Applause For Gay Gordon

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30884, 18 October 1965, Page 16

Applause For Gay Gordon

Gay Gordon received a rousing reception when he won the City Handicap at Forbury Park on Saturday night.

His performance was amazing and the crowd was quick to recognise his courage in a battling finish, especially after he had lost so much ground early. Gay Gordon, a firm 2/4 favourite after a dashing win at Motukarara a week earlier, began safely from 24 yards, but after about 30 yards he went to a break. He almost became balanced again soon after, but bounded and broke. By the time he was pacing cleanly he looked to be out of the race, and with 10 furlongs left he was 150 yards from the leaders. After another five furlongs he was at the back of the bunch and he set off four wide round the field to land on the outside of Mile End in second place equal to the half-mile. He went to the front at the furlong and looked in for a fairly comfortable win. Not surprisingly he began to wilt and he had to be driven out to hold off a determined challenge from Night Rocket by a head. Mister Chips, which received a poor run. was a length back third, clear of Douglas and Mlle End Carver Doon and Loyal Hanover lost their drivers in a mixup just after the start. Gav Gordon and his trainerdriver, P. Harris, were given a warm ovation when they returned to the birdcage. Clapping and cheering were renewed as Harris led him in front of the crowd to the stalls at the southern end of the course. Gay Gordon paced his last quarter in 31sec, a splendid run in the conditions. He is now on a 2min 12sec mark, but has won very little in stakes as most of his wins have been from long marks in slow classes. Course Double Betty's Song and the favourite, Fielder, formed the winning on-course doubles combination, the return for £1 being £lB Bs. Betty’s Song revelled in the

track conditions in the Spring Handicap and drew out to win by two lengths from Self Contained. Karen Brigade was a fair third, clear of Flying Minstrel. The favourite, Polydorus. did not handle the track with confidence and broke, finishing eighth, clear of the second favourite, Big Charge, which also made mistakes.

Fielder raced in the open throughout the Plunket Handicap. He raced clear racing to the straight, but then eased down. K. D. Murray got him going to win by a short neck from Dorothy Jean, with Ulove a useful third, ahead of Terri Lee. The others were beaten off.

Marshella qualified to start in the main races for trotters at Auckland next week-end when she outclassed the field in the Star Handicap. She won easing up from Del Reno and Morven Lad. with Towser a fair fourth.

Shy Bess gained her first win when she beat the favourite, Bryan John, by half a length in the St. Kilda Handicap. Shy Bess received the run of the race and brought a change of fortune to S. D. Edge, who trains her for Mrs A. M. Doody. Bryan John’s placing was full of merit as he was slow away. Country John was a fair third, ahead of Meadowbank and Roydonway, which was not at ease in the conditions.