Bass Strait Wins By Nose

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30914, 22 November 1965, Page 4

Bass Strait Wins By Nose

Bass Strait, after receiving the run of the race, wore down the pacemaker, Inky Boy, to beat him by a nose in a thrilling finish to the £2500 New Zealand Derby Stakes on Saturday night at Addington raceway.

In spite of his comparative lack of form Bass Strait was the 4/7 favourite and paid £lO 10s 6d for a win and £3 10s 6d for a place. The race was noteworthy for the failure of the two favourites, Courtier and Phillmark, to race prominently. Courtier wrecked his chances at the start and finished eleventh. Phillmark was fourth after choking near the two furlongs. Her breathing cleared on straightening and she came again. Phillmark was suffering from the effects of a cold, which accounted for the difficulties she encountered over the final stages of the race. Bass Strait is raced in partnership by his trainer-driver, C. C. Devine, and Mr A. L. Bell, a Wyndham farmer, who bred him. He is a gelding by Hal Tryax from Laura Ann, the dam of a useful winner in Chief Hall. He is the third son of Hal Tryax to win the Derby in the last six years, the others being Student Prince and Tactile.

Bass Strait gave Devine his first winning drive in the Derby. He trained the 1963 winner, Bellajily, but she was driven by D. J. Townley. Bass Strait is not entered for the New Zealand Champion Stakes at Ashburton on

Boxing Day and may do his holiday racing in Auckland where his main mission would be the Great Northern Derby Stakes. As well as Courtier, Maluka, Atanui, Athenian and Goldmount lost ground at the start. Inky Boy and Bass Strait began best, with Inky Boy going to the front with nine furlongs and a half left. They were followed past the mile by Late Frost, Scotch Cherie, Lustre Scott, Chief Command, Phillmark, Roydon Prince, Gold Boa and Co Pilot.

Chief Command tangled near the five furlongs, disorganising some of the tailenders as he dropped back. Inky Boy led Bass Strait to the straight, with Scotch Cherie, Late Frost, Phillmark, Roydon Prince, Co Pilot and Lustre Scott showing up.

Inky Boy was inclined to run out and D. G. Jones had to stop driving him for a time. He and Bass Strait were together over the final furlong, with Bass Strait winning by a nose. Three lengths and a half back Scotch Cherie took third, a head in front of Phillmark. Lustre Scott was half a head away fifth, a head in front of Roydon Prince, with a head to Late Frost, two lengths and a half to Local Star, two lengths to Gold Boa and a length and a half to Co Pilot and Courtier.