Baloo Runs Second N.Z. Record

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31519, 6 November 1967, Page 4

Baloo Runs Second N.Z. Record

Baloo should add another gold cup to an impressive collection when he contests the Canterbury Gold Cup at Riccarton on Wednesday. Mrs P. J. Borthwick’s spritely 10-year-old consolidated his position as favourite for the Canterbury Jockey Club’s $5200 limited handicap with a record-breaking winning run in the Riccarton Handicap on New Zealand Cup Day.

In Mrs Borthwick's Masterton home there are already seven gold cups which Baloo —often referred to as as little horse with springs in his feet—has won. The $l3OO he earned for first in the Riccarton Handicap brought his total stake earnings very close to the $50,000 mark. Mrs Borthwick was not at Riccarton on Saturday to see her diminutive Khorassan gelding—he is just 15 hands and half-an-inch high—establish his second New Zealand record, but she will be here on Wednesday when he attempts to win his third Canterbury Gold Cup. Baloo’s Imin 49 2-ssec for the nine furlongs on Saturday was one second faster than the previous best, set by Studio at Riccarton in 1961, and one second slower than Winfreux’s Australian and New Zealand record established at Caulfield in 1965. The other New Zealand record which Baloo holds is 2min 1 2-ssec for a mile and a quarter, set when he won his first Feilding Cup as a five-year-old in 1963.

prize was Rahpete. But his close sixth in the Waimairi High-weight, his first race since January, was the effort of an early improver. The combined efforts of the other four, including Baloo, brought in $4560. Jane Blithe, which won the Hagley Handicap in style in the colours of her trainer, will do her future racing in open company. This smart Janus mare will run against the milers in the Jockey Club Handicap on Wednesday. Runaway Win Tainoch, which C. E. Goss prepares at Awapuni for Mr L. A. Broad, started the day right for North Island stables with a runaway win in the Waimairi High-weight. Although considered only a useful and consistent performer in his home district, he made his southern rivals look sec-ond-rate in the first leg of the on-course concession double. Honours in the second leg, the Spring Plate, went to Jean Armour from Riccarton’s Shipmaster. Jean Armour, a filly by Ayrshire Bard from Agathis and an entrant for the New Zealand Oaks next Saturday, is prepared at Otaki by the former Southland steeplechase jockey, J. N. Morton, who races her in partnership with his wife.

Sound Effort Although Court Belle was second in a gap of three lengths behind Baloo on Saturday her performance under top-weight of 9-3—she was conceding the winner 121 braised raised hopes of a Southland victory in one of the major handicaps later at the meeting. Riccarton's Pharasal also turned in a first-class performance for he came from far back for a close third.

The Tainoch—Jean Armour combination paid $27.10 for $l. The supporters of Tainoch and Shipmaster received $7.75 for $l. Jean Armour was one of three successful mounts for W. D. Skelton. His other winning rides were Weenell and High Delight H. N. Rauhihi and L. K. Tinsley rode two winners each. Rauhihi’s successful mounts were Baloo and Jane Blithe, and Tinsley rode Laramie and Jazz.

Baloo rounded off a highly successful day for the powerful Woodville stable of E. Rophia, who brought a fivehorse team south for the meeting. The only member of the team which failed to earn a