£431 T.A.B. Double At Trentham

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31323, 20 March 1967, Page 6

£431 T.A.B. Double At Trentham

Sparkling Maid and Nenagh, after fourths in the corresponding races a week earlier, won the T.A.B. double at Trentham on Saturday at odds of 430 to one.

Sparkling Maid was a distant fourth behind Terrific in the H. R. Chalmers Handicap on the first day of the Wellington autumn meeting, and few thought she could win at a mile and a half on Saturday. In this, her first win since September, she paid £44 6s 6d and £lO 4s 6d. Sparkling Maid was well ridden by the 16-year-old J. F. Harris. Harris found a gap for Sparkling Maid just in front of Empyreus, and that won the race for him. Empyreus was the fastest finisher and his unlucky minor placing could be the forerunner of an Easter win in the North Island.

Empyreus was the top autumn three-year-old two years ago. He struck a lean patch in Australia, but he is now back to his best.

Olympian, a light-weight from the powerful Ropiha stable, and the outsider but one of the field, looked as if he might win when he reached the front for a few strides near the furlong. Empyreus nosed him out of second, and his place backers shared a £2O 7s dividend. Honestly and the Blenheimtrained Careen were in a small gap fourth and fifth. Terrific and Bardowie, the two best-backed runners, were seventh and eighth. LEFT IN FRONT G. F. Hughes hurried Terrific along from the inside from the start, but found himself left with the pace-making until Castle Dee pulled his way into the lead near the seven furlongs. Terrific came to the front again before the home turn but was beaten mi straightening up.

Udare chased Terrific around the home turn, but had nothing left at the two furlongs, and faded to 14th.

Plans to race Udare at Riccarton at Easter have been abandoned. He and High Glee will be taken back to Matamata. YOUNGEST WINS The three-year-old Nenagh, the youngest in the field, won the Suburban Handicap by half a length from the fasterfinishing Serena, which looked hopelessly out of it on the home turn. Tuam tore away to a lead of three lengths coming to the home turn, and had most of the others in difficulties on straightening up. Carlsberg, the each way favourite, carried Nenagh and the others closer to Tuam going to the furlong, but he was only plodding in third position at the end. He just beat Tuam. There was a length and a half to Classical Glow, which just beat Prince Hagen.

FAILED IN MUD Loofah, which had failed in the mud in the Thompson Handicap a week earlier, won the Hutt Handicap brilliantly for his Levin owner-trainer, Mr A. O’Malley. M. A. Long made a spectacular bid to “steal” the race on Kintyre. The Trentham chestnut was out by five lengths at the half-mile, and still held a long lead on the home turn, but Loofah caught him near the furlong and beat him decisively by a length. Tara’s Pride, another failure in the conditions on the first day, came back with one of his best runs for third under 8.10. He was clear of the others, which were led in by Feiramor and Surf Boy. Pheroz Pride did nothing to encourage her backers. After being slow away she finished 11th in a field of 12.