TROTTING Miles Gentry Outstays Louisson Hep Field

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31761, 19 August 1968, Page 4

TROTTING Miles Gentry Outstays Louisson Hep Field

Miles Gentry continued the run of success for North Island stables in major events at Addington Raceway in the last few years when he caught i Snowline close to home and beat her by half a neck in the Louisson Handi* cap on Saturday.

P. T. Wolfenden waited near the middle of the field until as late as possible before asking Mr H. S. Barry’s five-year-old to set out after the leaders.

He gradually bridged the gap and finished in a most determined manner to win narrowly, recording 3:26 1-5 for the 13 furlongs. This time was one-fifth of a second faster than he recorded last November when he won the Allan Matson Stakes at the New Zealand Cup meeting. Miles Gentry was a moder-ately-backed third favourite. He paid $9 for a win and $2.75 for a place. Miles Gentry, by the wellperformed Dillon Hall horse, Gentry, from Dawnlight, will contest the National Handicap on the second day of the meeting next Saturday before returning home to continue his preparation for the $20,000 New Zealand Cup on November 12. Few excuses could be offered for the beaten horses.

Snowline, the outsider but one, went close to causing a major upset. D. G. Jones had her in fifth place, one off the fence and three places in front of Miles Gentry for most of the way. She mastered the leaders, Mister Chips, Atanui and Co Pilot, early in the run home. Snowline came to the end of her run only a few yards from the finish and she could not hold off Miles Gentry’s final challenge. Firm Favourite Humphrey did best of the favourite bracket paraded by the Hinds trainer, W. E. Lowe by finishing third, a length from Snowline. He had all but two of the field in front of him at the half-mile and it was late when he put in an appearance. He finished in great style. Co Pilot, after receiving a charmed rails run on the home turn, held on for fourth half a neck away and a head in front of the stablemates, Atanui and Corwar, which dead-heated for fifth.

Then there was a length to Good Chase, which could not quicken in the run home He was forced three wide near

the mile post and then moved up to vie for the lead with Atanui a furlong later. He was pushed three wide again near the three furlongs, so he was far from disgraced. Bass Strait, Spry and Great Adios were reasonably close up next. Great Adios began to move up three wide from the half mile, but could not carry on in the straight The race will improve him. Good Chase lost a length or two at the start while Corwar and Mister Chips also gave a little ground. Thunder Royal pulled hard early and broke when in the open after half a mile. Decisive

Direct Globe, the tenth favourite for a win, gained his first win since January, 1967, when he beat Johnny Gee most convincingly in the Christchurch Handicap, the second leg of the main double. B. G. Nyhan had Direct Globe close to the leaders all the way. He strode clear about the furlong post and did not really look like being caught. Johnny Gee followed Direct Globe for most of the race. He made a game but vain

effort to overhaul him inside the furlong and finished a length and a half back. Uteena, the least-fancied of a bracket paraded by O. M. Quinlan, made up a lot of ground for third, recording a most impressive effort. Aronmot, bracketed with her, broke badly before the end of a furlong. Rannach Lad did best of the North Island horses in the race He was awkwardly placed on the inside for most of the way and came home strongly for fourth, a nose from Uteena. Towser, handy all the w r ay, was a length further back and a neck in front of the fast-finishing Logan Count, which made up much ground after breaking at the end of 100 yards. Single Cash was another to make ground towards the finish. He drifted badly early and then ran into the back of Uteena’s sulky near the six furlongs. He was seventh shading Tony Bear and Aronmot.

Mighty Chief broke at the straight entrance when fairly handy, while Dispense and Seven Nights made mistakes in the first furlong.