RACING Sailorman Succeeds In Main Event At Oamaru

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30391, 16 March 1964, Page 6

RACING Sailorman Succeeds In Main Event At Oamaru

Sailorman improved a very sound record for his Christchurch owner, Mr H. Kearns, when he beat Andalusia handily and nine others very easily in the Papakaio Handicap at Oamaru on Saturday.

Sailorman, a roan Kurdistan gelding trained at Washdyke by W. P. Hogan, was competently ridden by the Riccarton horseman, G. W. Mein, to win his fourth race for the season and' improve on a recent succession of minor platings.

Sailorman was the popular fancy. For a win and a place he paid £4 17s 6d and £1 16s and in a double pool worth £18,534 15s he carried 7732 f 10s tickets.

Approval rounded off a double worth £97 16s 6d for £1 when he outran his sprint rivals in the Stewards’ Handicap. It was the Waimatetrained Alonzo gelding’s third win for the season for his Christchurch owner, Mr J. M. Hetherington. The double dividend was shared by the holders of 622 5s tickets of which 60 were held on the course. The favourite, Champ, carried 6170 tickets.

The meeting was held in fine, warm weather, but a blustery north-westerly wind made conditions unpleasant. The track was 'in good order. There was a fair attendance. Always Close Up

Mein had Sailorman in touch with the pace all the way in the Papakaio Handicap. He set out after the pacemaker, Melotone, on the home turn, drew level outside the last furlong, then pulled away to win by a length and a half from Andalusia. Andalusia had the run of the race to the straight. She gathered in Melotone inside the last furlong but could not muster enough pace to peg Sailorman back. Zinder was third in a gap of two lengths. He was back towards the rear for a good part of the race but a sharp run on the home turn carried him into a challenging position early in the run home. Zinder outfinished Royal Crest, fourth equal on the

home turn, by half a neck and Melotone was a close fifth half a head back. Marwon made ground for sixth but he was in a small gap. Then came Strategy, Captain Morgan, and Sir Athol. Lady York beat only Lostalon home. Approval Lasts J. R. Dowling had Approval right with the pace from the srart in the Stewards’ Handicap. He ran past Gold Raider into a clear lead five furlongs out and had put a break of four lengths on the others on the home turn. Although starting to wilt in the last furlong he responded gamely to a hard ride to win by half a length from Royal Estate. Royal Estate, which was five places back and in the line behind Legal Game, John Jameson and Champ at the half-mile, ran it out well to beat John Jameson by a length for second. Legal Game was a head back fourth, then there was a little more than a length to the hot favourite Champ which was forced to race three wide all the way. The best of the others were Gold Raider, Satinette and Magic Casement. The latter two had shared the line with Lucky Son till the home turn.