TROTTING UPSET VICTORY BY GAY REEL

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30391, 16 March 1964, Page 4

TROTTING UPSET VICTORY BY GAY REEL

Lordship Wins Second Easter Cup Heat

Splendid wins by Gay Reel and Lordship were the highlights of the first qualifying heats for the Easter Gup on March 28 run at Addington Raceway on Saturday. The other scorers of points in the two heats also returned worth-while efforts and the final should be one of the most thrilling races of the season.

The Auckland mare, Gay Reel, at odds of slightly more than 19 to one, caused an upset when she beat Master Alan, Vanderford and Safe Return, all of which finished boldly, by a clear margin in the first heat. She was driven by K. D. Murray, who sent her clear by three lengths about the two furlongs. This was a winning break and she held on strongly to win by a length and a half and share time honours with the third horse, Vanderford.

Gay Reel was unbeaten in two starts at Hutt Park last month, but she disappointed a shade at the recent Auckland meeting. There was merit in her win on Saturday as she was one of the worst beginners, and then led over the last six furlongs and a half. A five-year-old mare by Gay Reveller from Scottish Reel, she is trained at Pukekohe by J. Butcher for Mr M. T. Willis, of Auckland, a prominent official of the New Zealand Owners’ and Breeders’ Association. The other heat was marked by Lordship’s return to peak form. He raced three wide from the half-mile, and after a stern tussle he beat Deft narrowly but well. Lordship paced with all the dash which marked his racing early in his career, and after the race he looked sounder than at any other stage of the season. His win was well received, and he was warmly applauded as he was brought back to the birdcage by D. D. Nyhan. Dandy Briar made up a lot of ground for third in this heat, with Jay Ar also pleasing in fourth place. The win favourite, Orbiter, was awkwardly placed throughout and was never properly in the clear. He finished fifth. A determined finishing run wide out on the track gave Harbour Light a half-head win over the near-outsider, Robert Medoro, in the second leg of the double, the Stewards' Handicap. Harbour Light was a moderate favourite and paid £5 Ils for a win. Her 2:41 for the 10 furlongs was a smart run in the conditions. The Gay Reel • Harbour Light double paid £230 for £l. First Heat Inglemead, Gay Reel, Master Alan, and Cairnbrae lost ground at the start of the Easter Cup First Heat Safe Return went away safely, but broke before the end of half a furlong. Gay Reel, Master Alan, Cairnbrae, and Inglemead were at the tail of the main bunch when the field settled down, with five lengths to Safe Return at the rear. Avante got away smartly, and led out from Bobbinet Adios Heather and Flying Blue. The field bunched near the mile post and half a furlong later Adios Heather took over. Gay Reel improved sharply at this point and worked to the front before the six furlongs. Master Alan was tenth at the half-mile, with Vanderford two or three places further back and Cairnbrae at the tail of the field. Gay Reel slipped the field at the two furlongs and raced to the straight three lengths in front of Adios Heather. Sun Chief, Kingsdown Patch, Raft, Master Alan, and Vanderford were handiest of the others. Gay Reel kept clear of her rivals and won by a length and a half from a solid finisher in Master Alan. Vanderford, which ran in inside the last furlong, was a length and a half back third. Safe Return finished fast along the inner for fourth, half a length back, the same distance in front of Cairnbrae, which finished fast Then came Adios Heather, Sun Chief and Raft clear of Flying Blue. Second Heat Van Rebeck and Great Credit broke hopelessly at the start of the Easter Cup Second Heat Cheta led out from Gildirect Fox Able, Orbiter, Rustic Lad and Morano Boy. Fox Able went to the front at the nine furlongs, with Orbiter being pushed back on the inside. Oreti moved up to be second at the six furlongs and he followed Fox Able into the straight Cheta was right up, ahead of Jay Ar, Lordship, Gildirect Rustic Lad, Deft and Dandy Briar (wide). Lordship, hotly pursued by Deft raced to a short lead Inside the furlong. Lordship won by only half a head from Deft, but looked to have her measure at the finish. N.Z. METROPOLITAN TROTTING CLUB WITHDRAWALS for all on the Second Night of the above Club’s Baiter Meetings to be held on March be received by 3 P.M., TODAYD. C. PARKES. Secretary. —Advt.

Dandy Briar, after being well out of the race early, put in a strong run wide out to get up for third two lengths and a half from Defi and a length and a half in front of Jay Ar. Orbiter, which was never really in the clear, was half a head further back, a nose in front of Cheta and half a head in front of Morano Boy. Great Credit showed amazing speed to finish eighth, ahead of Rustic Lad, Oreti, Gildirect and Fox Able. Van Rebeck did not complete the course. Second Leg Acquit, Rebel, Flaming Way, Control, Doctor Kyle and Front Line made mistakes in the first three furlongs of the second leg of the double, the Stewards’ Handicap. Uteena, closely attended by Snow Globe, Our Jimmy,

and Our Own, formed the leading bunch for most of the way. Our Own moved up to be shading Uteena with more than two furlongs to run. They turned for home almost on terms, followed by Snow Globe, Our Jimmy, Robert Medoro, Control, Harbour Light and Flying Maiden.

Our Own looked a probable winner inside the furlong, but Robert Medoro and Harbour Light gathered her in close to home. Harbour Light got up in the last stride or two to win by half a head. Robert Medoro was a length in front of Our Own, with another length to Snow Globe and a neck to Astralight. Then there was a gap to Our Jimmy and Uteena, with Control and Flaming Way next.