but then Matauwhi went to the front to settle the Issue in a few strides. Easy For Explain The warm favourite, Explain, completed a shortpriced double of £4 6s for £1 by winning the Scanlon Hack Handicap with a fine effort. The Riccarton - trained Clarification filly was never further back than third. She set up a good lead half way down the straight which the others could not bridge although C. T. Wilson had to keep her up to her work in the last 50 yards. Silverwood finished on fast for second from near the rear. Arjamand’s third was full of merit for he lost his position at the two when moving up. Fair Polly, which was back early, came on well for fourth. Totara Lass, Gail, Rutile, Glancing, Julloch and Stentor were next to finish. Glancing made most of the running to the straight entrance but failed to come’ on. Ruffle was another which was well placed at the turn but then drifted. Thomas Stakes No. 1 Never further back than third Nimbus Cloud came through well in the last 70 yards to win the Cliff Thomas Stake No. 1 and give F. H. Skelton his first winning ride for some time. Delaware, which had been prominent for most of the journey, held on well for

second ahead of Karli, which made up a fair amount, of grount in the last two furlongs. There was a delay of five minutes with some horses shy about entering the new stalls. The most prominent early were Delware. On Time, Nimbus Cloud. Gay Defender, Golden Cassock and Bert. The field bunched entering the straight and there was a wall of horses behind the pjace-getters at the finish with White Cloud finishing on for fourth ahead of Nolibelle, Montalto, Gay Defender. Golden Cassock. Glissader, On Time. Rajah, Catherine's Gold. Morocco Girl and Familiar. Favourite Beaten The Orari-trained Julloch won the Roche Handicap decisively from the favourite Interlaken which seemed to have the race in safe keeping half way down the straight. Tocsin, which had led at the three furlongs, held on for a moderate third ahead of Silverwood, which was well placed all the way. Interlaken led out from Tocsin and Silverwood with Master Conclusion and Julloch. handy and Kent and Royal Money labouring at the rear. Interlaken came through when Master Conclusion and Tocsin swung wide turning for home but could not hold on when challenged by Julloch. Tocsin and Silverwood were followed in by Howe Good, Master Conclusion and Kent with Royal Money a bad last. Liantana gave another member of the Skelton family, Max, a winning ride in the Cliff Thomas Stakes No. 2. Earlier in the day F. H. Skelton had won on Numbus Cloud and R. J. Skelton piloted Julloch to Win the Roche Hack Handicap. Win For Liantana Liantana was always near the front and won with something in hand from the farm-trained Puff, having her first start on the West Coast. Karli came on well for third ahead of Morocco Girl with Siam, Open View and Star Cheval heading the others. Puff, Liantana, Persian View, Open View, Siam and Speciality were the most prominent for three furlongs and Puff looked like winning. Liantana finished on more strongly. There was

merit in Karli's third, while Morocco Girl finished fast for fourth. The each-way favourite Speciality fell at almost the same place where Ocean Melody, another member at P. H. Jones’ stable, came to grief in the Licensed Victuallers’ Handicap. His rider, F. Henneberry, was not injured. AU-the-way Win Candida successfully signalled the return of Riccarton trainer M. J. Wadley to Westoort after a lona ab-

merit in Karli’s third, while Morocco Girl finished fast for fourth. The each-way favourite Speciality fell at almost the same place where Ocean Melody, another member of P. H. Janes’ stable, came to grief in the Licensed Victuallers’ Handicap. His rider, F. Hennetoerry, was not injured. All-the-way Win Candida successfully signalled the return of Riccarton trainer M. J. Wadley to Westport after a long absence by winning the Colvin Handicap from sart to finish. Site very gamely held oft a strong challenge by Mon Roi in the last 50 yards and was more than holding her own at the finish. The top-weight Munster King also finished on for a fair third ahead of Balrannach With Ghana. Brokette, Wyebank and Appreciation next. The closest attendants to Candida over the first six furlongs were Munster King. Ghana. Brokette and Mon Roi. The order was little changed to the straight where Candida was well clear but Mon Roi finished on well with Munster King clear in the other placing.