TROTTING Southern Song In Surprise Win

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31363, 8 May 1967, Page 6

TROTTING Southern Song In Surprise Win

Southern Song, which returned from Australia about three weeks ago, upset calculations with a narrow win over Co Pilot and Humphrey in the Leo Fahey Handicap at Forbury Park on Saturday night.

R. Young had Southern Song beautifully positioned behind the pace-maker until the final furlong. He then fought on best to win by a short head.

Southern Song is raced on lease from Mrs A. D. Dean, of Auckland, by his Papanui trainer, C.

McDonald. He is a six-year-old gelding by Flying Song from Spring Edition.

Southern Song’s win on Saturday qualified him for the next New Zealand Cup. McDonald last spring took a big team to Sydney, where he campaigned with considerable success, Southern Song winning two races. He returned with some of them

about three weeks ago and had immediate success with Blue Tryax and the two-year-old Cardinal Garrison. Southern Song will probably finish the season with a race at the Canterbury Park meeting on May 27. Admire set a solid pace in driving rain, with Humphrey outside Southern Song. Nocatchem, Doug’s Choice, Co Pilot and Lochgair were close up, clear of the others, headed by Fielder.

There was little change racing to the straight, where Humphrey had a slender lead. Southern Song joined him early in the run home, with Co Pilot making a late claim. Southern Song maintained his short lead to the finish where he had a short head to spare over Co Pilot. Humphrey was only a nose back third.

Fielder, after losing ground at the start, was five lengths back fourth after failing to flatter his many supporters. Nocatchem, Master Alan, which was never a threat, and Lochgair were next. The win favourite, Chequer Board, was slow away and did not reach a challenging position. Bob Again and Cuddle Doon lost ground.

Made Amends Atanui, a desperately unlucky sixth in her race the previous week, was not troubled to win the second leg, the Victoria Handicap. The Southern Song-Atanui combination paid £372 8s for £l. There were 645 successful 5s tickets. Atanui was pushed three wide after about half a mile and W. E. Lowe sprinted her up to take control with one mile left. She was pacing easily from then and although she won by only a long neck, she was not seriously tested in the run home.

Airborne was always in the first four or five and she ran on boldly once properly clear in the run home. She took second by a head from Major Bright, which came on boldly along the inside under a stern drive. Guyfa finished solidly for a close fourth, ahead of Yankee Dandy, Vantage and Fort Nelson.

Vantage was not really a danger after having every chance. Fort Nelson was one of the slowest beginners and made a little ground. Meadow Bank, Dryden Smoke, Third Chief and Anterior gave ground at the start.