TATUA TOO GOOD

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30107, 16 April 1963, Page 4

TATUA TOO GOOD

St. Leger At Ellerslie

"The Press’’ Special Service AUCKLAND, April 15. The Cambridge gelding Tatua easily settled five moderate opponents in the Great Northern St. Leger at Ellerslie today. Throughout the 14 furlongs none of the others could get him off the bit and he won with something in hand by two lengths and a half.

In the three minutes and two seconds that it took him to go the Sit. Leger course, Tatua added £lOOO to hi* stake earning*. which now stand at £10,406. At the same time he established himaelf as the best three-year-old stayer ot the season.

The win which took Tatua to the top of the three-year-oM ratings was in the Great Northern Derby on Boxing Day Blyton had earlier bettered Tatua over a guineas mile course and so had Rapddo at Te Rapa. During the autumn months last year Tatua ran together four wins in a row. Tatua carried more than half the investments on the St. Leger and he paid £1 5s 6d for a win and £1 Os 6d for s place. The amount bet on the six runners was £15961 10*. and the amount on Tatua was £8387 10s.

A good bay, ot lees than medium size, Tatua is raced by hi* breeder, Mr M. H. Tim*, of Te Awamutu. and 1* trained by W. J. Pratt. He is by Sajakedi from Te Awa.

Edge, who handled Tatua with the greatest confidence, had not previously won the St Leger, but he was on Tatua In the Great Northern Derby. Vlnesse. a Ally, led the chaos after Tatua and Paralovlne came third. For the last mile Tatua went Itnln 41sec, and he was tim-d to go the last half in 48se<

Tatua went ahead straightaway in the St. Leger and Vineaee was allowed to drop in behind.

After the first half-mile Tatua was travelling strongly In front by two lengths and a half from Lady In Blue and Paralovlne A length away were Sherry Wine and Pow Wow loutaide) and they were clear of Vlnease. Near the mile Paralovlne made ground to Tatua'* quarters. Two furlongs further on he edged In front. Lady tn Blue kept third a length and a half away with Pow Wow. Going to the half-mile Paralovlne was momentarily clear of Tatua and Pow Wow. but In the next furlong Tatua dashed to the front. On the bend into the straight he was going easily about a neck ahead of Para-

lovlne. Once In the run home Edge let him go a little harder and in no time he was well clear with none of the other five having a chance. Vineese put in a battling run down the centre for second two lengths ahead of Paralovlne. which shaded Sherry Wine. There was a gap to Lady in Blue and another to Pow Wow.