Melotone Best Of Four

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31115, 19 July 1966, Page 4

Melotone Best Of Four

Melotone kept his winning record as a ’chaser on the course intact when he putjumped and outpaced three rivals in the Te Waim a t e Steeplechase at Waimate yesterday.

Mr M. A. McKenzie’s Kurdistan gelding was a firm favourite for this, his first race since the Studhoime Steeplechase, which he won in style at the Waimate Racing Club’s meeting in May. Except for a short time with about six furlongs to run, when Bandarshar headed him off, Melotone led for most of the last two miles. He jumped into a clear lead again two fences from home and was untested afterwards, winning as he liked by eight lengths. Lovely Clover, the early tail-ender, but third in the running a round from home and second three furlongs out, might have finished closer to the winner had she not landed awkwardly at the last fence. She was down on her knees, but recovered cleverly and fought on gamely to beat Bandarshar for second by a length and a. half. Bandarshar, which made the early pace and then led again for a short time on the final round, tired towards the end and only saved third by a neck from Startler, which made a renewed bid after tailing more than a mile from home. Long-shot Winner The Wlngatui-trained Primrose Lane and the Belfast amateur rider, C. M. Williams, combined successfully to win the N. A. Rattray Steeplechase at long odds. Primrose Lane, a six-year-old Howe mare prepared by J. S. McKay for Messrs A. and W. McLean. was the eighth favourite of eight in this, her second race as a 'chaser. Primrose Lane pulled away from Anouk after clearing the brush near the five furlongs on the last round and her sound jumping and superior pace on the flat kept her clear for the rest of the race.

With a sustained late run from the middle of the field, Alalne outstayed Anouk for second by two lengths, but was three lengths behind Primrose Lane. Tara Hill, the early pacemaker, was a tiring fourth six lengths back. Red Harken fell at the second to last fence where Ejay lost his rider. Both were well back at the time. Successful Switch Jolly Fox, which had been the runner-up in two of his three starts over country at the Dunedin winter meeting last month, was switched to hurdling successfully in the Studholme Hurdles. Jolly Fox had six runners ahead of him half a mile out, but a lucky run through on the inner carried him into a challenging position near the straight entrance. He gathered in Maguire's Peter early in the run home and drew away to win by three lengths from Mosque. Mosque, a firm favourite, was restrained early in the contest and a round from home had only two behind him. A good jump rear the five furlongs carried him to a clear fifth, but he was eased again running to the half-mile. D. A. Adams took him three wide and gave him more rein on the home turn, but it was not until the last half-furlong that he began to ride him vigorously. Mosque dived quickly in the last stride or two and took second from Prince Callan by a head. Prince Callan, running on from midfield, beat Royal Burgh, which had chased the co-lead-ers, Maguire's Peter and William Robert, to the last flight, by a neck. , Maguire’s Peter led in the : others, but was fifth in a long gap. Another For Wingatul Jay Kay kept the record of Wingatul winners at the meeting intact when he outran the maiden sprinters in the Novice Stakes. J. D. Pankhurst brought Mr A. D. Mackie's Gold Nib gelding forward from the fourth line to challenge for the lead early in the run home. He quickly put Nomauic and How Entrancing behind him and pulled away to win by three lengths. Nomadic beat How Entrancing by a length for second. Nomadic had been three wide all the way, just behind How Entrancing. which had disputed the pace with El Khal. Why Harp, midfield at the halfmile, but fourth into line, was two lengths back fourth. He beat Summerleaze. one of the slowest beginners, by a neck. Clear-cut Victory Blue Stephan, a last-start winner in maiden class at Oamaru in June, made short work of his

hack sprint rivals in the Waihao Handicap.

The former North Island jockey, S. B. Robertson, had Mr P. J. Heffernan's Llanstephan gelding handily placed from the start. He mastered the pacemaker, Mystery Cloud, before the straight entrance and cleared right away to win by five lengths from the favourite Belloringa. Belloringa, which led for a time early and then trailed, seemed hard pressed to hold her position in the softer ground down on the inside on the home turn. She rallied again once she struck firmer going in the straight. Lyndabelle, a fourth equal at the half-mile and four wide near the sfraight entrance, finished on wide out for third. She was half a length from Belloringa and a length tn front of Gold Marc, a solid finisher from far back. Baron’s Lady, which had her chance, was a close fifth.