La Gloria Has Deserved Win In On-Course Leg

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29734, 30 January 1962, Page 4

La Gloria Has Deserved Win In On-Course Leg

(From Our Own Reporter)

NELSON, January 29

La Gloria gained a much-deserved win for her Springston owner-trainer, R. H. Negus, in the Retailers’ Handicap, the first leg of the on-course double on the second day of the Nelson Trotting Club’s summer meeting at Richmond Park today.

La Gloria began smartly from th® 36-yard mark and reached the lead after a furtong. Gazeaway took up the trailing position and the favourite, Dior, followed him closely. Regal Trick and Spring Lass kept fairly handy also buit the rest were almost out of the race a mile from home. Dior moved up alongside Gazeaway starting the last half mile and these two came to the straight close behind La Gloria, but the Springston mare had plenty i<n reserve and drew away over the last furlong to beat Dior by a comfortable tw’o lengths.

Ten lengths back Gazeaway lasted for third by a head from the faster finishing Regal Trick. Royal Harmony, the back marker from 84 yards, did best of the others, but was eight lengths back. Gleaning and Betty Orr lost all chance at the start and Spring Lass lost what could have been a place chance when she broke early in the run home.

Nelson Ahoy Nelson Ahoy, a ■ minor place-getter in both his races on the first day, was rewarded for that consistency with a well-earned win in the Richmond Handicap, for which he was the 6/2 favourite. Nelson Ahoy did not begin as smartly as he had in both his races on Staurday and when the field settled down he was at the rear of a fairly tightlypacked bunch but still about eight lengths from the lead. His Nelson owner-trainer sent him after the leader oh the home turn and he reached the front before the straight. Stormy Mile, Thrift, Kilkivan, Hunting Song and Estimation followed Nelson Ahoy into line but none of them could make an impression in the final furlong.

Nelson Ahoy won by a length from Great Mystery, whicn came home well wide out. There was a length and a half then to Hunting Song, which ouittinished Thrift for third by half a length. Stormy Mile, which broke when-challenging at the furlong, was a fair fifth clear of Kilkivan and Lady Charles. Completed Double Runfree rounded off an oncourse double worth £ll 2s 6d for £1 for R. H. Negus, when he won the Moutere Handicap decisively from Sunhaippy and Hustler. Runfree was badly positioned on the inner one place from the tail of the field on the home turn and Sunhappy alongside him. Once the field straightened for the run home a lucky gap came on the inner and it enabled Runfree to move through to second behind the pacemaker, Elaine Salute, at the furlong. Almost in line with Runfree then were Van Brabant, Hustler. Caledonian Lad and Gay Tartan, spread across the track.

Sunheppy was in behind and waiting for a run. Just inside the furlong Runfree had his rivals beaten and ran on solidly to win by a length and a half from Sunhappy, which ou4.fi nished Hustler by a length for second.

Caledonian Lad, wide out. was a neck back fourth ahead of the weakening Van Brabant Gay Tartan did best of the others.

Earned Win The Masterton - trained Dior, a minor placegetter in each of his other three races at the meeting, gained a much deserved win in the Tasman Handicap, for which he was the each way favourite. Dior ran from the trailing position past the pacemaker, Regal Trick, just outside the furlong, but had to work hard close to home to withstand a strong late challenge from La Gloria, which fought on gamely to try to complete a double for the day. La Gloria made ground gradually from the 72-yard mark and had caught the main bunch nine furlongs out. On the home turn she was third not far behind Dior and her determined finish carried her to within a nose of the winner.

Regal Trick fought on for third two lengths back. His was a good performance, for he was wide out for the first mile and only worked into a clear lead five furlongs from home. Gazeaway, third on the inner to the straight, ran him to a head. Melody Pilade was running on from the tail of the field for fifth and Spring Lass led in the others. Close Finish Lady Charles came out best by a neck from Tiny Trews after a battling last furlong t° tee Waimea Handicap.

Lady Charles had a perfect trailing run behind Kilkivan to the straight and Tiny Trews was four places further back behind Hunting Song, Dorothy Lee and Johnny Warrior. A furlong from the end Lady Charles wrested the lead from Kilkivan, but a few strides later Tiny Trews appeared to reach the front. Under a hard drive from L. C. Frost Lady Charles responded gamely in the last 50 yards and regained the lead fairly close to the finish.

Kilkivan battled on for third two lengths back. He beat Johnny Warrior by half a length and Hunting Song was a weakening fifth five lengths back. The each-way favourite, Milngavie, lost all chance when he was checked and finished eighth. Confirmed Worth Anahera confirmed the worth of her winning run in the Nelson Cup on Saturday by giving away 36 yards and a beating to her sprint rivals in the Louisson Memorial Handicap. Anahera began brilliantly from the back mark and after a furlong or so was in the middle of the field but not far from the leader. Adios Duenna began best but after half a furlong Moneymusk went ahead. Six and a half furlongs out Charles Junior rushed around the field into a clear lead. He was followed into the last half-mile by Moneymusk and Ngakawau together. Adios Duenna was next on the inner of Stormlea and Anahera followed Stormlea, alongside Montaigne. Positions changed rapidly running to the straight, where Charles Junior, Stormlea, Ngakawau and Anahera made it a line of four in the lead. Adios Duenna was still tucked in behind the leaders. Anahera was a clear leader outside the furlong but Adios Duenna kept her right up to her work till the finish and ran her to half a length. Two lengths back Kowa Maru was running on for third a length and a half ahead of Stormlea, which just shaded Moneymusk. Montaigne led in the others, but he was in a gap.