Yamaha Dismal Failure At Ellerslie

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31519, 6 November 1967, Page 5

Yamaha Dismal Failure At Ellerslie

"The Press” Special Service AUCKLAND. Many of the on-courso bettors who helped make Yamaha a hot favourite for the Welcome Stakes at Ellerslie on Saturday would have “sold out** cheerfully even before the field left the start. With mulish display at the barrier Yamaha showed himself in no mood for racing and he finished last of the nine runners. With Yamaha's failure betters lost 112,350—m0re than a third of the $33,968 wagered on the race. Honey Belle, which won decisively from Elabama and Te Kura, was the third favourite and carried $5390. Yamaha won by seven lengths in the first of two previous starts and having been successful meanwhile in the Wellesley Stakes at Trentham he looked a great prospect under the set-weight conditions of the Welcome Stakes. He went to the post well enough but. whatever the reason, took unkindly to the starting gates and hardly raised a gallop afterwards. Yamaha broke through the gates and after being partly secured again he was lucky to escape injury when he reared and became caught up by his forelegs. He eventually jumped away cleanly but had drifted to be out of the race before they were in the straight. An inquiry by the judicial! committee which questioned the rider. R. J. Skelton, the trainer, W. J. Bromby. and the starter, Mr B. H. Morris, failed to find an explanation for Yamaha's behaviour. A report by a veterinary surgeon said that the colt showed no sign of soreness after the race. In his best form Yamaha would have found Honey Belle, a half-sister to Star Belle, a tough opponent. After trailing the pacemakers Mayo Gold, Te Kura, and Lady Defence, to the straight Honey Belle came strongly through a gap on the Inside and although Elabama tried hard, well out towards the centre, the result was settled half a furlong from the post. Honey Belle won by two lengths and a half. Elabama was a clear second from Te Kura. Third, fourth and fifth was close. Fair Test and Shantung being almost alongside Te Kura. Mr Fagan continued the excellent run of success being enjoyed by the Cambridge trainer. W. W. Townsend, when he outstayed Tatua and Punjabi in the Alison Cup. the leg of the T.A.B. double. The second leg. the Cheltenham Handicap, was won narrowly by the Cambridge three-year-old. Ben Lomond. In a great finish he just beat Pacific Cross. Merrymen and Rainfall. The double dividend for $1 was $83.65. Light showers fell earlier in the day but the track still offered fast footing. Results: TAKAPUNA HANDICAP $2000; Im. 9 7 ARRAGON LAD fl) car. 8 8 K. Smith 1 7 6 ROMANIC (21), car 7-13 A. J. Sheat 2 1/5 MARYGRAD (14) car. 8-li A. E. Ford 3 Scratched: Dark Arrow, Highland Rebel. Miss Arayn. Fair Velvet, High Wind. Fair Betts. Neck: long head. Don s Delight fourth. Time: 1:37 2-5. Win: $ll 70. Places: $4.15. $4.10, $3.85. Bracket: Romanic and Sir Stephen. TIRI HURDLES $2000: l|m and 160yds. 4 4 TROSSACH car. 9 4 R. J. Leggett 1 2'l LAST COUNT (2) 9-8 C. R. Lewis 2

2/1 CLASSIFIED (2) 9 13 P. R. Wilson 3 Scratched: Able Queen. Master Lewis. Two lengths and a half; three lengths. The Prophet fourth. Time: 3:16. Win: $9.20. Places: $3.30, $1.20. Bracket: Classified and Last Count. CHAMPION HANDICAP $2200; 7f. 9/11 KALGOORLIE (4) 8-5 B K. Long 1 2/2 HONOUR ME (8) 8-2 G. R. Edge 2 10/9 TIKI FILOU (11) 8-2 C. E Underhill 3 Scratched: Elbejay, Golden Dane, Sharab. Dasheen, Blue Demon, Citrine, Decorama, Eastern Fleet. Two lengths and a quarter: same Malpensa fourth. Time: 1:25 4-5. Win. $22.55. Places: $6.80, $1.95, $5.35.

WELCOME STAKES $4000; 4}f. 3/3 HONEY BELLE (7) 82 _ N. D. Landers 1 2/2 ELABAMA (6) 8-2 N. B. Holland 2 4/4 TE KURA (3) 8-7 B. F. Andrews 3 Scratched: Honeywin, Wally’s Choice, Morning Star. Two and a half lengths, one and a quarter lengths. Fair Test fourth. Time: 53.0. Win: $5.40. Places: $1.65, $1.40, $2. ALISON CUP $5000: Ilf. 6/5 MR FAGAN <9) 7-9 M. A. Long 1 5/6 TATUA (2) 84 J. F. Grylls 2 11/9 PUNJABI (8) 7-11 B. F. Andrews 3 Others in finishing order: 1/1 Geyser Land, 3/2 Bright Chief, 16/16 Irma Fox, 13/12 What You Will, 8/7 Draco, 7/8 Grand Filou, 12/13 Apa, 4/4 Ariosto, 14/14 Dolce Vita. 9/11 Ironbark, 2/3 Dee Dee, 10/10 Roman Consul, 15/15 Nooranee. Length, half length. Time: 2:19. Win: $9.45. Places: $2.85, $3. $5.95. MELROSE HANDICAP $2600; 6f. First Division 1/1 BOSTON BOY (1) car. 8-5 G. P. Chitty 1 2/2 KAY MARIE (17) car. 7-13 K. B. Opie 2 66 MR RUDD J. S. Humphries 3 Scratched: Burnt Amber, Dartmoor. Ganet. Lochcourt, Pharabar, Ujinx. Length, three-quar-ters of a length. Rodeda fourth. Time: 1:14. Win: $2.85. Places: $1.75, $1.90.

Second Division 10/10 EVEN ONE (2) 8-6 A. J. Sheat 1 3/5 STATUTE (21) 8 4 R. C. Lang 2 11/11 RED MENTAL 8-4 N. D. Landers 3 Scratched: For Sake, Fair Flash, Celeus. Five and a half lengths, half a head. Ladro fourth. Time: 1:13. Win: $10.35. Places: $4.80, $2.80. Brackets: Kay Marie and Ladro, Statute and Rocheda. CHELTENHAM HANDICAP. $2700; 6f. 2/3 BEN LOMOND (17) 7-7 B. F. Andrews 1 5/4 PACIFIC CROSS (15) 7-8 R. T. Heaslip 2 9/9 MERRY MEN (13) 7-8 D. R. Sanderson 3 Others in finishing order:— 7/7 Rainfall, 11/11 Springlo, 6/6 Alkaid, 15/13 Honestly, 1/2 Barellan, 8/8 Rue Royale, 14/16 Misere, 16/15 Master Defence, 4/5 Amie, 3/5 Valiant Rebel, 13/ 12 Unpainted, 12/14 Chino, 17/17 Bywon, 10/10 Chief Warrier. Half head, half head. Time: 1:13 1-5. Win: $5.60. Places: $2.50, $2.60, $5.75. PONUI HANDICAP $2400; Im. 11/12 GOLDEN DEFOE (3) 8-11 D. R. Sanderson 1 5/5 PHEROZ PRIDE (4) 810 J. P. Riordan 2 1/3 FOXVALE (14) car. 7-lli

R. J. Skelton 3 Scratched: Wiri, Forebrace, Schoolmate, El Tombo. Half a length, one length. Hi Value fourth. Time: 1:38. Win: $56.40. Places: $11.15, $3.15, $l.BO.