Dark Song Narrow Winner

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31677, 13 May 1968, Page 4

Dark Song Narrow Winner

“The Press" Special Sereice WELLINGTON. Dark Song, a lastminute riding engagement for the lightweight rider, K. Reggett, scored by inches in one of the closest finishes at Trentham for years in the Waterloo Handicap on Saturday. Six horses crossed the line with barely a neck from first to sixth, and Dark SOng won the race with the last run. Reggett, engaged only after he had ridden In the previous race, had Dark Song racing keenly in fifth place to the turn. The big horse fell back then, however, and seemed spent, but Reggett was merely pulling him out into firmer ground. Once he reached It he came home brilliantly, snatching the verdict from Master Brynn In the last stride or two.

Master Brynn, which had eomo from further back, looked the winner until his rider lost his whip a few yards from the line. Close up third was the firstday winner, Whitl Te Ra, which again was paoemaker. He still had command at the furlong, but was under pressure, and answered very gamely. Inches behind, Manana was fourth, finishing well from fifth, some three lengths behind the leaders on the turn. Last of this bunch, and possibly the unluckleet, was Lucky Rebel. He had a good run on the inner all the way but it rebounded against him when the leaders packed up and he could net get through until the last moment Barely a length behind the first six. Wingman was « creditable seventh. He ran a bold race in second place for much of the journey and seems an early improver. Next was Worthy Chat, also a likely Improver when he strikes looser going. Proud Chief bad the trail to the turn, but was done with at the furiong and finished ninth.

Dark Song, a big, handsome dark brown gelding, is trained at Hastings by his owners, Messrs G. and M. J. Kelt Profitable Venture

He has been a profitable venture for them and be could be an outstanding prospect if they decide to resume his hurdle career this winter.

Like the second and third horses, Dark Song is by a colonial sire. Red Jester. Master Brynn is by Nottingham and Whitl Te Ra by Broie Martla. History repeated itself when Dunraven won the second leg, the Port Nicholson Handicap, and completed an $B2 double.

As be did last year, Dunraven failed In the shorter Wadestown Handicap on the first day. The race obviously Improved him, and he left no question about the best horse In the Port Nicholson. R. W. Taylor elected not to take advantage of the little chestnut’s tremendous speed and settled him behind the

pacemakers to the three fur longs. Close Up From there he improved quickly and was only a length behind the leader, Terramycin, on the turn. Wide on the track for the better 'ground, be forged ahead and won by two lengths from the firstday winner Redaire, which

came from near the rear at the half-mile. The outsider, Free Pass, seventh at the half-mile, finished strongly to snatch third from Terramycin in the last stride. Archimedes battled into fifth and Gayspot, which lost ground at the start, was next Dunraven, which carried top-weight of 8-10, is an entire by Resurgent from Cuppa. He is trained at Wanganui by his part-owner, Mr K. L. Breuer, who races him with a business partner, Mr C. L. Battersby. Little rain had fallen since the first day of the meeting and the ground was very holding. The weather was fine and the attendance 8580, against 9800 last year. On-course betting totalled $260,143, against $304,799 last year, a drop of $44,656. The on-course total for the meeting was $396,734, a decrease of $112,600.