TROTTING Good Chase Too Strong For Great Adios

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31767, 26 August 1968, Page 4

TROTTING Good Chase Too Strong For Great Adios

Good Chase graduated to within one distance win of New Zealand Cup class when he outclassed a strong field in the National Handicap at Addington Raceway on Saturday. Great Adios confirmed some bold train* ing runs by finishing second, just ahead of Mister Chips and Miles Gentry.

Good Chase fell from favour a little when be finished seventh, three lengths from the winner, Miles Gentry, in the Louisson Handicap a week earlier.

On Saturday the driver of Good Chase, D. G. Watson, did not run into the same difficulties in the running, although he looked to be awkwardly placed at the six furlongs. He worked clear of a pocket on the rails soon after and waited on the leaders until the straight entrance.

Once he hit the front inside the furlong, the others had little chance of putting him to the tost and he won handily by two lengths.

Raced by hi* Aan»t trainer, O. 3. Watson, Good Chas* la a four-year-old entire by Light Brigade from Tories**. He is expected to gain the win necessary to qualify tor the cup in the next six weeks, and many expect him to follow in the footsteps of Look-

away and Lordship and win th* cup at four yean. Great Adioa was thro* wide at the seven furlongs and he was forced wide again from the half-mile. He fought on boldly for bis second placing, taking the decision by half a head from Mister Chips, which was handy all the way but could not secure a clear run over the final furlong. Mila* Gentry, after >?ndting Great Adie* from the •lfmjle, battled on for fourth a neck away without looking likely to pay a dividend. Curragh Dan made ground for fifth, just ahead of Co Pilot, Allakasam and Corwar, with a long gap to Spry. Humphrey was badly checked and lost all chance at the start, while Bass Strait, Thunder Royal, and Indecision gave ground. Close Finish One inch separated the first three to finish in the Winter Handicap, Rannach Lad, from Morrinsville, shading another northerner, Single Cash, after the judge (Mr R. F. McCoubrey) had studied two photographs of the finish. Only the barest of margins separated the first two, and there was another nose, or almost an inch, to Johnny Gee, which gave w. R. Butt a difficult drive as he began to hang in the straight Rannach Lad, an unlucky runner on the first day of the meeting, led early and later trailed Single Cash. He gradu-

ally worked up to Single Cash, but there was little between theta at the finish.

Johnny Gee added to his fine record for consistency by finishing third after being a good way back until late. Logan Count made up ground for fourth, half a length back, a length in front of Towser, with a length and a half to Mighty Chief. After a gap came Erin’s Smile and Uteena.

Break Through and Aronmot broke early, and Mighty Chief and Direct Globe broke after a furlong. At the end of three furlongs Uteena put a foot through the back of the sulky of Tony Bear, whose driver, R D. Butt, was fortunate to escape injury when a shaft of the sulky broke and the gear came adrift