RACING FAIR FILOU JUST LASTED

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30267, 21 October 1963, Page 4

RACING FAIR FILOU JUST LASTED

Wellington Handicap Won For Second Time Fair Filou put the calendar back two years at Trentham on Saturday when he won his second Wellington Handicap. This time the Te Aroha-owned and trained gelding won with 8-8. Two years ago he won under 9-6, and soon after a brilliant career seemed to have ended when he broke down in the New Zealand Cup.

Saturday’s win was his first since the 1961 Wellington Handicap, but he had done little racing and with 8-8 he represented the handicapper’s risk in a field of only average quality.

Fair Filou was the first fancy on the win and doubles machines, and he won by half a neck. He had to resist a brilliant late challenge from Beauzami. another veteran, which came from far back in the field in a falsely-run race. Richetta was almost in line thtrd. They pegged back the light -weight. Coastguard, which was responsible for much of the pace. Fair Filou was ridden by J. F. Grylls, who lost his whip close to home and had to smack the big bay with; hts hand when challenges loomed inside tihe last furlong. It would have been to all no avail if Beauzami had managed to reach him a sec-1 ond sooner, and honours of the race looked fairly evenly! divided between the winner! and runner-up. Fair Filou carried £15,680 of a doubles pool of £128.779 106 and 2489 5s tickets were placed Karinx's way in the Shorts Handicap. Karin x. the nirrth choice for wm-and-place. won by threequarters of a length from the first fancy, Expedite, and Kawera was the same distance back third. The double was worth £l7l Is for £l. Karinx is raced by Messrs T. H. Knowles and R. Sly, who won the Centenary Melbourne Cup three years ago with Hi-Jinx. Karinx carried 7-1 over six furtongs on a firm, fast track in Imin lOsec. Llanmai won in Imin 10% see last year. 'Huis time he was fifth, and did not get all the best of it when working through from the pack. Slack Pace Gallant Lady and Coastguard were allowed to set an easy pace from the start of j the Wellington Handicap. They went away to a lead of four lengths going to the mile where Polo Prince and Elkayel were on the front end of the bsg bunch just ahead of Count Filou, which had been pulling hard alongside' Bagush and Blue Blade. Fair Filou was going easily I in the ruck about two lines! back. Coastguard led into the last I

i five furlongs by two lengths ' from Gallant Lady, and Polo I Prince was working forward [just ahead of Count Filou, Blue Blade. Fair Filou, and Robin Adair. Coastguard still ’ed on the home turn, but Fair Filou quickly took a gap alongside the rails and passed him going to the furlong. By thia time Grylls was without a whip on Fair Filou, ; but a close finish seemed unlikely. However, Grylls ' must have wished he had something more than his hand I I to bit Fair Fitou with when’ I Beauzami and Richetta swooped on him a few strides short of the post. It developed into a very[ tight finish, but Fair Filou' Just saw it out. Half a neck and a short i head separated the first three. ■ Beauzami was the fastest finisher of all; he was third: I to last at the mile and little : ' closer at the five furlongs. ’ Coastguard plugged on, doggedly for fourth and was two lengths clear of Count Filou. which carried a lot of condition and would have probably welcomed an easier I track. Picaroon did well to finish I ninth. He was checked and [ sent back to the tail of the! field in the back straight. I

, The Wingatui-trained Birthright was taken over to the rails quickly and ran most of ’the race in the middle of the field. He was unable to : quicken in a false-run race and was fourteenth at the ; end, but he was bleeding from the hind legs after the race and had obviously been galloped on. Sound Win Karinx led from outside the furlong for a sound win in the Shorts Handicap. ’Expedite was travelling [slightly faster than the I winner at the end but was safely held by three parts of : a length. Sonare was in front inside the first furlong and led to the two furlongs from Arbelle, Home on the Range. I Harry Lauder, Karinx, and Expedite. Karinx made a I i strong run to the lead soon after and held it without 'severe pressure. Expedite beat Kawera by three-quarters of a length for second. Then there was a length to Home on the Range, whose rider. J. F. Grylls. lost his irons in the straight. Llanmai made ground though small gaps in the straight for fifth ahead of the weakening Sonare. Harry Lauder, and Donald Dinnie.