Never Again By Neck

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31329, 28 March 1967, Page 4

Never Again By Neck

Never Again overcame difficulties to win the Champagne Stakes at Riccarton yesterday for a Timaru-Ash-burton - ChristchurchPalmerston North partnership. Never Again shaped as if she could become one of the bargains of the 1966 sales with this win, her third for Messrs F. C. McNee, C. R. C. Woodham, G. C. Baker, and N. Beder. Her win yesterday was worth £650 and took her earnings to £lO4O, and she has became the star of a likely team trained at Riccarton by D. J. Thistoll. She was bought for 400gns. Never Again belongs to the first crop sired by the imported Never Give Up and is related to Cadiz, which finished his two-ye<ar-old racing with a win

in the C.J.C. Champagne Stakes in 1959.

The stable apprentice R. K. Moir was sent out with instructions not to hit the Never Give Up filly behind the saddle, and Moir obeyed them to the letter. Never Again had to survive a brilliant late challenge from Ngatua. but lasted well for a neck victory. Moir said he had worrying moments during the race while in cramped quarters behind the second favourite, Canny Day. At the time she was one off the rails and about a length ahead of Ngatua, which jumped out well but took time to get balanced and drifted to the rear. When J. A. Messent, on Ngatua, s<aw Moir in difficulties on Never Again he realised there was little hope of a run through for him, and he brought the big Trovato gelding out for a run down the outside. It was anyone’s race going to the furlong, where Shewetta

was clinging to a slight lead from Canny Day. Never Again had just secured an opening to mount her challenge and was going more strongly than Summer Dale, which was wider out. Shewetta was beaten in a few strides, and Never Again quickly mastered Canny Day. Ngatua made a brilliant bid to save the race for a South Canterbury stable, and he was not disgraced in going under to a good filly. Summer Dale nosed out Canny Day for third. Golden Feathers, one of those in a challenging position a furlong and a half out, could not make further progress and finished fifth. Billy Joe, which had trailed on the inside from the early stages of the race, was sixth clear of. the tiring Shewetta.