TROTTING Holy Hal Easily In Oamaru Stakes

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31060, 16 May 1966, Page 5

TROTTING Holy Hal Easily In Oamaru Stakes

Holy Hal confirmed his top ranking among the two-year-olds of the season with an easy win in the Oamaru Juvenile Stakes on Saturday. As a result he is a commanding early favourite for the £2OOO New Zealand Sapling Stakes at Ashburton on June 4.

Montage also shaped pleasingly in his final run before the Sapling Stakes by making up ground for second, ahead of the tiring Pro Consul.

Holy Hal, which is trained at Mataura by D. Todd for Mesrs D. Keenan, of Edendale, and J. R. Rodgers, of Christchurch, was driven confidently by K. Balloch. He had not raced since March 5 because of a cold, but in spite of that setback was produced in great order. Holy Hal began brilliantly from a handy barrier position and was in front from the start. He was steadied behind Lilly Anne after three furlongs and a half and followed that runner to the straight. He was in front at the furlong, where Pro Consul and Semloh looked likely to be the biggest danger. He took their measure about the half-furlong and Balloch had to shake him up to keep him going when Montage challenged fairly wide out. However, he was not troubled to win by two lengths in 2min 47 2-ssec, smart time on a dead track.

Montage, too, drew well. He drifted badly early and was twelfth when the field settled. He had improved only a little at the half-mile, but was sixth, some distance away, at the straight entrance. He ran out the last furlong in grand style and will appreciate the extra two furlongs at Ashburton.

Pro Consul made a brilliant beginning from the second line and received the run of the race. He looked likely to trouble the winner at the furlong, but then came to the end of his run. Semloh was a close fourth, also recording a fine Sapling Stakes trial. He received a poor run after starting from the second line and showed speed to be third racing to the straight. Fort Nelson, a slow beginner, was handy turning for home and held on

for fifth, just ahead of Bragen, which was impressive. Vandal and Golightly, with Alandria at the head of the others. Cardinal King, Vandal, Really Good, Alandria, Renata and Light Thaw lost ground at the start. Rough Race Doug’s Choice, which was checked and unplaced at Forbury Park on April 30 at his previous start, gained his fifth win for the season in the North Otago Pace, which was roughly run. J. A. Carmichael had Doug’s Choice reasonalbly placed for most of the race and escaped much of the skirmishing. Courtier showed speed to take the lead after five furlongs and was still close up on terms with On Probation racing to the straight. Don

Caesar was close behind, ahead of Mitcham, Merry Morning, Alpine Lady, Doug’s Choice and Battlefield. Doug’s Choice had control early in the run home and won decisively by a short length from Battlefield, which had to work hard to secure a clear run from the two furlongs. He finished in grand style. Merry Morning made up a little ground for third more than a length away, a length in front of Don Caesar, which had every chance. Alpine Lady was a fair fifth, ahead of Throwaway, Mitcham, On Probation and Siki. Grand Finale fell near the two furlongs, Idle Man losing his driver and several runners being pulled up. The Doug’s Choice—Holy Hal double paid £37 15s for £l.