New Zealand Oaks Win By For Certain

Press, Volume C, Issue 29687, 4 December 1961, Page 4

New Zealand Oaks Win By For Certain

For Certain, a firm favo'urite, gained a fine win for her Templeton owner-trainer, W. R. Butt, in the New Zealand Oaks at New Brighton on Saturday. However, she gave her many supporters plenty of anxious moments as she was slow away and lost about 30 yards and then when she took the lead inside the furlong she ran wide and for a few strides it appeared as though Atlanta would run her very close. For Certain had too much in reserve and she won handily by a length, with Swietenia, one of the outsiders, only a neck away third.

Dawn Hanover and Gay Reel were the best beginners, with Gay Reel soon taking the lead. Gay Reel led past the mile post from Dawn Hanover. Kinnell, Hiya. Atlanta and For Certain, with two lengths to Swietenia and four to Kelso Lady. Hiya improved sharply soon after passing the halfmile and he was on terms with Gay Reel racing to the straight. For Certain was just behind them, with two lengths to Kinnell and the same distance to Atlanta. Gay Reel was soon beaten and For Certain was restrained until just inside the furlong before being pulled out. In a few strides she had Hiya covered, but then she began to run out. However, she lasted to win by a length from Atlanta, which made up around and finished gamely Swietenia also finished well for third a neck away, with two and a half lengths to the tiring Hiya. Kinnell was half a length baek fifth, with half a neck to Gay Reel, a long gap to Ruling Caste, and ano'her to Kelso Lady and Sara Black. The majority of the field lost their chances at the start. Va Vite’s Sprint Va Vite gave the Gore trainer, D. M. Kerr, his first win on his northern trip when she won the North Beach Handicap, the main sprint race on the programme. Dark Wonder set the pace until Falsehood passed him with slightly less than half a mile to run. Falsehood was lucky to escape trouble just after the start when Young Kim broke and dropped back on Bespoke, which fell. Just before the straight entrance Satyr stopped badly and fell. Orient Night running into him. Falsehood raced to the straight ahead of Va Vite. Lauder Scott, Dark Wonder. Lucky Tryax and Van Rush Falsehood was under pressure at the furlong and Va Vite had no difficulty in passing him and beating him by two lengths Falsehood was unchallenged for second, being two and a half lengths in front of Lucky Trvax. with a length to Lauder Scott, and two lengths to Medoro Star, which was followed by Kins Anjou, Radiant Hanover and Young Dieman. Back To Form Chances Are returned to form with a narrow win over the lightly-supported Witch Doctor in the Rawhiti Handicap. Control took the lead from Our Jimmy with five fu-longs and a half to run. Control was still in front racing to the straight, where Gay Jillian. Witch Doctor. Bandsaw. Chances Are. Tracey’s Pal, Gold Craze, and Win'eriight were reasonably handy. Control was in trouble early in the run home and he was passed first by Witch Doctor and then Chances Are The last-named did slightly better than Witch Doctor to win by a neck. Witch Doctor trotted his best race for some time to hold second place. two lengths m front of Win’er-

light, which showed speed after breaking in the first half-mile. He made up a lot of ground in the straight. Fiammetta made ground for fourth half a head back, with a length to Control and a length to Tracey's Pal, which was dear of Front Line. Surprise Win Sand Drift, the 15/15 favourite, caused a surprise when he outfinished Santa Arnada in the Empire Handicap. Sand Drift made a good beginning and he was second on the outside of Parados, just behind the pacemaker. Bobcat. Bobcat was in trouble soon after reaching the straight and Sand Drift was soon clear. He fought on strongly to win by a length from Santa Amada, which had her chance. Del Nuit, after being fairly handy all the way, fought on

for third, a head behind Santa Amada, with the .ame distance to All Red and half a head to Adioson. Parados was half a length further back, with a length to Safe Return, half a neck to Terry Gowan, and a length to Bobcat. Whipaway broke and ran out at the start, cannoning into Sarona. which lost her driver and fell. Kyle View. Mossman. Safe Return, and Antonius lost ground early. AH The Way Hancove, a member of J. G. McDonald's Yaldhurst team, gained an all-the-way win in the Aranui Handicap, a race for probationary drivers. A. K. Holmes rated Hancove well and he fought on strongly to win by a head from Anama, which had trailed him all the way. Local Princess made up a little ground for third a short length behind Anama, with half a head to Dyson, which was slow early. Gold Maru which broke, was beaten off fifth, with a gan to Stormlea and Moneymusk. Doctor Kfle, Hie favourite, gained an impressive win in the Freeville Handicap. He imroroved to be third at the half-mile and took control soon after straightening up He held off Adee by half a length, with half a head to a likely improver in Harbour Light. Light Heart was beaten in fourth place, ahead of Mina Lass and Procord. with a gan to Arizona Gal. Spark Gap was among those to make mistakes early.