TROTTING Waitaki Elect Wins Race Named After Brother

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31755, 12 August 1968, Page 5

TROTTING Waitaki Elect Wins Race Named After Brother

Waitaki Elect made an auspicious race debut when he held off La Guardia and Local Lie in a close finish to the Waitaki Hanover Stakes at the Kurow Trotting Club’s annual meeting at Oamaru on Saturday.

The race Was named after Waitaki Hanover, a brother of the winner, and the winner of more than $55,000 in stakes. Waitaki Hanover, which is to do stud duty in the Kurow district this spring, led the field out on to the track. His brother’s win was well received by the large crowd.

Waitaki Elect is trained at Woolston by A. J. Bourne for Mrs J. Smith, of Christchurch, and her son, Mr F. Smith, of Kurow, who gave a trophy valued at $2O, which was attached to the race. Mrs Smith and her son race Waitaki Elect on lease from Mrs A. Munro, of Otematata, whose late husband raced a number of good winners, including Waitaki Child. Waitaki Elect, which could not qualify at Addington Raceway last Thursday, gave R. Young trouble before the start, but the field was dispatched just as he walked in and halted. He got away splendidly and trailed Local Lie most of the way, with La Guardia, a former stablemate of the winner, close up. La Guardia lost his position through racing greenly near the three furlongs. Secondary Waitaki Elect and Local Lie were having a great battle in the straight when La Guardia came again. In a splendid finish Waitaki Elect beat the faster-finishing La Guardia by

a head, Local Lie fighting back for third a similar distance back. The win favourite, Clandeboye, made ground for fourth, but he was two lengths away, just ahead of True Forbes and Prince Forbes.

The first four place-getters will meet again on August 24 in the Canterbury Stakes at Addington Raceway.

Main Double

The Auckland-owned Ten Grand and Betsy Morano had the finish to the Kurow Cup to themselves. Ten Grand broke hopelessly and must have lost 60 yards at the start, but the slow pace set first by Benmore and then by Johnny Kawa allowed J. L. Behrns to improve with Ten Grand and he looped the field without much apparent effort. Ten Grand raced to the front near the mile and the other drivers were content to let him dictate his own pace from then. It was left to Betsy Morano to offer the most serious challenge in the run home, but Ten Grand fought on to beat her by a head.

Johnny Kawa came gamely on the inside for third almost five lengths behind Betsy Morano. Benmore and Young Miss were fairly close up next, ahead of Patriarch’s Son, Showpiece and the favite, Seafieid Countess, which looked to have every chance. Second Leg The dominating favourite. Beat Time, had no difficulty winning the second leg, the Don Memorial Handicap, and so qualify to start in the 2:16 class races at Addington Race-

way the next two Saturdays. Beat Time broke and dropped to second last in a small field. He improved to second after about three furlongs and led for a short time soon after, surrendering the role of pacemaker to Dark Rival with more than a mile left.

Beat Time mastered Dark Rival early in the run home

and came on to win with ease by three lengths. Dark Rival lasted to beat the faster-fin-ishing Arkle by a nose for second. Young Lad made ground for fourth a length away, a nose in front of Dawn Peterson. Then came Stormy Lane and Alray, neither of which looked dangerous. The second favourite, Bay Boa, lost his chance at the start.