Stakes At Rochdale

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29745, 12 February 1962, Page 5

Stakes At Rochdale

“The Press” Special Service W’ELLINGTON, Feb.ll. Rochdale gave another taste of his class when he won the . Jackson Stakes for the second consecutive year on the final day of the Wanganui Jockey Club’s summer meeting yesterday. It strengthened his claim to be one of the best sprinters developed in the Dominion in recent years.

A big factor in his success was the expert riding of his jockey. G. F. Hughes, who kept his most serious rival. Cabriere, just sufficiently off the fence to be aggravating and also to cover an extra few yards. A five-year-old, Rochdale has now’ had 29 starts for 15 wins, and 11 minor placings Worth £12,640. The manner in which he runs out a mile indicates that there is even more in store for him when he is switched to middle-dis-tance racing. Cabriere lost no caste in defeat. He paraded looking better than at any previous stage this season and lowered his colours only to a mighty galloper. The other three-year-old in the race, Key, made the pace to the. straight entrance, but was weakening then, which caused her to run a little wide allowing Rochdale to come through on the inside. The time for the mile, Imin 39 2-ssec, was 1 4-ssec slower than the record for the race, established by Red Jester in 1953, but it compares more than favourably with the average, especially as the track was easy and cutting oyt after rain on Friday. There was little pace on in the early stages but the last half-mile was run in 48 4-ssec.

Rochdale had to survive a probe into his shifting ground a little more than a furlong from the finish. L. K. Tinsley, the rider of Cabriere, assured the judicial committee that although Rochdale and Cabriere had been close his chances were in no way affected. G. F. Hughes was reminded by the committee of his obligation to keep his mount straight. The T.A.B. double was won by Royal Frolic and Auriette. Royal Frolic's success was in the Earle Handicap, in which he was only moderately supported in spite of a promising fifth in the Wanganui Cup a week earlier. He was the ninth favourite in a field of 19 and paid £23 10s 6d and £5 17s. He was always well placed and took charge soon after turning for home. Thereafter the race was in his keeping. Auriette was the favourite for the second leg, the Campbell Handicap, after her good second at Trentham and she scored decisively. She is trained at Otaki by the former horseman, J. A. McFarlane, and R. W. Taylor’s handling of her on Saturday had much of the McFarlane stamp about it. The Masterton jockey, R. A. Jenkins, took the riding honours with wins on Lord Pilate and Home on the Range.