RACING VIVIEN ROBE’S FAST SPRINT

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30947, 31 December 1965, Page 6

RACING VIVIEN ROBE’S FAST SPRINT

President’s Handicap Win At

Wash dyke

(From Our Own Reporter)

TIMARU.

Vivien Robe had to produce one of the fastest six-furlong gallops ever recorded on a South Island provincial course to win the President’s Handicap, the first leg of the T.A.B. double at Washdyke yesterday. The consistent Reefton mare recorded 1.10:3-5 to beat Carester narrowly and the others easily.

Carester, Vivien Robe’s conqueror in the H. A. Knight Memorial Handicap at the Hororata meeting two starts earlier, was only mastered in the last stride after a sizzling front running gallop to the straight Vivien Robe is raced in partnership by Messrs T. W. Lalor and H. W. Gray and is trained at Reefton by J. Lalor, who has made some

successful Canterbury raids with members of his team this season.

Vivien Robe had to give Carester a good start from the three furlongs. The tearaway Blenheim mare then led by three lengths from Cranbrook. Deladana and Fairlane had been alongside Cranbrook going across the top but was unable to make the slightest

impression. Vivien Robe was in the third line then, but was brought forward to third on the home turn and passed Cranbrook to go after Carester just inside the furlong.

Carester was shortening stride 50 yards out, but never gave up and had it won everywhere but at the post. Cranbrook, a Waikouaiti Cup candidate, was two lengths back third and a

length and a half in advance

of General Gilbert, which improved only one position from the home turn. Fairlane was three-quarters of a length back sixth, just beating Approval. Gold View, the slowest away, was a length back last.

Battling Finish

Golden Vanity wore down Marlow in a battling finish in the St. Andrews High-weight, the seednd leg of the double. Owned in Omakau by Mr F. J. Donnelly and trained at Riccarton by G. R. Pelling, Golden Vanity was a successful newcomer at the South Canterbury meeting. To win this, her first start this season, the six-year-old Summertime mare had to produce a strong gallop to the end of a mile and a quarter under 9-1. Her stablemate, Lady York, set a fast pace with Yankinville to the straight, but N. Cowles kept Golden Vanity handy on the inside. Marlow put a length or so on Golden Vanity when he made his move from near the back of the field, but shortened stride close to home and Golden Vanity responded generously to vigorous handling and won going away by half a length. This win gave Cowles a 100 per cent record in highweights at the meeting. He won on Last Dip on Tuesday. Golden Vanity, the sixth favourite, paid £ll Ils 6d to win and completed a T.A.B. double worth £5O Is 6d for £l.

Clipper, a stablemate of Vivien Robe, winner of the first leg, was a dominating favourite for the St. Andrew’s High-weight. He had his chance trailing alongside Golden Vanity, but was unable to find the finishing speed to match Golden Vanity and Marlow.

Baalbek ran a plodding race for fourth under the topweight of 10-2 but finished well ahead of any of the others, which were led in byGreat Guns.