TOTTING Humphrey Unchallenged As Favourite For Cup

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31831, 8 November 1968, Page 6

TOTTING Humphrey Unchallenged As Favourite For Cup

Humphrey retains his position as dominating early favourite for the New Zealand Cup next Tuesday. Nine of the cup candidates competed in the A. L. Matson Handicap at Addington Raceway last evening, but they were not particularly impressive.

The race was won by Spry, which finished boldly from fifth racing to the straight and beat Chequer Board by half a neck, with a length to Co Pilot.

Spry, a good third in the cup 12 months ago. has raced most disappointingly this season, but he could be coming back to form at the right time. He paced the 13 furlongs in the comparatively slow time of 3min 31sec, the first mile in 2min 14sec, the last half-mile in Imin 2 l-ssec, and the final quarter in 31 3-ssee.

Aliakasam scrambled away from the barrier, while Mister Chips broke hopelessly. Great Adios accelerated quickly from 25 yards to be vying for the lead with Bright Highland and Chequer Board at the end of a furlong. Chequer Board was a clear leader a furlong later and with about 10 furlongs left Great Adios went to the front, the pace slackening appreciably. Bright Highland shaded Great Adios with half a mile left and she had no trouble racing clear by a length racing to the straight, where Great Adios was being shaken up by R. P. Norton. Governor Frost was also handy, with Chequer Board, Spry, James, Co Pilot, Cuddle Doon and Happy Ending fairly handy. STRONG FINISH Spry finished much too strongly for his rivals and beat Chequer Board by half a neck. Co Pilot was a length back, with a head to Governor Frost and Bright Highland. Happy Ending was not far away seventh, clear of James and Great Adios, which went too badly to be true. He also paced a dismal race in the same event last year, but he was untroubled to win the cup four days later. Chequer Board went a pleasing race and he could be a place chance on Tuesday, as also could Co Pilot, while Cuddle Doon’s run was also encouraging. Happy Ending could show improvement as a result of the run, but he will be bard pressed to match Spry on Tuesday. Stella Globe gave a sound display of trotting to win the F. E. Sutton Handicap by a length from Royal Armour, which is not engaged until the second day of the meeting. There was little pace early and Stella Globe took 3min 36sec for the full distance, the last half-mile in Imin 2sec, the final quarter in 31sec. Stella Globe could show up in the Introductory Handicap on Tuesday. Direct Globe, an early breaker, did well to finish third, ahead of Harbour Light, Uteena and Tronso. Bata did not trot well, breaking near the two furlongs when a fair way back.

Other worth-while efforts were returned by Beat Time, Cochrane, Trafalgar, Garcon Roux, Sheer Delight, Local Lie, Hakim, Pine Globe, Intrepid, Little Marvel, and Royal Fame.

Maida Million recorded an outstanding run to win the

W. E. Desmond Handicap. She broke at the start and rushed up from last to be second over the last three furlongs. She finished well to win by a head from Showpiece, with Bewitched, Dieman Lad and Don Caesar next; Results:

L. M. DENTON HANDICAP, 185; 2:16 class; trotters; 13f.—Markalan 36 R. Young 1: Cardigan Lass 12 O. M. Quinlan 2; Lucky Wood 12 D. G. McCormick 3. Fifteen started. Neck, length. Worth Seein’ fourth. Time: 3:34 1-5. Dividend (for 50 cents): $6.75.

T. G. FOX HANDICAP, $65; 2:16 class; 13f. —Cochrane It T. C. Behrns 1; Seafield Countess It K. Brinsdon 2; Restabell It K. D. Townley 3. Nine started. Three-quarters of a length, half a head. Lee fourth. Time: 3:35 3-5. Dividend: $4.05.

H. W. DREWERY HANDICAP, $65; 2:14 class; 13f.—Trafalgar 12 J. Huyser 1; Garcon Boux 12 J. B. Noble 2; Thunderina 12 J. A. Carmichael 3. Thirteen started. Head, length. Doug's Choice fourth. Time: 3:29 3-5. Dividend: $5.85.

FIRST G. R. HUNTER HANDICAP, $65; three-year-olds; 13f.— Sheer Delight It C. C. Devine 1; Local Lie 12 P. G. O’Reilly 2; Cushan 12 R. P. Nyhan 3. Sixteen started. Head, neck. Clandeboye fourth. Time: 3:37. Dividend: $7.20.

SECOND G. R. HUNTER HAN* DICAP, $65, three-year-olds; 13f. —Hakim 12 R. Young 1; Pine Globe it R. T. Court, Jun., 2; Little Marvel It A. M. Harrison 3. Thirteen started. Neck, three lengths. Intrepid fourth. Time: 3:34 2-5. Dividend: $5.95.

A. L. MATSON HANDICAP, $65; 2:10 class; 13f.—Spry It R. Donald 1; Chequer Board It J. A. Carmichael 2; Co Pilot It G. Holmes 3. Twelve started. Half a neck, length. Cuddle Doon

fourth. Time: 3:31. Dividend SS.4O.

F. E. SUTTOH HANDICAP. ,6S : 2:13 class; trotters; 13L—Stella Globe It B. L. Heron 1: Royal Armour It F. R. Bebblngton 2; Direct Globe It D. G. Nyhan 3. Ten started. Length four. Harbour Light fourth. Time: 3:36. Dividend: S4.M.

J. W. TRIST HANDICAP, (65; 2:12 class: 13f.—Beat Time It .1. A. Cgrmtchaet 1; Lords It D. G. Nyhan and Royal Fame It N. S. Benny 2. Fourteen started. Two lengths, deadheat. Curragh Dan fourth. Time: 3:33 2-5. Dividend: 16.30.

W. E. DESMOND HANDICAP, 565; 2:15 class: 13L—Maida Million It J. L. Ferguson 1: Showpiece It D. Mangos 2: Bewitched It J. B. Noble 3. Twelve started. Head, three-quarters of a length. Dleman Lad fourth. Time: 3:33 2-5. Dividend: (3.40.