Town Martial In Sprint Win

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30944, 28 December 1965, Page 4

Town Martial In Sprint Win

Town Martial, a good seventh in the Rangiora Cup at his previous start, showed gameness in a hard finish to shade Trysail in the Boxing Day Handicap. Town Marttai was in the

middle of the field for most of the way and he had to sprint hard for the last two furlongs. Terri Lee set the pace from Trysail and Don Caesar, with Heriot, Loyal Hanover and Noisette prominent Town Martial was eighth at this stage and he lost a place or two in the middle stages. Terri Lee was still in front but under pressure, racing to the furlong, with Loyal Hanover, Password, Town Martial, Don Caesar and Rothesay showing up. Terri Lee was soon beaten and Town Martial and Trysail drew out to a short lead over Don Caesar. Town Martial did best to win by a nose to Trysail, with Don Caesar a neck

away third, clear of Password, which shaded Rothesay, Terri Lee, Noisette and Loyal Hanover. Rothesay, Admiral, Southern Song, Noisette, Landlord, April Showers, Throwaiway, Humphrey and Mitcham lost ground at the start Decisive

Phoebe Martial, a plaee-getter at the recent Rangiora meeting, gained a decisive win in the Netherby Handicap. Phoebe Martial made all of the pace, and over the final furlong he had too much in reserve for the others. He won by two lengths and a half from Phenoma, which was never far away.

Break Through, which was slow away from 36 yards, trotted a splendid race for

third, only a nose behind Phenoma. Wayleggo was beaten off fourth, ahead of Del Reno, with a gap to King’s Cord. The favourite. Our Debbie, was slow away and broke near the five furlongs. She finished last.

Copper Flame, at odds of more than 34 to 1, caused a major surprise when she beat the consistent Pops Donation in the Mid-summer Handicap. Copper Flame was never far away and she Improved to be fourth at the furlong post. She ran on gamely to win by a short length. Pops Donation, after losing her position inside the last mile, came home gamely for second ahead of Battlefield and Ingleburn, which looked unlucky. She was one of a number of runners to meet trouble when Third Chief broke at the straight entrance. Kingster paced an Improver’s race for fourth, ahead of Third Chief, Sand Drift and Ulove.