UNBEATEN IN TWO STARTS THIS SEASON

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30558, 29 September 1964, Page 4

UNBEATEN IN TWO STARTS THIS SEASON

San Saba and R. J. Skelton combined successfully for the second time in as many attempts this season in the Belfield Intermediate Handicap at Orari yesterday. Skelton, who had also won the previous race on Gold X iew, had San Saba trailing and nicely placed to go out after the pacemaking Etoile Este from early in the race.

San Saba ran the race out much too strongly for Etoile Este and beat her by two lengths. Beach Gold finished better than anything else for third half a length back. He made good progress on the inside from well back, and had a late tussle with Donna Gola. There was only a nose between them, and then two lengths to Solicitor, whose rider appeared to be in difficulties close to the post. Debater, a hot favourite, was one of the first beaten. He could make no headway on the turning track and finished a distant sixth. CHARMED RUN Targui Lad and Katrine, both South Canterbury galloper, dominated the finish of the Rangitata Stakes. Targui Lad could not have had a better run; he occupied the inside trailing position to the home turn, was brought out to master the paeemaking Samarkand, and had enough left to last for a neck victory over Katrine. Katrine secured a rails run when Targui Lad was switched wider on the home turn. Pawnee came to the end of a likely-looking run just short of the post, but was unchallenged for third a length clear of the tiring Samarkand. Aghadowey tired to fifth after disputing the lead with Samarkand. Frigid, three wide in front for a time, tired to finish seventeenth. FAVOURITE’S WIN Sabell, a dominating favourite, beat Messmaid handily and the others easily in the Ohapi Stakes No. 1. Mr L. Franklin’s Sabaean gelding was in front inside the first furlong, shook off the attentions of Irridiscent on the home turn, and ran it out gamely to beat Messmaid by half a length. Messmaid made her run from the third line and finished two lengths clear of Mission Girl, which had the run of the race on the inside.

Somara was fourth in another gap of two lengths and Irridiscent tired to fifth ahead of Matrah. Jan's Joy and Oh Sally gave ground at the start. NOSE VICTORY Keep and Knight of York, both from Riccarton, battled out the finish of the Woodbury Improvers’ High-weight clear of the others. Knight of York looked as if he would capitalise on a charmed run through to the lead on the inside before the home turn, but Keep came at him strongly going to the furlong. It could have gone either way, but Keep got in the deciding stride after a sustained tussle and got there by a nose. High Score finished fast from the back for third, but he was six lengths back. He just caught Omasong, which had the run of the race. Peter James and Corrie Gilpin were abreast next just ahead of Trold and Research, which had pulled hard. Opportunity was checked and lost two or three lengths before the race was half over and made no show afterward. He finished tenth. CARRIED WIDE William Robert led nearly all the way for a narrow win over They Told Me in the Ohapi Stakes No. 2. In some of his earlier races, William Robert lost chances by running off the course on the home turn. J. M. Cappie managed to keep him fairly close to the inside on the home turn yesterday but the Washdyke four-year-old veered towards the outside all the way down the straight, carrying They Told Me with him. They Told Me shaped as if she might have won with a straight run from the home turn. Langsdale, the leader for a few strides early in the race, lasted for third a length in advance of Welburn but

those placings were reversed ! after an inquiry. STRONGER RUN Blue Rose shaded Llansfair for finishing speed in a tight finish to the Orari Improvers’ Handicap. This was Blue Rose's second start and first win this season for Mr and Mrs J. R. Woodrow. She was also a winner at Orari last spring, but did not have much success in a light programme in the meantime. Llansfair passed Blue Rose to take a short lead early lin the race, but there was 'little between them on straightening up and they had the finish to themselves, with the Wingatui mare getting there by half a neck. Banbury, always handy, was a fair third a length back, and inches ahead of Allegretto, which did not find much racing room on the inside. Scuffle was two lengths back fifth. Bill Tee, the win favourite, faded to 10th in the last three furlongs.