RACING Awapuni Double Pays £3638 9s

Press, Volume C, Issue 29699, 18 December 1961, Page 5

RACING Awapuni Double Pays £3638 9s

"Th« PreuT Special Service WELLINGTON, December 17. . In the biggest TA3. double surprise in the Wellington district for years, Cheveux and Plain Fox, returned £3638 9s for £1 on the opening day of the Manawatu Racing Club’s summer meeting at Awapuni on Saturday. The double was run on the Louisson Memorial and the wood Handicaps.

In a pool amounting to £74.838 ss, 2454 10s tickets were taken un. Cheveux in the first leg and only 68 (5s unit) were reinvested on Plain Fox. There were only nine 5s tickets held by on-course patrons, most of whom received their dividend by cheque from the secretary’s office. The four-year-old mare, Cheveux has been noted for her honesty, but Saturday's was her first attempt beyond a mile and most were wary of her chances of running out a mile and three furlongs. On the win and place machine she was the 13/14 favourite in a field of 22 (including a bracket) and she pai.l £55 and £l3 18s. She was in the first halfdozen throughout and received a luckv run on the inside entering the straight, when the pacemakers weakened. She won by a head from the fast-finishing Vitapointe. which was an even bigger outsider, being the 17/17 favourite and paying £lB 12s for a place. Vitapointe had had only one previous start this season after an unsuccessful Australian campaign. In the Wood Handicap Plain Fox was the 15/16 favourite in a field of 20 (including a bracket), and he paid £6B 17s 6d and £l6 10s on the win and place machine Plain Fox had three outings earlier this season and had hinted a return to winning form at his last start when he finished sixth at Woodville a fortnight ago. Cheveux is owned by Mr H. G. Dolby of Waoukurau. and is trained at Otaki by B. A. V Preston. Plain Fox is raced in partnership by Messrs A. F Malpas and R E. Punch, and is trained at Woodville by I. Bradbury. Cheveux was the third of four successes, including a hat-trick, gained bv the Hastings horseman K S Cullen. The Riccarton light-weight jockey. N. E. Eastwood, secured the ride on Plain Fox only an hour before the race. A big winner was a man who presented eight £5 win and place tickets on Plain Fox for payment bv cheque at the secretary's office. The biggest double return in the Wellington district was made bv Shamus and Pierre at the Masterton meet, ing in March. 1351. when there was only one 10s ticket on the successful combination. The holder received £+oB9 18s 6d for his 10s The New Zealand record double return of £7984 9s for £1 was pa-’d by Red Emperor and Maida Dillion at Addington in November.

1850. On that occasion three 10s tickets were held. In galloping the biggest double return was £7192 16s, by Duke Royal and Conspiracy at Te Rapa in May. 1950, when there were two successful 10s tickets. The weather was fine but windy and the track provided perfect footing. There was a good attendance. The on-course totalisator handled S.TISTIS 10s. compared with £85340 on the corresponding day last year, « decrease of £R2«4 10s. Held On Bursting to the front on the inside soon after turning for home, Cheveux held on in a desperate finish to the Louisson Memorial Handicap. With a round to go Anchor and Grit were disputing the pace from Dalveen. Lord Cristo, Bright Summer, Arid. Don’t Know, Cheveux, Ruve, Goldfish and Vitapointe. Then came Fairoaks, Spondulicks, Young Souvenir, El Ganador and Taringama. Rungahjwi and Le Don were at the rear. Cheveux improved to follow Anchor and Grit into the straight, and Fairoaks. El Ganador, Bright Summer. Goldish. Taringama and Vitapointe were prominent Cheveux took charge soon after and although Vitapointe finished brilliantly die failed by a head. A length and a quarter away El Ganador kept third from Rungahdwi. which finished solidly on the outside. Blue Blade made ground for fifth, just ahead of R-tve. which was checked on the turn. Le Don was running on next and was followed by Count Filou, Spondulicks, Arid. Goldish, Anchor, Tarrngama, Dalveen and Fairoaks. Lord Cristo was last. Moy’s Win K. S. Cullen rode his fourth winner of the day when he gained a last-stride success on Moy in the Manawatu Challenge Stakes. Cabriere began brilliantly and was followed in the first furlong by Ma Cherie, Kawera, Big Mac, Gauntlet, Embrace. Outcome Kingdom, Moy, Mireusonta, Audrey’s Rose and Pampas. Big Mac took charge at the end of a furlong. There was little between Big Mac. Kawera and Cabriere outside at the straight entrance, where the chase was headed by Gauntlet. Outcome and Embrace, with Moy beginning to improve several places back Cabriere had charge at the furlong, but Mby finished fast on the outside and beat him by a nose. A length and three-quarters away Embrace made ground for third ahead of Gauntlet and picaroon. Then came Pampas. Outcome, Ma Cherie. Kingdom, Kawera and Big Mac. Audrey’s Rose was last.

Finishing brilliantly from second last at the half-mile. Plain Fox won the Wood Handicap at long odds. Major Effort. Royal Fountain, Port Wine and Plain Fox dwelt at the start. Tom Foolum and Silver Sprite shared the pace from Minstrel Beau, Romantic Knight. Kilt, Prince Monolulu, Baloo. No Boots, Equal Terms. Advance General and Aratiatia. The leaders tired rounding the turn and Minstrel Beau shaded Fairsssan into line with Baloo. Equal Terms and Prince Monolulu handy and Plain Fox beginning a big run from a long way back. Prince Monolulu gradually got the better of Equal Terms inside the furlong, but Plain Fox maintained his run and beat him by a short neck.

Half a length away Equal Terms was third and Smoky Bay was running on fourth, just ahead of Baloo and Fairassan.

The best of the others were Minstrel Beau, Good Samaritan and Major Effort.