Rough Race At Ellerslie

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31590, 30 January 1968, Page 5

Rough Race At Ellerslie

“The Press” Special Service AUCKLAND.

Roman Consul improved considerably on the form he had shown since the spring when he won the W. S. Spence Handicap, the first leg of the T.A.B. double at Ellerslie yesterday.

As a result of jostling in the last five furlongs the judicial committee held three inquiries into the race. One, concerning alleged interference by Roman Consul, delayed the payment of dividends for three-quarters of an hour.

It was alleged that Roman Consul, which was first home by half a length, caused Arbroath. Castle Dee and Punjabi to be checked with a furlong to go. The judicial committee also inquired into alleged interference by Kurrewa to Ariosto and Arbroath on the home turn and- into Dee Dee being checked near the five furlongs.

Arbroath was the runner-up, behind Roman Consul and was unlucky. He was pushed back about the half-mile and had to go wide on the home turn. His rider, G. F. Hughes, had him on what seemed a winning run when he struck trouble in the straight. Roman Consul was eighth at the mile and closer coming to the straight. He escaped trouble and, once clear in the last half-furlong, ran on very solidly. It was something like the form which made him one of the good three-year-olds during 1965-66. In those days Roman Consul was trained at Woodville by E. Ropiha. He is now prepared by G. W. B. Greene, of Takanini. He was ridden by R. T. Heaslip, an apprentice attached to Greene’s stable. As had been his habit lately, Nipawin was painfully slow to get going and only a wellsustained run in the last two furlongs got him a share of the stake. Punjabi also made ground from a long way back to head Valiant Rebel, which had trailed the pace-maker, Mali Peter. Both City Court and Dee Dee, the first and second favourites, were, to all intents and purposes, out of the race half a mile from home when smothered well back on the inside. Dee Dee finished eighth and City Court tenth. Prince Petary rounded off a double of $143.20 with Roman Consul when he caught Kalgoorlie in the last few strides and took the Devonport Handicap by half a head. Kalgoorlie, after making the pace, looked certain to win as he began the last furlong. But Prince Petary, with W. D. Skelton riding him very hard, wore down Kalgoorlie inch by inch until just short of the post, where he dived ahead. A three-year-old colt, trained by R. J. Wallace, who also prepares Mayo Gold, Prince Petary had won the Electric Handicap during the Auckland summer meeting and had finished fourth in the Railway Handicap. He would have been most unlucky to lose yesterday because a check near the halfmile cost him much ground. Pharlon, although third, ran disappointingly and managed only by a neck to keep out Tolly.

The conditions after early rain became pleasant, the

weather fine and warm and the track only slightly easy. Results: MOANA HANDICAP $2000; 61. 6/7 INNES LADY (7) 7-10. B. S. Compton 1 5/6 MING ROSE (10) 7-8 D. A. Peake 2 8/9 FOR SAKE (14) 7-7 N. D. Riordan 3 Scratched: Spi. Half a head, three-quarters of a length. Golden Dane fourth. Time: 1:13. Win: $19.15. Places: $4.65, $4, $5.

ROBERT GRAHAM HIGHAVEIGHT $2000: Ilf. 11/11 CASH IN (3) 9-0 . B. E. Craig 1 1/2 HOA (1) 10-1 K. A. Old 2 2/1 SKYMASTER (5) 9-10 R. J. Fergus 3 Scratched: Red Montal. One length and a half, nose. Apolima fourth. Time: 2:24 3-5. Win: $34.45. Places: $7.30, $2. $1.95. W. S. SPENCE HANDICAP $4000; Um. 12/12 ROMAN CONSUL (8) 7-10 R. T. Heaslip 1 6/7 ARBROATH (2) 8-5 G. F. Hughes 2 3/3 NIPAWIN (5) 7-11 N. D. Landers 3 Others in finishing order: 16/15 Punjabi, 8/9 Valiant Rebel, 11/18 Kurrewa, 5/5 Second Sight, 2/2 Dee Dee, 14/14 Castle Dee, 1/1 City Court, 15/16 Sunset Fair, 10/10 El Tombo, 9/11 Mali Peter, 7/6 Gold Dowa, 13/13 Ariosto, 4/4 Misere. Half a length, three-quarters of a length. Time: 2:6 3-5. Win: $18.65. Places: $5.80, $4.30, $3.60. ECLIPSE STAKES $4000; 6f. 2/2 MAYO GOLD (1) 8-7 J. Macdonald 1 10/10 LERONIC (13) 7-6 B. S. Compton 2 5/3 TESSA BELLA (14) 7-6 D. F. Andrews 3 Scratched: Dan Dee. Chenab, Honey Brae. Two lengths, one length and a quarter. Mitamit fourth. Time: 1:13. Win: $6.95. Places: $2.10, $9.20, $2.20.

DEVONPORT HANDICAP, $2500; 6f. 3/2 PRINCE PETARY (3) 7-11 W. D. Skelton 1 1/1 KALGOORLIE (11) 8-10

B. K. iLong 2 2/3 PHARLON (2) 7-13. D. A. Peake 3 Others in finishing order:— 6/6 Tolly. 5/5 Merry Men. 4/4 Ruakiwi Lass, 7/7 Lord Ted, 8/8 Sir Oman. Half head, two lengths and a half. Time: 1:12 3-5. Win: $4.70. Places: $l5O. $1.40, $1.60. SHORTLAND PLATE, $2200; Im. 1/1 SPRING FILOU (4) 8 5 G. R. Edge 1 4/3 ALCANTUS (7) 8-0 B. S. Compton 2 14/14 BOSTON BOY (11) 7-7 G. P. Chitty 3 All started. One length and a half, half a length. Bellette fourth. Time: 1:36. Win: $3.25. Places: $1.65, $2.10, $12.45. HAURAKI HANDICAP, $2000; Um. 2/4 HIGHLAND REBEL (6) 7-11 G. R. Edge 1 7/6 HAPPY RETURN (3) car 7-8 R. Macdonald 2 5/5 ARRALUCA (5) car 7-12} J. P. Riordan 3 Scratched: Woodlark, Fairzami. Lady Banda, Ursa Queen, Melanion's Pride. Half a head, same. Ternarius fourth. Time: 2:7 4-5.» Win: $6.75. Places: $2.90, $4.15, $3.55. SUBURBAN HANDICAP, $2000! 7f. 1/1 MARYGRAD (11) car 8-5 D. W. Blake 1 9/9 ROCHEDA (16) car 7-12 R. J. Skelton 2 4/4 GAY GARDEN (10) car 7-4 J. Macdonald 3 Scratched: Mintie. Double Image, Acrylic. One length and a half, head. Sunflight fourth. Time: 1:26. Win: $3.35. Places:. $1.85, $5.85, $3.20.