Trainer Has Good Day

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31785, 16 September 1968, Page 5

Trainer Has Good Day

(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND. The locallv-tralned Treasure Castle finished strongly from a bad position to win the President’s Handicap, the first leg of the T.A.B. double, at Thames on Saturday. Treasure Castle was one of six horses saddled by the only public trainer at Thames, N. J. Hayes. Another, Syndae. won a division of the Second Ngatea Stakes. Hayes also had seconds with Spiker in the Hikutaia Hurdles and Top Fox in the Pipiroa Handicap. The second leg of the T.A.B. double, the Stewards’ Handicap. went to Gray Knight, which showed vastly improved form on recent efforts. It was Gray Night’s first success since he won in hack class at Ellerslie in June. 1966. In between, he had raced 34 times. The favourites in the Stewards’ Handicap, Dasheen and Chino, finished fifth and seventh respectively. Both had every chance. Galley Boy made a successful jumping debut when he won the Hikutaia Hurdles. He was a last-minute ride for J. F. Grylls. Galley Boy was to have been ridden by R. J. Leggett, but Leggett injured a hand while laying linoleum at his home on Saturday morning, and was unable to ride.

Roman Consul Wins Easily (Special Crspdt. N.Z.PA.) SYDNEY. The New Zealand-bred horses Roman Consul and Prince Grant, both highly-fancied for next month’s $40,000 Metropolitan Handicap, had impressive wins at Randwick on Saturday. Roman Consul justified his position as equal favourite for the big race with a near-record run in the Chelmsford Stakes, while Prince Grant, a six-year-old. won his first race for two years by taking the Spring Handicap. Roman Consul, a four-year-old by Agricola out of Jinks, started favourite in the Chelmsford Stakes and set a fast pace from the start to score by a length and a quarter from Swift Peter. Eternal Youth, the only other runner, was three lengths away third.

Roman Consul ran the nine furlongs in Imin 49.65ec, twofifths of a second outside Advocate’s 12-year-old track record.

Prince Grant, like Roman Consul, is trained by T. J. Smith. The Alcimedes gelding started favourite in the Spring Handicap and held off Raad to win by half a head. Top Yarn was a long head away third.