Richard Hanover By Head At Washdyke

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31269, 16 January 1967, Page 5

Richard Hanover By Head At Washdyke

Richard Hanover and Royal Fame combined successfully in the TAB. double on the first day of the Timaru Trotting Club’s summer meeting at Washdyke on Saturday.

Richard Hanover came out best in a battling finish with Trade Winds in the first leg, the John Hole Memorial Handicap. On the other hand Royal Fame’s victory in the Kerrytown Handicap was fairly decisive. The holders of 1921 5s tickets—3os were held by course patrons—shared a double dividend worth £39 13s 6d for £l. Although Richard Hanover had not won out of turn at his previous starts this season—his lone victory was at Greymouth in October—he had compiled a useful record of minor placings for Mrs C. A. Winter and his Yaldhurst trainer, R. M. Mugford. A last-start third over two miles at Auckland was not considered sufficiently strong form to warrant favouritism for Richard Hanover on Saturday but he was still one of the fairly popular fancies—being the 5/3 favourite of 14. Only the Bronze Lad-Snead bracket had stronger backing than Royal Fame in the Kerrytown Handicap. This was to be expected for Messrs Benny Bros.’ Garrison Hanover gelding was trying for his third win on end and his fourth victory from his last five starts.

3. W. Smolensk! had Richard Hanover in front for a short time early in the John Hole Memorial Handicap but for the best part of the last mile he was three places back and on the inside. Smolensk! worked him away from the fence running to the straight the last time and he took up the chase after Martinique going to the furlong.

Richard Hanover mastered Martinique without much trouble but in the last 50 yards he had to be driven all-out to cope with a strong challenge from Trade Winds, which tracked the winner most of the way but was a bit later working clear. Richard Hanover and Trade Winds had the finish to themselves. A long head separated them. Four and a half lengths back Martinique, which had tried to lead for the last mile, lasted for third by half a head from Why Not. Why Not, which was far back in the field and on the inside six furlongs out, made ground rapidly in the last two furlongs and would have paid a dividend in another stride or two. There was promise also in Atanui’s close fifth. She was in the rear group half a mile out but was only a neck from Why Not at the finish. The favourite, Newport Maid, was next but in a small gap. The only time she raised the hopes of her backers was when she made a big run

from the back on the home turn. She was sixth into line but could not carry on with her run.

Guyfa. which tracked Newport Maid throughout the race, was the best of the others. Identical Pattern

Royal Fame, like Richard Hanover, was three places back and on the inside till the home turn in the Kerrytown Handicap. N. S. Benny worked him away from the fence just before the straight entrance and sent him after Sam Scott and Snead early in the run home. He reached the front near the furlong and won easily by a length and a half from Warily, which tracked the winner to the straight and finished solidly to beat Snead by a head. Snead was far from disgraced. It was not surprising he wilted slightly in the run home after almost looping the field in two furlongs to join the pace-maker, Sam Scott, on the home turn. Bronze Lad, which was back with Snead half a mile out then followed him through, ran well for fourth. He was a neck from his stablemate and beat Royal Melody, another which came late on the scene, by a similar margin. Bar None, which received the run of the race, was a neck away sixth and Airborne, fifth equal most of the way, led in the others.