RACING THIRD WIN IN CUP

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30035, 21 January 1963, Page 4

RACING THIRD WIN IN CUP

Great Sensation’s Triumph (From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, January 20. “What a horse!” That was the cry at Trentham on Saturday afternoon after 20,000 excited people saw the 10-year-old Great Sensation win his third Wellington Cup. Trentham has never known greater scenes of enthusiasm than those after the Wingatui stayer’s greatest victory for his owner-trainer, Mr D. W. Brown. The crowd was in full ay when the race was only half a furlong out It was already clear that Great Sanation had Stipulate and the others beaten. And many were in a frenzy of excitement as the Wingatui jockey, R. J. Skelton, brought the old fellow back for his victory parade along a chute beside the public enclosure and to the birdcage entrance. There, Mr Brown teamed up with his old champion and led him to the winner’s stall amid more great cheers and bursts of hand-clapping. Mr Brown was visibly moved by the public demonstration of affection for the old Cassock gelding after this, his twentieth, win in 54 starts.

Great Sensation did not start racing until he was four and he was seven when he had his first test over two miles—he ran third in the 1960 Wellington Cup. But he has now earned £38,528—a record for a thoroughbred in New Zealand. He won the 1961 Wellington Cup with 9-2, the 1962 race with 9-6 and Saturday’s race with 9-7.

One of the first to pay tribute to Great Sensation on Saturday was the leading Australian trainer, T. J. Smith, who is here for the yearling sales. Smith came to New Zealand nearly three years ago looking for a stayer good enough to win the Centenary Melbourne Cup for his stable. Someone suggested Great Sensation but Smith thought the Cassock gelding was too old. His purchase •was Sparkler, which broke down on the eve of the Melbourne Cup that year, and has Seldom been free of unsoundness since he went to Australia.

Great Sensation’s owner made a chance entry into racing. His brother, Mr J. A Brown, now of Tauranga, who won the Wellington Cup with The Coker in 1943, made him a present of the Irish Lancer mare Speedy. Speedy was useful, and reached open class, but she has gained her fame as the dam of one of the greatest stayers ever seen in the Southern Hemisphere.

Cup Wins Great beisation’s other cup successes include two Dunedin Cups, an Invercargill Gold Cup. a Canterbury Cup, a Hazlett Gold Cup, and a Riverton Cup. The Riverton Cup was the first open race he won and R. 3. Skelton was the successful rider on that occasion too. That was to the autumn of 1958. With Great Sensation’s three victories, Skelton now has a great record in the Wellington Cup. As well as those

three greet victories Skelton won on Art Royal, another Wingatul stayer, in UM. ao 1.. has ridta the winners of four of the last five Wellington Cup*. An excited Bob Skelton said that Saturday was his greatest day in racing. "1 don’t think I will expertene anything greater than this as long as I live.” be said after the race. -The old bom gave me a beautiful ran all the way.** Skelton told “The Preu" • I followed Astra down on the inside from about the mile and then I switched away from the fence when Ruatr made hia ran. •1 did not ba any worries about Stipulate about a furlong end a half out Stipulate had about a length on me. but 1 was up with him at the furlong, and he was •flat' “It was no trouble to the

ok! fellow. He had a little bit in reserve and won really well What a horse.”

Stipulate, which was trying for a clean sweep in the big cups, ran the race out gallantly for second a length and a half behind Great Sensation.

•All credit to Great Sensation." said Stipulated trainer, C M Jillings, after the race ••No doubt about it. Great Sensation is an extraordinary hone I did not think a 10-year-old could beat my horse at the weights.” Near Lead Stipulate ran close to the front from the start and when the pace slackened and the field bunched up momentarily near the seven furlongs the favourite showed just in front tor two or three strides. Astra had been responsible for the early pace, which bad been nothing wonderful, but they got down to racing in earnest when Blue Blade went clear going to the five furlongs. Half a mile out Floutulla. Stipulate, Spondu-

licks, and Apa were closest to Blue Blade, but none was closer than five lengths from the lead when B. Mahoney tried to steal the race on the Taranaki grey. Blue Blade was out by five lengths swinging on to the home turn. Stipulate was then a clear second, and Lavish Countess, Big Bill and Floutulla were next.

By this time Great Sensation had been brought away from the rails to go on with his run. But the Riccarton-trau-ed Gay Filou, which had been kept to the inside, had struck trouble in going for a gap between Astra and another runner and had virtually lost his chance. Stipulate mastered Blue Blade outside the furlong but he could not pull out anything extra when Great Sensation ranged up towards the middle of the track. Great Sensation won running away b\ a length and a half and, after It was all over, looked the only horse in the race that might have managed to go round again. Blue Blade lasted It out for third, but with little to spare from Lavish Countess, and Ruato. Then there was half a length to Kingdom, a nose to Don Filou, a neck to My Contact, then Conference, Windvale Lad, Gay Filou, Straight Time, Tunku, Floutulla, Picaroon, Surging, Gay Defoe, Apa, Mediterranean, Big Bill, Astra and Spondulicks.