TROTTING Bellajily Has Splendid Win In Stakes At Orari

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30065, 25 February 1963, Page 4

TROTTING Bellajily Has Splendid Win In Stakes At Orari

Bellajily made an impressive race debut when she won the Invitation Stakes, the feature race at the Geraldine Trotting Club’s annual meeting at Orari on Saturday. The race was marred by a mix-up at the end of a furlong and a half. The two favourites, Peerswick and La Scaia, met trouble and were put out of the contest.

Bellajily was a little slow away from the second line. She sprinted up to the lead with three furlongs and a half left and from then on she was pacing comfortably.

Bellaj illy did not have to be driven out over the last furlong to beat Rocky Star by a length, with a break of six lengths back to a solid finisher in Lady Luronne.

Bella j illy, a strong filly by Van Dieman from Malabella, is raced by Mr N. Mataeevic, of Christchurch, for whom she is trained by C. C. Devine at Templeton. She is a splendid type of pacer and should develop worthwhile handicap form later on. Peerswick and La Scala dominated the betting. They carried more than half of ‘the total investments on the race Peerswick carried £lO7l and La Scala £960 in a total pool of £3709.

The Geraldine Cup resulted in a good win for Wonthaggi, which was having her ninth start for the month. Her win was her fourth for the period. She was driven by S. M. Miller, who trains her at Methven for Mr T. H. Lemon. The Light Brigade—Willonyx mare was about eleventh, but not far from the lead in the middle stages. It was late in the race that she really looked a danger, but over the last 50 yards she had too much speed for Sunhappy and beat that runner by a short length. The second leg of the

double, the Improvers’ Handicap, was won by Squire, which finished second to Rana's Choice at Addington last Wednesday. Squire was always handy to the lead and he was untroubled to beat Stormcara and Strip. .The Wonthaggi Squire double paid £129 3s for £l.

The meeting was held in fine weather before a good crowd. The track was damp in patches after rain the previous day and it was rough in parts. The racing taken all round was not of a very high standard. On-course totalisator investments amounted to £29,525, including £3219 on the double, compared with £27,615 10s last year.

Invitation Stakes Break Through broke and fell at the start of the Invitation Stakes, while Lochie, Space Cadet, Hindu Prince and Bellajily were a little slow. At the end of a furlong and a half Lochie broke and ran in on top of La Scala, which was pushed down on top of the sulky of Peerswick. La Scala and Peerswick were both put out of the race.

Hal Special and Light Chief farced the pace past the seven furlongs, with Red Knight three lengths in front of Rocky Star. Then there was a gap of six lengths to Winfield Chief, Hindu Prince, Bellajily and Falstaff.

Bellajily improved sharply near the five furlongs and took control with more than three furlongs left. She led for home ahead of Rocky Star, with Light Chief, Hindu Prince, Space Cadet, which had improved sharply. Hal Special, Falstaff and Lady Luronne showing up. Bellajily and Rocky Star had a keen struggle, but the first-named soon had her rival well covered and won handily by a length. Lady Luronne made up ground for third six lengths behind Rocky Star, with a length to Hindu Prince, a short length to Light Chief,

a head to Falstaff, a length and a half to Space Cadet and gaps to Red Knight and Hal Special. Geraldine Cup Stormy Parade, Parados, Napoleon Hanover and Pharoha lost ground at the start at the Geraldine Cup. Toby Brigade set all at the pace and was followed by a bunched field over the last mile.

Wonthaggi was eleventh, but not far from the lead with one mUe left. She improved approaching the straight where she was handy to Toby Brigade, Sunhappy. Burns Rival, Hancove and Darkie Grattan, with Enrich attempting to secure a run. Sunhappy took the measure of Toby Brigade inside the furlong, but then Wonthaggi put in her claim and came on to win handily by a short length. Sunhappy battled on for second, a neck in front of Hancove, with the same margin back to Enrich, which received a shocking run. Toby Brigade was a dose fifth, ahead of the unlucky Napoleon Hanover, Meadow Haze, Parados, Morsel, Terrace Dale, Runfree and King Clovis.

Second Leg Gold Medoro forced the pace in the second leg, the Improvers’ Handicap. He was trailed in the middle stages by Squire, but about the three furlongs he was joined by that runner. Squire and Gold Maru were followed to the straight by Stormcara, with Strip, Wee Sheba and Fleeting Storm handy.

Squire soon shook off Gold Medoro and later was untroubled to beat Stormcara by a length. Strip, after being well back early, battled on for third four lengths behind Stormcara, with half a length to Josie Pique, a head to Garrison Lady and a length to Semi Circle, which was clear of Fleeting Storm and Wee Sheba.

Colours Flying, Radiant Meadow, Backward, Iniquitous, Inky Prince and Our Kay lost their chances at the start.