Oaks-Stakes Double Won In Walton Colours

Press, Volume C, Issue 29669, 13 November 1961, Page 4

Oaks-Stakes Double Won In Walton Colours

The three-jear-olds, Fair Symbol and Castlerae, won a notable double in the colours of the Otaki owner, Mr G. S. Walton, at Riccarton on Saturday. Fair Symbol, a daughter of Signify, one of the best handicap mares of her time, easily outstayed the others in the New Zealand Oaks, and Castlerae beat his five rivals soundly in the Churchill Stakes.

Fair Symbol and Castlerae came through the meeting with a tally of two wins each, also a second placing apiece, and they earned £3945—a good week’s work. Fair Symbol’s rider. C. A. Bowry, had a trouble-free ride. He thought Key would offer him pretty solid opposition in the straight, but she stopped quickly. “None of the others gave me much worry either and I was quite happy with things in general at the furlong,” Bowry said after the race. With better luck Fair Symbol would have come through the meeting unbeaten in three starts. She was a very close and unlucky second to Gold Find in the Spring Plate on cup day, but outclassed the others ip the Apprentices’ Handicap last Saturday. Fair Symbol is bred to stay, but some members of the family to which she belongs have been best over short routes. One member of this family is Woambra. a good winner as a sprinter for Mr J. P. Stratton in Australia. The race followed a familiar trend, with North Island fillies filling the first three places. The Woodville-owned and trained Tittle Tattle outstayed the favourite. Key, for second. Lady York was the South Island’s best. She beat Explain fairly narrowly for fourth. Explain heartened her backers when she made ,a run on the inside in the straight, but she tired inside the last furlong. Still her placing was fairly meritorious, as she ran the whole distance without her near fore plate. Her rider, C. T. Wilson, said she went scratchily for a time .but he gave her a good chance early in the run home. Double took charge early and made it a brisk pace. The first half-mile was run in 50sec and after the first mile had been covered in Imin 42 2-ssec some of the fillies were feeling the strain. Key ran rather keenly in second place for the first mile or so. and then was taken forward to join Double. Key ran clear on the home turn, but Fair Symbol went out after her strongly and mastered her in a few strides. Tittle Tattle came right from the back for her second. She was inclined to duck towards the inside close to home but did not lose a winning chance. Key. though tiring, was unchallenged for third. She was two lengths clear of Lady York, which beat Explain by half a length. The others were hopelessly out of it. GREYMOUTH JOCKEY CLUB. SUMMER MEETING. DECEMBER 2 and 4, 1961. NOMINATIONS for all events at the above meeting close with the Secretary on Monday next. November 20. at 4 p.m. R. F. FITZGERALD, Secretary. Albert st.. Greymouth. 'Phone 7199 P.O. Box 72. —Advt.

Lady Lorinda was first beaten, fading to last before the home turn. Had The Last Run Castlerae was held up for the last run in the Churchill Stakes. He was still last half-way through the race, but, by sprinting the last half-mile in the brilliant time of 45 4-ssec he managed to win comfortably by a length from Great Sensation, the Churchill Stakes third last year. Golden Howe delayed the start when he broke away from his rider and galloped back to the 10 furlong barrier.

Taken back to the stalls, he jumped away well and led into the second furlong alongside Fairassan and three-quarters of a length ahead of Gold View and Great Sensation. Golden Howe went out to a lead of a length and a half going to the five furlongs. There was no marked quickening of pace, yet Castlerae was coasting along behind the others with Bowry not yet ready to make his move. Fairassan was alongside Golden Howe in the lead on the home tarn. Great Sensation was: third and Castlerae had started his run wider out. Castlerae has an exceptional stride for a sprinter, and he quickly challenged for the lead outside the furlong. None of the others could test him after he made his bid .for the lead, and he held Great Sensation comfortably by a length. The New Zealand Cup winner, Quite Able, was a length and a half back third and then there was a length to the weakening Fairassan. Gold View was beaten off fifth a length and a half clear of the tail-ender. Golden Howe.