Upset By Towser

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31307, 1 March 1967, Page 5

Upset By Towser

Towser, a fair sixth under free-for-all conditions on the first night of the meeting, caused a minor upset when he beat Forward March and Uteena in a tight finish to the Worthy Queen Handicap, .first leg of the T.A.B. double.

Towser, the 6/7 favourite of 14, paid £l3 4s 6d and £3 18s for a win and place. He is raced by Mr R. J. McDonald, of Christchurch.

He was given the run of the race by his driver D. C. Watts. At the end of two furlongs the hot favourite, French Pass, was put out of the race. He ran into the back of the breaking Red Medallion, was pushed right out the back and was eventually pulled up. Irish Earl led out but Russell took over at the end of four furlongs. It was not long before he had a lead of six lengths. D. C. Watts sent Towser after him approaching the bell lap and he had Towser tucked in behind Russell five furlongs out. At this stage Break Through was third but three lengths away, then In close order came Rannach Lad, Uteena and Forward March. Johnny Gee was three places further back, behind Irish Earl and Frisky. Russell began to tire on the home turn and Towser quickly ran past him. As they started the run home Uteena and Forward March tried to bridge the gap and Forward March nearly succeeded.

She missed completing a double for the meeting by a head and Uteena was a neck away third. Johnny Gee made ground for fourth but was three lengths away. Loyal Knight, a four-year-old entire by D’Artagnan, owned by Mr P. R. Stevens, of Raglan, proved the best stayer in the Moera Handicap, second leg of the double. Loyal Knight was the second favourite of 14 and rounded off a £179 3s double with Towser.

Loyal Knight, which does all his training on the aerodrome at Raglan, came south with a reputation of being a sound stayer. He proved that with an all-the-way win. The best of his rivals was Morris Scot, one of the tailenders for much of the race but which ran on strongly in the last half mile and took second. He was half a neck from the winner and three parts of a length ahead of Wee Herb, which was well back for a start but fourth equal with half a mile to run. Loyal Light, which improved from the middle to follow Loyal Knight and Gaylee on the home turn, was a close fourth. Frosty Heather came late on the scene for a fair fifth and Colours Flying, which was buried on the inside for most of the race, led in the others. The favourite. Gaylee, which took up the chase after Loyal Knight three furlongs out. was a weakening seventh. '