EASY WIN BY GELDING

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30391, 16 March 1964, Page 5

EASY WIN BY GELDING

Cathro Shows Judgment Clayton King, a plainlooking gelding from Rotorua, beat a moderate field with ease in the New Zealand St. Leger Stakes at Trentham on Saturday. Enterprising riding by P. K. Cathro took Clayton King far along the victory road. Cathro showed fine judgment of pace. He allowed the Rotorua-owned and trained gelding to run along in front from the start. He sent him away to a lead of four lengths starting the last mile, came to the straight with a lead of thfee lengths, and won by a length and three-quarters from the favourite, Pomare. Clayton King is owned and trained by Mr G. E. Stringer and is by Bahadurshah (son of Pherbzshah) from Trevanne, by Brer Fox from Speak Up, by Lysander from Soft Wind by Whirlwind. Pomare had to come from last for his second. He picked up several lengths in the last half-mile, and might have won if he had been ridden a bit closer before the sprint home started. Pomare cleared away from the others in the straight and finished six lengths ’in advance of Cantus. Awaroa cut the Riccarton three-year-old Valuate out of fourth place in the last stride. Valuate ran most of the race in equal second position but could not quicken from the home turn, and was not punished when his winning chance had disappeared. Ichtar, the Great Northern Derby winner, did not run within a stone of his Ellerslie form. After trailing he drifted right out and finished last in a long gap.