Va Vite Has Win In Sprint

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29745, 12 February 1962, Page 4

Va Vite Has Win In Sprint

Va Vite, after being awkwardly placed until the final furlongs, finished with a powerful run to beat Zany by half a length in the Otley Handicap, a sprint race at Addington on Saturday. Va Vite’s win was her fifth for the season. J. A. Carmichael kept her handily placed about fifth or sixth in the middle stages. Once in the open she quickly gathered in the leaders and won handily.

Axis took the lead with six furlongs left and opened up an advantage of four lengths over Gay Alabama racing to the straight, with Zany, Admit, Va Vite, Queen Ngaio, Blue and Bonny Starlet following. Axis shortened stride at the furlong and Va Vite got clear inside Admit and Queen Ngaio. She finished in grand style and won by half a length from Zany. Zany received a good run close to the lead all the way and held second place a length in front of Axis, with half a neck to Queen Ngaio, which looked unlucky. Bonny Starlet was right up, ahead of Ceremonial, Jay Ar and Admit. Falsehood, Jay Ar, Gay Alabama and Waitaki Child gave ground at the start. Aerobee Again Aerobee, which was a little slow away, raced clear with nine furlongs left in the Harewood Handicap and was not afterwards headed. The pace was not very strong and Winona improved to reach second place with six furlongs left. Aerobee raced to the straight ahead of Winona and Young Kim, with Autumn Folly. Lauder Scott, Guiness. Royal Britannia and Bobcat next

Aerobee was not troubled over the last furlong and won most convincingly by a length and a half. Guineas, which was awkwardly placed on the inside for much of the race, finished well when brought out beyond the middle of the track. He took second two lengths in front of Autumn Folly, with a nose to Young Kim and a neck to Mary Mavis, which was clear of Lauder Scott, Royal Britannia and Bobcat.

Bobcat, Autumn Folly, Winona and Great Return lost ground at the start. The Gore-trained Robin Dundee gained an overdue first win for the season when she beat Antonius, Sand Drift and Whipaway in a close finish to the Wigram Handicap. Robin Dundee was three wide over the last mile and after being fifth into the straight, unwound a solid run to win by half a length. Antonius finished solidly from the turn for second, a nose in front of the pacemaker. Sand Drift, with half a length to Whipaway. with Dillon's Fashion. Vanese, La Storm, Adios Heather and Congruent next. Held On Paddy's Day worked to the front at the end of two and a half furlongs in the Christchurch Handicap and was not afterwards headed. He was kept up to his work inside the furlong, but ran on well to win by a length from Hancove, which finished boldly after being in the first four to the turn.

The favourite, Avante, moved up sharply racing to the straight, but came to the end of his run 50 yards out

He was half a neck behind Hancove, with a gap to Smoke Screen, which finished strongly from well back. Adioson was a useful fifth, ahead of Chelsea Lady, Deep Lead and Sarona. Runfree, Parados. Safe Return, Deep Lead and Sarona were among those to lose ground in a mix-up near the five furlongs. Fourina gained an outstanding win in the Yaldhurst Handicap. The Fourth Brigade mare was very slow early, but I. M. Behms improved gradually with her and she was wide out with six horses in front at the straight entrance. She continued her run and wore down Mina Lass, which had made the pace over the last mile, with about 70 yards to run. Fourina won handily by half a neck from Foam, with two lengths to Dame Margot. Full Measure battled on for fourth, shading La Gloria. Mina Lass, Witch Doctor, Mayfair Star, Bandsaw and John Black. Courtesan was one of the horses to lose their chances at the start