RACING WELLINGTON CUP TO MICHAEL MOLLOY

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31275, 23 January 1967, Page 4

RACING WELLINGTON CUP TO MICHAEL MOLLOY

Five-Figure Offer After Win Over Palisade (From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON. Australian inquiries, including at least one five-figure offer, were made for Michael Molloy soon after the four-year-old won the Wellington Cup on Saturday.

Michael Molloy showed great stamina and marked gameness to beat the brilliant Wingatui veteran Palisade by a nose. The Gore-trained Red Siren, the lesser fancied of the two runners from the Winsloe stable, was a close third.

A disappointed R. J. Skelton turned to Palisade’s owner, Mr A. T. Ottrey, after the race and said: “If I had dodged a mix-up behind Cassarook at the three furlongs your fellow would have won. It was a great run.”

Cassarook, ridden by W. D. Skelton, was almost through the running rail when Honestly went back on him, and he was lucky to keep his feet. Many in the crowd of 22,450 thought Palisade had won and the old Ruthless gelding would have come back to a hero’s reception if he had come out on top. But there was also a generous show of enthusiasm for Michael Molloy’s victory. Few handicap horses have had a quicker rise to fame. Another of the stoch of the highly successful French-bred stallion Le Filou, Michael Molloy won his first race only last September and he developed his form at a time when his trainer and partowner, H. Long was in failin'? health.

J. H. Hely, who had ridden many jumping winners for the Long stable before his retirement last year, was persuaded to take over the team late last year, and Michael Molloy was given his first test at two miles in the Auckland Cup on January 2. He finished fourth after striking trouble in the running. Mr Long died a few days before the Auckland Cup, but it was his wish that the horse should start in any circumstances and that his son Murray should take the mount.

Many experienced racing men, several of them Australians, praised the apprentice

for his handling of Michael Molloy in the Wellington Cup, and nearly as many were amazed to see G. F. Hughes ride the race he did on the hot favourite Terrific. Terrific, the only runner paying less than double figures when betting opened on the cup, was allowed to drift to last in a big field and bls run into fifth was highly meritorious.

The Wellington Cup was run at a fairly even pace. The first half-mile was covered in 50sec. the last half in 49sec, and the last mile in Imin 38 sec.

Apa led into the last mile from Bright Chief, Honestly, Jen Hai, Cassarook, Polo Prince. Royal Sheen, Tarim, Lucy Grey, Red Siren, Michael Molloy, Whakamoa, Palisade and Eiffel Tower. Terrific was at the tail of the field with Re-Echo. Lucy Gray was taken forward quickly to lead into the last half-mile but Apa passed her and came to the front again on the home turn. A moment earlier Cassarook, Honestly and Palisade had struck trouble but Michael Molloy had found a clear path. A furlong out Michael Molloy was holding a short lead, but it seemed that the would not have anything left to deal ;with a mounting challenge .from Palisade.

Red Siren charged forward on Palisade’s right, and the

crowd then was treated to a brilliant and gamely sustained three-sided struggle. The 19-year-old Murray Long was the youngest of the three jockeys in the finish, but no-one could have ridden more coolly. When he found that Michael Molloy was not going-very well under the whip Long concentrated on hands and heels and the Waikato stayer had just enough left for a nose victory.

Red Siren was third half a neck behind Palisade, and unchallenged for that position. Royal Sheen and Terrific, the first two in the Auckland

Cup, were closest to the dividend payers, separated by about a length. Terrific had made a big run from the back in the last three furlongs to finish less than three lengths from the winner.

Midnight Kiss and Re-Echo were two more strong finishers close up on Terrific and clear of Fremont, Geyser Land, Apa and Cassarook. Eiffel Tower was one of the most expensive failures in the race. He was the fourth favourite, and he raised hopes when he made some progress from a fairly handy rails position near the home turn, but he was beaten on straightening up and finished eighteenth, two positions ahead of Polo Prince, another attempting a second victory over the distance.