TROTTING TAKITIMU SURPRISES AT ADDINGTON

Press, Volume C, Issue 29681, 27 November 1961, Page 4

TROTTING TAKITIMU SURPRISES AT ADDINGTON

Handicap Marred By Smash

Takitimu, a solid finisher for sixth in weaker company a week earlier, caused a major upset by beating Diamond Hanover and Samantha in the Smithson Handicap at Addington on Saturday. This was the main race for pacers and the first leg of the double on the final day of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s New Zealand Cup meeting. The race was marred by a bad smash caused by Teryman breaking at the end of almost two furlongs. AH but six of the contestants lost their chances in the mix up and Takitimu was one of the more fortunate runners.

The hot favourite, Sun Chief, and Patchwork, another solidly-supported runner. lost their drivers in the smash. Takitimu. an aged mare by Red Emperor from Tui Hall, is drained at New Brighton by W. R. Scott, who race* her in partnership with Mr* N Ching and Mr A. Wong. She had not won a race since the New Zealand Cup meeting 12 month* ago when she was successful over two miles. Diamond Hanover paced , his best race at the meeting when he held on for . second after making moat of the pace. Samantha finished • boldly after working clear . late along the rails to take , third by a nose from Guiseppe. The Templeton trainer. W. R Butt, who drove Takitimu to win, produced Admit which' he trains, to win the 4 second leg. the Churchill 1 Handicap. Admit a winner 1 on the third day of the meet- 1 ing, was well placed early. < but as the lead changed he 1 was pushed further back to- ! wards th* tail of the field. . He had to make a big run f

about six wide approaching toe straight and showed no signs of wilting over the Last 100 yards. He beat a likely improver in Queenson by a length, with Master Alan a close third. Hie Takitimu Admit (bracketed Seafield bad) double paid £405 14s foe £l. TTie meeting was held in perfect weather before a fair attendance. The track was in splendid order, but toe racing was not of a high stand-w-d. most events being marred by incident*. Totalisalor investments amounted to £79,424, including £9688 10* on the double There was no meeting last season for comparison. The total for the four days was £506,562 ss. First Leg Smokeaway, Lady Beimer and Gay Alabama lost ground at to* start of the Smithson Handicap, the first leg of th* double. Diamond Hanover led out from Satnantha. Takitimu, Teryman, Guiseppe. Showdown, Zany, Patchwork. Johnny Guitar and Sraokeaway. ' /"/

I Just before th* end of two ) furlongs there was a mixs up in which Teryman broke i and Sun Chief and Patcb--1 work lost their drivers. Apart i from six runners, the rest of the field received bad uttert ference, which put them out • of the race. r After the mix-up Diamond Hanover led from Guiseppe. i Samantha, Ttkitimu, Zany r and Showdown, with Bonny i Starlet several lengths back. ■ well clear of the others. Guiseppe shaded Diamond ! Hanover near the five furlongs, but two furlongs later I Diamond Hanover was clear ■ again, leading Guiseppe to . the straight, with Tskitimu t outside next, ahead of Sami antha, Zany and Bonny Star- ; let. Takitiniu finished boldly wide out on the track and won by two lengths from Diamond Hanover, with a length and a half to Samantha, which had trouble . working clear along the inside. Guiseppe was a nose I away fourth, three-quarters of a length in front of Zany, with gaps to Bonny Starlet, Showdow n and Scottish Com- I mand, the only others to finish the course reasonably close to the leaders.

Second Leg Master Alan, Satyr. Massacre, Sextant, Rustic Lad and Sentimental tost ground in the early rush for positions in the Cbufchill Han- . dicap, toe second leg of the double. Falsehood was first out. but . with nine furlongs and a , half left Jay Ar went to the . front, to be passed two furlongs later by Queenson. Ad- , mit was pushed back through the field until he was third ; last at the half-mile. Queenson raced to the straight ahead of Massacre, ‘ Jay Ar. Kingsdown Patch, Flying Note, Falsehood, Rus- : tic Lad and Admit, which was five or six wide. 1 Queenson and Flying Note , had charge at the furlong, but soon afterwards they ' ' were joined by Admit, which , fought on strongly to win by a length. Queenson held Master Alan ; off by half a head for second. ’ 1 Master Alan did well to fin- 1 1 ish so close as he was nearly : : last at the three furlongs. ' Flying Note was a short ; length back fourth after having every chance, a head in | froffit of Massacre, which was 1 followed by Falsehood, Sea- ; field Lad, Rustic Lad and ; Jay Ar.