RAJAH SAHIB

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31660, 22 April 1968, Page 5

RAJAH SAHIB

Easiest Win “The Press*' Special Service AUCKLAND. One minute and a half was all Rajah Sahib required in trouncing his opponents in the Wills Championship Stakes at Ellerslie on Saturday afternoon, to become the top two-year-old of the autumn. Even his greatest admirers could not have anticipated that he would deal with Mayo Gold and the rest so severely. Rajah Sahib was quickest out of the barrier and, after trailing Mayo Gold, ran away in the straight to win as he liked. The margin was eight lengths, achieved with only the gentlest encouragement of his rider, H. N. Rauhihi. It is hard to recall a two-year-old event of any importance having been won as easily. Mayo Gold ran well enough on the outside of Ralah Sahib until the home turn. Her rider, J. MacDonald, then had to urge her to keep up. She matched Rajah Sahib for half a furlong or so. but then fell away and in moments Rajah Sahib was out on his own. Dead tired, Mayo Gold faltered and it seemed for a bit just inside the last furlong that she might drop back to fourth behind her stablemate. Toogara. and Mitamit. But she rallied gamelv when pressed and held second by a long neck, Toogara was a length better than Mitamit. which had little to spare from Palamos and Fashion Plate. THIRD SUCCESS As well as collecting one of the biggest stakes for two-year-olds, Ralah Sahib rounded off a remarkable hat-trick of wins at the Auckland autumn meeting. On the first day he took the first division of the Onslow Stakes by a length and on the second he won the Victoria Handicap by eight lengths. In the three starts he gathered 97470 in stakes, all of which goes to the Woodville trainer. E. Ropiha, who is the owner of the colt and the breeder as well.