Field Dispatched Without Favourite

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31031, 11 April 1966, Page 6

Field Dispatched Without Favourite

Backers of Humphrey, the win facourite for the

Electric Handicap at Addington Raceway on Saturday, did not even get a run for their money. Humphrey broke badly at least 100 yards before the mobile barrier reached the mile and a quarter starting point. Many expected the club’s starter, Mr R. Carter, to declare a false start, but he did not. When the field was dispatched, Humphrey was far behind and almost pulled up. He took no part. Southern Rev improved the record of Southland-trained horses at the meeting by winning the event at good odds for Mr E. W. Cowie. Southern Rev was one of the tail-enders in a fastrunning field early in the race. A sharp spurt carried him to within striking distance, but about eight places from the lead, on the home turn. He continued that run to wear Adonato down fairly close to the end and win going away by half a length. Adorato, which was in line ahead of the winner on the home turn and forged ahead with a likely run inside the last furlong, beat Vauxhall Prince, well back and on the inside until late in the race, by three-quarters of a length for second. Anterior, which tracked the pacemaker, Dresden Blue, to the straight, was a length and a half back fourth. Too Good

Gay Paree, from BaMutha, and Prince Garry, from Winton, were too good for their Canterbury rivals in the Papanui Handicap. Big runs from the back near the half-mile carried Gay Paree and Prince Garry into challenging positions on the home turn. Gay Paree mastered the pacemaker. Calm Autumn, inside the last furlong and ran on strongly to beat Prince Garry for first by a length. Friendly Tom. the early leader but five places back on the home turn, ran on for third, a length and a half back, and Calm Autumn was nosed out of fourth in the last stride by Loyal Light, a strong finisher from the body of the field.

Bright Highland, like Robin Dundee and Lordship, kept her winning record at the meeting intact when she outfinished Superior Chief and the win favourite. Lusty Lad, in the Plains Handicap. Bright Highland, usually a tardy beginner from a standing start, accelerated quickly and was sharing the third line after a furlong. She dropped back a place or two as the lead changed, but was never far from the front. In the last furlong Bright Highland mustered the strongest run and got up to win by half a head.

Superior Chief, close up but three wide from the half-’ mile to the straight, fought on gamely for second, a neck in front of Lusty Lad which beat Courtier bv half a head