TROTTING SURPRISE FIRST LEG WIN

Press, Volume CI, Issue 30007, 17 December 1962, Page 4

TROTTING SURPRISE FIRST LEG WIN

Carver Doon Takes Rangiora Cup

Carver Doon gained his first win for the season when he was successful in the Rangiora Cup, the first leg of the double at the Rangiora Trotting Club’s annual meeting on Saturday. He outfinished Lady Charles by half a length, with narrow margins to Sirrah and Meadow Dance. Carver Doon is raced by Messrs. V. H. Jones and W. Blissard, of Dunedin, and he is trained at Oamaru by R. H. Robinson. He was driven by the Addington reinsman, K. D. Murray, who was associated with him when he showed sound form towards the end of last season.

Carver Doon, a five-year-old gelding by Meadow Chief from Doonhokne, to a brother to Peebles. He was well placed throughout and moved up to be close to the lead racing to the straight. He joined the leaders inside the furlong and fought on e.rongly to win handily. Lady Charles recorded her third successive second placing after being forced over extra ground over the last nine furlongs. Lady Charles looks to be in line for an e «rly wm, which should come during the holiday racing. Few excuses could be offered for the beaten horses, two of the biggest disappointments being Peel and Inglemead.

Wee Mike, which had been unplaced in six previous starts this season, caused a major upset when he won the Rangiora Challenge Stakes, the second leg of the double. He was the 14/15 favourite and paid £56 8s for a win and £l2 18s 6d for a place. Wee Mike, which is trained st Templeton by C. C. Devine for Mr N. Matyasevic, of Christchurch, led over the kst six furlongs and held on gamely to beat two other lightly supported candidates in Strip and the unlucky Gey Robin. The Carver Doon—Wee Make double paid £1789 7s 6d for £l. There were 45 successful 5s tickets, 17 of them being held by on-o.-urse patrons. The meeting was held in fine weather before a fair crowd. The track was in splendid order. r >r.-course totalisator invesanento amounted to £39.273 IQs including £5114 on the double, compared with £35,084 10s latst year. Rangiora Cap Inglemead. Lady Charles, Meadow Dance, Geardie. R ■sated Globe, Black Treasure, Meadow Cheer, Cheam, Gay Tartan and Hancove gave ground at the start of the Rangiora Cup. Sirrah was the first out, but at the end of three furlongs Morsel took over, with Black Treasure passing her a furlong later.

Black Treasure set a sound pace with Carver Doon handily placed in about eighth position. Black Treasure raced for the straight just ahead of Inglemead, w.th Terrace Dale, Sirrah. Peel (tiriagi. No Charge. Carver Domi. Lady Charles and Meadow Dance handy.

Positions changed rapidly near the furlong, with Carver Doon coming through the middle of the leading bunch. Carver Doon ran on well to win by half a length from Lady Charles, which received a shocking run over the last nine furlongs. Sirrah was half a neck back third, with a similar margin to Meadow Dance. Hancove made up ground for fifth, ahead of No Charge, Parados, Marsel, Terrace Dale and Inglemead, with a gap to Black Treasure. Second Leg Wendy Dawn, High Hopes. Sirretta, which was pulled up, Meseala, Field Chief and Intrigue lost ground early in the Rangiora Challenge Stake*. Bluff and BaUadeer tangled at tbe end of about a

furlong, while Admiral galloped to the outside. Strip led out from Wee Mike and Gay Robin. Wee Mike took over near the six furlongs, being closely attended from then until the straight entrance by Dieman Lad. Admiral improved to third racing to the straight, where Strip, For Certain and Gay Robin were handiest of the others. Wee Mike ran on solidly and won handily by a short length from Strip, with a nose to the unlucky Gay Robin, which was late working dear. Dieman Lad was a short length back fourth, a head in front of Admiral, which was closely folowed by Carina Star, For Certain, and Wendy Dawn, with a gap to Intrigue, Four Squares, Garcon d'Or and Ruling Caste.