WENONA GIRL WINS ORR STAKES

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

WENONA GIRL WINS ORR STAKES

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

MELBOURNE. February 11. Australia's leading stakewinning mare, Wenona Giri, proved her class with a brilliant all-the-way win in the C. F. Orr Stakes at Moonee Valley yesterday. Wenona Girl’s performance was full of merit, as she was having only her first start since running in the Epsom Handicap at Randwick on October 2. The mare outclassed the opposition today to beat the New Zealand-bred Havelock (9/1) by half a length. The feature of the race was the dismal showing of the hot favourite. New Statesman. The Victoria Derby winner showed none of his usual dash, and finished four lengths behind Havelock in third place.

Wenona Girl's win gave the stable jockey, D. Weir, a double Previously he scored on the mare's full brother. Grammar Lad. in the Chadstone Handicap. Bookmakers took a set against Wenona Girl. Although a solid second favourite and receiving strong support, the mare eased from 3/1 to start 7/2.

Havelock was next best supported at 9/1. a point shorter than Blue Era. The jockey. J. Purtell. received a hostile reception from the crowd as he brought New Statesman back to the scale New Statesman, usually a free-striding front runner, could not get to the front yesterday. He was forced to travel two wide for most of the journey. The trainer, B. Courtney, said

the colt’s performance mystified him.

Wenona Girl is the top stakewinning mare in Australia and the win brought her earnings to £34.140. She has had 30 starts for 16 wins, seven seconds and one third.

Her trainer. M. McCarten. said Wenona Girl probably would have her next start in the Futurity Stakes at Caulfield on March 3.

Winning Treble The former New Zealand light-weight jockey. W. A. Smith, who has returned to Melbourne to live, comoleted a winning treble for the day when Egoline, one of three equal favourites at 4/1. won the Second Keysborough Handicap. Smith had won earlier on Sleet in the Starlet Stakes, and on Welkin Prince in the Malua Handicap. He rode Egoline a slashing race, giving him time to settle down early and then bringing him home with a perfectly timed run. Details C. F. ORR STAKES, Of £2900: one mile. WENONA GIRL (WilkesGolden Chariot) 8-11 D. Weir 1 HAVELOCK (Targui—Vixenish) 9-0 B. Gilders 2 NEW STATESMAN (Smokey Eyes—Wilma Joy) 8-5 J. Purtell 3 Six started. Half a length: four lengths. Time: Imin 37 9-10 sec. Betting: 7/2, 9/1, 4/7.