TROTTING DOCTOR BARRY MAKES CUP CLASS

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31168, 19 September 1966, Page 4

TROTTING DOCTOR BARRY MAKES CUP CLASS

Strong Staying Effort In Laing Handicap Doctor Barry became the first horse this season to qualify for the New Zealand Cup in November when he came o ut on top in a gruelling last furlong in the A. E. Laing Handicap at Addington Raceway on Saturday. The race was marred bv a mix-up involving all but six of the field with slightly more than six furlongs left.

Doctor Barry is a welcome addition to cup [ class. His performance [' was a splendid one, and he certainly justified his < promotion. He was four and five wide[ after a furlong and continued 1 his run to take control at the I ; end of two furlongs and a!i half. Then, when challenges ; came thick and fast in the I ■ run home, he called on extra |1 reserves of stamina, and al-h though shortening stride to-I wards the line, he lasted to 1 beat the favourite, Bright 1 Highland, by half a neck.

Raced by Dr. B. W. Nixon, of Greymouth, and Mr B. Steel, of Christchurch, Doctor i Barry is a five-year-old stal[lion by Fallacy from Weekender. He will probably have his next start in the Ashburton Flying Stakes on Oc- [ tober 1. Doctor Barry’s win was not i popular with a small propor- ■ tion of a fairly meagre crowd. ■ Booes and catcalls mingled i with the applause that greeted | his West Melton trainer'driver, J. D. Litten, as he re- [ turned to the birdcage, j Bright Highland gained her third successive second placI ing for the season when she

beat all but Doctor Barry. She was never far away and led the chase after Doctor Barry over the last two furlongs and a half when the trailing horse, Vista Abbey, began to drop away. Happy Songster, another to escape trouble, battled on for third a length and a quarter away, well clear of Town Martial, which made up a lot of ground after being checked. Quesnel, Vista Abbey. Cuddle Doon and Turbulence were next, Cuddle Doon being the only one in the group to be checked. The others in the race were not dangerous after being checked when Admire ran into the sulky of Vista Abbey when the pace appeared to slacken. Second Leg Adorato qualified to start in the Methven Cup next Sat-

urday when he gained a deserved win in the Seaview Handicap. The Doctor BarryAdorato combination paid £26 15s for £l. Adorato, after leading early, was steadied behind Lusty Lad after a furlong and a half. He worked clear on straightening up and although Humphrey finished stoutly, Adorato won by a short length. Humphrey did well to finished so close after being in trouble at the start and losing 48 yards. Doug’s Choice was a fair third, ahead of the tiring pacemaker, Lusty Lad, Bob Again was next, ahead of La Garrison, Happy Sam, and the favourite, Courtier, which was tailed off early after being in a mix-up at the start. La Garrison, Humphrey, and Frontier Maid lost ground at the start, while Frontier Maid broke with half a furlong left.