Rio Outclassed Milers At Awapuni

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30629, 21 December 1964, Page 5

Rio Outclassed Milers At Awapuni

The Canterbury-bred, Hastings-owned and trained Rio made some fast milers look like selling-platers in the £l5OO Challenge Stakes at Awapuni on Saturday.

Ridden with marked confidence by A. T. Jones, Rio picked up at least seven lengths in about three furlongs in a storming run to the lead near the furlong, then drew away at will for victory by three lengths and a half.

This was Rio’s first race for Messrs K. Couper and W. B. Watson since October, when he won the W.R.C. Pearce Handicap after failing on a track that did not suit him in the Wellington Guineas. The Wellington Guineas winner. His Grace, was one of Rio’s rix r als again on Saturday, and finished fourth. He had a long lead over Rio at the half-mile but could not find anything extra close to home and was shaded by Copper King and Cabriere in a maginificent finish for lhe minor places. Stayer’s Run

Polo Prince attracted a lot of interest in this, his first race since he won the Melbourne Cup on November 3. He found a mile too short for him but picked up ground to finish seventh after tailing off at the start.

He will be taken north early this week to continue his preparation for the Auckland Cup on January 1. Before that race he will probably run in the weight-for age Clifford Plate.

“He seems to need plenty of racing to keep him right, which is a bit surprising as he doesn’t carry much fiesh,” said Polo Prince’s part-owner. Mr L. W. Davis, on Saturday when announcing the horse’s likely holiday programme.

Dine and Dance and Mattiwilda disputed the lead briefly until Off Course pulled through to the front inside the first two furlongs in the Challenge Stakes.

Off Course led into the last half-mile but with Mattiwilda and His Grace in close attendance: then came Acapulco and Dine and Dance in a gap of two lengths. Rio was then seven lengths off the pace. It would have I been a task too formidable; for anything less than a bril-| iliant galloper. Rut Rio made> lit look easy. He closed fasti on Off Course, His Grace and'

Copper King going to the furlong, then kicked away to win easily by three lengths and a half.

Copper King, Cabriere. His Grace, and Off Course staged a spectacular tussle for second and the camera placed them in that order separated by narrow margins.