TROTTING Waitaki Elect Too Good For Hororata Cup Field

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31933, 10 March 1969, Page 4

TROTTING Waitaki Elect Too Good For Hororata Cup Field

Waitaki Elect confirmed his position as the top three-year-old in tht intermediate grades when he outclassed a useful field in the Hororata Cup : on Saturday. He led for the last nine furlongs and won by more than a : length from Dutch Courage and Dieman Lad.

No final plans have been made for Waitaki ■ Elect’s immediate racing, 1 but his trainer, J. L. t Behrns, said after the ' nee he might be reserved for the $3OOO Metropolitan Three-year-old Championship at Addington | Raceway on April 5. Waitaki Elect, a brother of I a former high-class pacer,' Waitaki Hanover, is raced in partnership by Mrs J. [ Smith, of Christchurch, and her son, Mr F. Smith, of Kurow, who hold him on lease from Mrs A. H. Munro, of Otematata. Waitaki Elect has now won six races this season, the last four in succession. His 4min 26sec for the two miles on Saturday was not a very impressive one, but it was a

top effort considering the howling north-westerly wind which swept the course. The Nelson Cup winner, Dutch Courage, vied for the lead with Waitaki Elect for the final mile and for a short time he shaded the winner by half a length. However, he was never actually clear. He maintained a deteri mined run to the finish, but could not match Waitaki .Elect’s sprint Dieman Lad, one of the outsiders of the field, gained the best of the start. He received a good run later in the race and held on for a close third, clear of Dryden Smoke, which made up ground late in the race. Highland, John Peel, Late Frost, Our Smokey and Certify battled on fairly close together to head the rest but most of them attempted to make up too much leeway over the final quarter.

The second favourite, Bragen, began safely, but broke badly soon after, bis driver, F. E. Newfield, attributing bis lapse to the fact that be appeared to slip. Bragen broke again late in the race. Third Win Worthy Guest gained her third win at long odds when she beat Soldato and Minipat, two others paying big prices, in the President’s Challenge Stakes. She won the I. V. Leonard Memorial Stakes at Rangiora 12 months ago and paid $41.65 for a win, while she paid $71.45 when she won the Derby Stakes Consolation Race last November at Addington Raceway. On Saturday she paid $28.65. Worthy Guest, which will probably be one of Waitaki Elect’s rivals in the Metropolitan Three-year-old Championship on April 5. may

race next in the Gold Ba Handicap at Rangiora on Sa urday. Minipat raced to the fron after three furlongs, witt Worthy Guest going up on tht outside of Country Martia' in second place soon after Along wtlh Dryden Francis and Soldato they were the only horses to escape trouble when Prince Forbes hit a sulky and broke before the seven furlong.

Worthy Guest raced past Minipat early in the run home and held on to win by a short length from Soldato, with a length and a half to Minipat and half a neck to the unlucky favourite, True Averil, which all but fell when checked in the mix-up. Dryden Frances and Country Martial were right up next, clear of Intrepid, which lost his chance at the start

Successful Meeting Gates receipts showed a substantial Increase at the Hororata Trotting Club’s annual meeting on Saturday, much to the delight of club officials, who had spent a large amount promoting the fixture. Last season when the club raced in December, gates receipts amounted to $590, while on Saturday they amounted to $1267. A creche, operated by members of the Darfield Play Centre, and children's entertainment were widely patronised. A patron’s sweepstake drew 1800 entries. Messrs L. B. Quill and J. Costello, of Christchurch, gained 21 points and each received $9O. Mr Quill selected three winners, Great Faith. Shiloh and Waitaki Elect, while Fingall was his unsuccessful runner. Mr Costello selected Great Faith, Waitaki Elect and Someday, with Linda Lee his unplaced runner. On-course totalisator receipts showed a worth-while increase of $14,491, amounting to $88,502. Rain fell at last season's meeting. restricting betting. The off-course total of $82,407 was up $4OB over last season. Inquiries At Hororata O. E. Hooper, the driver of Prince Forbes, was fined $2O for allowing his horse to strike the back of the sulky of Worthy Guest with a round to go in the President’s Challenge Stakes at Hororata on Saturday.

Prince Forbes broke and a number of runners were checked.

Golden Splendour jumped near the three furlongs In the Farewell Handicap and checked Ballytrue and Winning Song. Golden Splendour’s ownerdriver, D. A. Morland, was told that drastic action would be taken it the horse offended again. Bragen broke three times during the Hororata Cup. His driver, F. E. Newfield, said that the horse appeared to slip. No blame was found attachable to any driver after Inquiries into the breaking of Willow Brae (A. J. Harris Memorial Handicap) and Van Royal (Selwyn Handicap). An objection, lodged against second placing being awarded to Final Donn in the Malvern Handicap on the ground of galloping, wax dismissed.

12 P. Norton 3 All started. Long neck, two lengths and a half. Belle Serene fourth. Times: 3:31 4-5, 3:31 2-5, 3:33 3*5. Win: $3.45. Places: $1.55, $1.50, $2.55.