RACING Wingatui Campaign For Impressive Cup Winner

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31162, 12 September 1966, Page 4

RACING Wingatui Campaign For Impressive Cup Winner

Even Chance broke through for a well-earned first win in open company in the Ashburton Cup on Saturday. It was one of the easiest wins on the first day of the Ashburton spring meeting, and it will make him one of the strong fancies for the corresponding race at Wingatui next Saturday.

Even Chance’s win on Saturday was his first since the autumn of 1965 when he won two hack races at Riccarton.

But he was close to victory at times in a 13-race programme last season, going under only by inches to Royal Bid in the 1965 Ashburton Cup. This close relation of the top stayers, Eiffel Tower and Jamell, has been bothered by muscular trouble during much of his career, but he was free of it leading up to his win on Saturday, and his win only confirmed the worth of some attractive training gallops. The slack pace early made the task easier for Even Chance, according to his rider, J. A. Messent. “He settled quickly, and he can really sprint at the end of a race lacking early pace," Messent said. Messent thought he would be in trouble when Calvados started to shift ground early in the run home, but Even Chance had responded quickly to a crack with the whip to take a gap and go to the front. After that it was easy. At the end Even Chance was three lengths better than his stablemate, Jester Jinks, which was a length in advance of the place favourite, Calvados. Even Chance carried £11,210 10s of a double pool of £44,177 ss. Glamis Lad, a Methvenowned, Washdyke-trained Kurdistan gelding, made a successful first appearance in open company in the Flying Handicap, the second leg of the double. Mr K. G. McLaughlin’s smart four-year-old rounded off a double worth £62 Ils for £l. Performances of the runners in both legs of the double appear below. Ashburton Cup EVEN CHANCE: Soon settled about middle of field. Took

gap quickly to challenge for lead outside furlong, then drew out to win by three lengths. JESTER JINKS: Handy to turn. Led momentarily on straightening up, but could not match Even Chance for finishing speed. CALVADOS: Big run wide out on home turn, and looked likely for a moment, but only plodded last furlong. Four lengths from winner. FLYING YORK: Run of race behind leaders. Unable to quicken, and finished fourth five lengths from winner. BROWN BROCADE: Closest at finish, but beaten off sth. SKELTHEEN: Middle of field at mile. No improvement. 6th. iHATEA: Never closer than final position: 7th. GOLD SHOWER: Pulled up to leading line in middle stages. Still there on home turn but dropped out quickly; Sth. CLIPPER: Shared pacemaking. Beaten on turn; 9th. ETOILE ESTE: Last early. Very { little improvement: 10th. WHITE RAJAH: Last at sf; sluggish run. 11th. BENEFICE: Disputed lead for about a mile; dropped right ! out; last. Flying Handicap I GLAMIS LAD: Fourth all way to straight. Bold run and pulled away to win by two lengths and a half. (2334 5s double tickets.) HUSHAWAY: Middle of field to 3f: moved to sth on turn and went through with his run for comfortable second • (1128 tickets.) QUICK FLIGHT: Contended for lead to straight. Looked I likely outside furlong, but faded slightly closer to home, and finished third three lengths and a half from winner. (1661 tickets.) TUMBLE: Contended for lead to straight. Weakened from furlong, four lengths and a half from winner. (5567 tickets.) FAIRLANE: Middle of field mostly. Made ground, but I only slowly for sth, neck from fourth. (13.409 tickets.) ’ SEMINOLE: Made ground for 6th. but in a gap behind j Fairlane. (1325 tickets.) DANNY KAYE: Disputed lead, then dropped out in 1 straight; 7th. (3838 tickets.) i TIME AND TIDE: Never closer r than final position after striking trouble early; Bth (7898 tickets). SHAKES: Dwelt slightly wide out at start. No real chance after: 9th. (2601 tickets.) RAE'S HOPE: Close to leaders at three furlongs. Dropped out to 10th. (937 tickets). I SCRIBBLER: Always battling to-

wards middle of field, 11th.i (321 tickets). FIELDMASTER: Gave ground al start. Remained well back to | end. 12th. (710 tickets). , JET GIRL: Soon struggling well! back; 13th. (1348 tickets). I

i DARK SEAMAN: About same position all way after slow start; 14th. (1380 tickets.) APACHE: One of first beaten; , 15th. (1325 tickets.) ( LAST COUNT: Slowest away; last I to finish. (483 tickets.)