RACING Hilldale Surprise Ellerslie Winner

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30973, 1 February 1966, Page 5

RACING Hilldale Surprise Ellerslie Winner

"The Prese" Special Service AUCKLAND. Hilldale, a good sprinter at best, turned middledistance runner to take the W. S. Spence Handicap, the first leg of the T.A.B. double at Ellerslie yesterday. Hilldale ran a mile and a quarter well for third at Te Awamutu toward the end of last year but meanwhile has shown mainly moderate form.

On this occasion he showed all the pace he possesses to run in front all of seven furlongs from home and sufficient stamina to hold off several determined challengers. He won by three-quarters of a length from Tatua, which shaded Pretty Lucky for second.

Hilldale was ridden by G. L. Willetts, who won the George Adams Mile at Trentham last Saturday on Chantal. He was an outsider —only one of the others being less backed on the win—and paid £29 13s 6d and £6 15s 6d.

As the pacemaker Hilldale deserved to win. There was great merit as well in the performance of Tatua. When he ran up outside the main challenger, Pretty Lucky, coming to the last furlong Tatua looked likely. The next moment Pretty Lucky began to veer out, taking Tatua and ruining his chance. Tatua, which had not raced since being beaten in the Auckland Cup, was 7-11 in the win-and-place order of favouritism. The most popular was Arbroath, which came only fifth. Tardini finished sixth and Ravenwood, another disappointment from the first day, was ninth. Second Leg

With the scratching of Farmer’s Boy, only nine horses ran in the second leg, the Devonport Handicap. The best were Prince Manu and Udare, the first two. Tuam was two lengths away third. Prince Manu gained a winning break with a rails open-

ing soon after they came into the straight. He was challenged strongly by Udare toward the finish and just lasted to win.

Prince Manu was disappointing when only sixth over seven furlongs on Friday. Nevertheless, he was the 3/2 favourite for the Devonport Handicap. Nassella, the best-backed runner, lost her chance when forced to run three wide most of the way. She was fifth at the finish.

• As most bettors expected, the Takanini gelding, Valiant Rebel, was a class above his opponents in the £2OOO Eclipse Stakes. He reached the front and stayed there easily with only the slightest encouragement from his rider, W. C. Cotter. On the bend into the straight with half the course covered, Valiant Rebel led by by almost 10 lengths. Cotter allowed him to coast into the last furlong with a length and a half to spare. With the others beaten he then urged Valiant Rebel slightly and the winning margin widened quickly to three lengths and a half. A bay, by Resurgent from Valiant Rose, Valiant Rebel

had been successful once before, in the Breeders’ Plate at the Auckland summer meeting. In each of three other attempts he was a minor placegetter. In the Great Northern Foal Stakes Prince d’Amour beat him by only a nose. The weather was fine, although overcast and the track was fast The attendance was 15,509 against 14,003 last year. The on-course totalisator handled £185,244 10s, compared with £158,783 10s last year. Investments for the two days were £601,570 5s against £489,724 15s.