Golden Blossom In Triumph Of Veterans

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30826, 11 August 1965, Page 4

Golden Blossom In Triumph Of Veterans

Golden Blossom easily won the £lOOO Heathcote Handicap in the colours of her veteran Dunedin breeder, Mr J. M. Samson, at Riccarton yesterday.

The race was a triumph for veterans and near veterans. The eight-year-old Golden Blossom was followed in by the seven-year-old Gladaub and the eight-year-old Tampa.

Golden Blossom has not had as much racing as many horses half her age, and she has made steady improvement with each run lately under the direction of the Wingatui trainer, R. Beasley. After a fair sixth in the Winter Cup on Saturday she was fairly well supported yesterday, but returned her win backers £9 9s 6d for £l. J. R. Dowling had Golden Blossom in fairly close touch with the pace for a time, but -still had to make a big run after Gladaub, which went out to a fairly wide lead near the half-mile. Gladaub was still nicely clear on the home turn, but Golden Blossom dashed past him going to the furlong and won running away by three and a-half lengths. Tampa made ground late and missed second by only three-quarters of a length. Her run was meritorious: she was near the tail of the field early in the race.

Bell Man, a little-fancied runner, and still in the early stages of his present campaign, gave notice of an early win by running fourth three lengths behind Tampa. He beat Myfilou by half a length.

Lei, the each-way favourite, was sixth. She made a run to get close behind the second line on the home turn, but was unable to quicken after straightening up. Calvados was seventh, and this was probably the performance of an improver. Queen’s Desire was a disappointing tenth after trailing. Triple Bel went to the tail of the field straight away and could only beat McCool, which needed racing.