RACING KUMAI EASILY WINS AT TRENTHAM

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29872, 12 July 1962, Page 4

RACING KUMAI EASILY WINS AT TRENTHAM

Chrisan Surprises In

Members’ Handicap

(From Out Own tUporttr)

WELLINGTON, July 11. Kumai, which had been nominated for the big spring races in Melbourne, easily won the Parliamentary Handicap at Trentham today in the colours of the Mayor of Dunedin, Mr T. K. S. Sidey.

Kumai shook off a challenge from the top-weight, Action Packed, going to the half-furlong, and B. J. Anderton was able to drop his hands on him just short of the post, where he was two lengths clear.

Kumai is a four-year-old gelding by Kurdistan from Soumai and is trained at Wingatui by H. A. Anderton, father of the jockey who rode the grey so well today.

This wa* Kumai’* first start at the meeting. He brilliantly won the Provincial Handicap, over the Parliamentary distance, 11 ftsriongs. at the Dunedin winter meeting and was narrowly beaten by Rhythm Rein and Persuasive in the Donald Grant Memorial at Washdyke on June 30.

Kumai was the sixth favourite today and paid £l5 19s for a win. _ . _ Kumai carried £6434 5s of a doubles pool of £144.259 15s. Windvale Lad carried £37.182 15s.

Dashing Star Leads

Dashing Star ran clear in the lead inside the first furlong of the Parliamentary Handicap. Desert Chief ran into the second line three wide alongside Coral Reef and Gallant Lady. Windvale Lad wa« down on the inside towards the middle of the field, and Kumai was just ahead of him a little wider. Wind vale Lad had a charmed run alongside the rails going down the back to be three place* back on the inside at the half-mile Dashing Star still led there from Gallant Lady, then there was half a length to Coral Reef Dowdex. Desert Chief and Windvale Lad were In the next line, and Kumai was close at hand McCool was wider out and not far behind the other southerners, and was about to lnx>rove a few places. Windvale Lad lost a good position when some of his rivals made runs on the outside near the three furlongs, and he was again back in the middle of the field on the. home turn.

Desert Chief and Dowdex were then leading the chase after Dashing Stax and Gallant Lady, and Climbing, Coral Reef, and Kumai were not far behind. Dowdex came to the front going to the furlong, with Kumai giving chase. Kumai

then reached a short lead and though ridden right out for a time he did not look like surrendering his lead to Action Packed, strongly though the top-weight finished. Dowdex was a length from Action Packed and Climbing a similar distance back fourth. Beau Kura made ground for fifth. Heidi was next, then came Bright Coral and Desert Chief. The favourite. Windvale Lad, was ninth. He could not quicken in the straight. McCool made a likely run wide out early in the run home, but came to the end of it outside the furlong and was eleventh to finish. Chrisan Narrowly Chrisan took the value out of all first-day form when he narrowly won the Members’ Handicap, second leg of the TAB. double. Chrisan, a seven-year-old Gold Script gelding from Te Rapa, kept up a game run down the outside and won by a long neck from Firenze, which nosed out Phoenician. A win for anything but Phoenician looked a dim prospect until the last few strides. The big chestnut shook off.

a challenge from Speedwell early in the run home, started on the last furlong with a lead of something like two lengths, and to those past the line he appeared to have safely won by a neck. Chrisan, a winner over a mile at Te Rapa in May, and a fast finisher for fourth against the sprinters at Avondale on June 30, was the 9/8 favourite. He was near the tail of the field tor a start and was still well out of it at the half-mile, where Phoenician led by two lengths, and Speedwell was second in a gap of three lengths ahead of Yorker. Chrisan was closer to the middle of the field on the home turn, but his chance did not look at all good until the race was all but over Firenze, which gave ground at the start, passed Speedwell to follow Phoenician into the last furlong. He went on with his run gamely, but not quite strongly enough. Seafarer was a useful fourth close behind Phoenician. but the others, led in by Fairassan, were beaten off and excuses could not be made for any of them. Holder* of 1784 5s tickets on the T.A.B. doubles combination, Kumai and Chrisan, received £267 6s 6d for £l.