ROBIN DUNDEE WINS AGAIN

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31222, 21 November 1966, Page 4

ROBIN DUNDEE WINS AGAIN

Seven In Finish; Lordship Second Scenes reminiscent of those after many of the wins of Johnny Globe greeted Robin Dundee’s second win at the cup meeting at Addington Raceway on Saturday. She and her co-backmarker, Lordship, finished first and second in a spectacular finish to the Ollivier Handicap.

The first seven horses crossed the line with about a length between them in one of the closest finishes for years in a major event on the course.

Robin Dundee was vigorously and skilI fully driven by R. M. Cameron, who for the second time in four days drove the winning T.A.B. double combination when he brought Le Chant home at the head of a strong field of trotters in the Greyhound Handicap. On Tuesday night the combination paid £4O 12s, and on Saturday the dividend was £3O 18s 6d for £l. Robin Dundee had from eight to 10 horses in front of her for the first nine furlongs after tangling and losing six yards at the start. She began to sprint up about the three furlongs, was in second place about a neck from Doctor Barry at the straight entrance, and ran on best in a crowd-pleasing finish to win by a neck. The pace was fairly solid throughout, the leaders taking 2min 3 3-ssec for their last mile, the final half-mile in 60 l-ssec, and the last quarter in 29sec. Robin Dundee has now won £40,270 in New Zealand, the result of 25 wins and 50 placings from 113 starts. She has also won £lO,OOO in Australia for her Mataura Island owner, Mr J. W. Hewitt. Immediate plans for Robin Dundee are not certain. It had been intended to ship her to Australia as soon as space was available, but efforts are now being made to have her flown there. It is still possible she will have another race or two in this country before going to Australia.

Lordship advanced his winnings to £49,020 when he ran Robin Dundee to a neck. He was in front of the mare until inside the last half-mile. When she improved he followed her through.

He gradually closed on her and just failed to get up. Considering he had lost work as a result of a cold, he was far from disgraced. Third place, half a head from Lordship, went to Golden Oriole, which was about three lengths from the leader all the way. She was passeed by several runners on the home turn, but finished on gamely for her placing, half a head in front of Doctor Barry, which attempted to lead over the last mile. It was well inside the furlong when he was beaten. Rocky Star was not disgraced when he finished fifth half a length from Doctor Barry. He began smartly, but broke when vieing for the lead at the end of 300 yards. He recovered quickly and was handy over the last mile. He was a nose in front of Waitaki Hanover, which was checked and sent to a break when Rocky Star broke. He did not receive a good run afterwards and did well to finish so close.

Half a head back, Disband was seventh. She ran on strongly from the back after appearing to be well beaten on the home turn.

Happy Ending, which paced his best race for some time, was three lengths back eighth after tangling with 75 yards to run. His driver, C. C. Devine, told the stewards that he thought he had overreached. Tobias, a firm off-course favourite, broke at the start, was always well back, and finished tenth. Disband and Terrace Dale also lost ground at the start.

Second Leg

Le Chant, which won the free-for-all the previous Tuesday, gave an equally-impres-sive performance in the Greyhound Handicap. She was sixth or seventh until six furlongs from the finish. She then sprinted up three wide and joined Asia Minor in front shortly after passing the

half-mile. They were together on the home turn, but Le Chant soon took over and it was left to Tronso and Forward March to lead the chase. Le Chant ran on by far the best to win by a short length. Tronso was far from disgraced. She met trouble at the end of two furlongs and must have lost five lengths. She made a tremendous run for her placing. Forward March was half a head back third. She, too, ran on stoutly over the final furlong. Harbour Light ran on boldly from well back to finish fourth half a length away, clear of Uteena, which broke early. Castleton’s Gift tired to sixth after pace-making, and Asia Minor was most disapopinting one place back. He raced in the open for most of the way, but put little fight into his work over the last furlong. Queen’s Cord broke inside the last half-mile and finished last. Break Through, Johnny Gee, Dreaming, Ardleigh, Marshella, which was pulled up, and Acquit made mistakes.