Well-Earned Win By Pretentious

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32219, 11 February 1970, Page 4

Well-Earned Win By Pretentious

A well-earned change of luck came the way of Pretentious with a win in the Provincial Handicap, first leg of the Canterbury Jockey Club’s T.A.B. double yesterday.

This was Pretentious’s first victory at a middle distance in open company for his Riccarton owner-breeder, Mr D. F. Dailey, but there have been some sound placed runs on his record, and he was away from racing for 10 mopths after being injured in the 1969 Waikouaiti Cup.

Gay Gabador, which | beat Pretentious in that! race, looked as if he might be the Riccarton horse’s stumbling block again yesterday. At least that seemed likely ‘ a furlong out where the fav-l 1 ourite was holding a short lead over the weakening pacemaker, Gay Doctor. But Pretentious swooped wider out, and'his impressive spurt carried him clear inside the last 100 yards. 1 Pretentious had his lead reduced in the last few yards j

|by Hay Burner, which fin- | ished at a great rate down the | inside, but he lasted it out j fairly comfortably by threequarters of a length. Good Run Pretentious belongs to the j successful Riccarton team of I ID. J. Thistoll. who said yes-i i terday that the Resurgent I gelding would have had a bigger role to play in the finish of the Midsummer Handicap on the first day of the meet ing only for meeting trouble in the running. “Today he had a troubleI fret- run. and showed just iwhat he could do when for lonce he found it plain sailing I all the way," Thistoll said Thistoll will now prepare 'Pretentious for the feature : sponsored race at the Ashburton autumn meeting.

To Spell "The only thing wrong with Hay Burner's run was that he started to gallop only in the last 50 yards,” commen ted his rider, W. D. Skelton. Skelton said he had been satisfied with the run he got down on the inside, but Hay Burner felt as if he would do better over more ground. The four-year-old .Jekyll gelding will not have an early chance to show if this is the

case. He will now be spelledl until next season and in his five-year-old racing he might I develop into one of Riccarton's top stayers. Gay Gahador. which lost: second to Hay Burner in the! last few strides, saved third! by half a length from the top 1 weight. Red Siren, which was close to the tail of the field; half-way through the race. Gay Gabador and Red Siren j had also finished in that' order in minor places behind! Gay Doctor in lhe Midsummer] Handicap on Saturday. j This lime Gay Doctor was |left with the pacemaking and! faded to sixth.

Sprint Victory i Lady Fort took the value jotit of first-day sprint form by winning the Amur! Handicap i second leg of the T.A.B I double. Messrs J. A. C. Bain’s and ■ F. J. Foley’s Trovato mare ran badly at Washdyke on December 29 and at Kurow on January 3, and was then allowed to freshen. W. D. Skelton brought Lady Fort to the front beyond the! furlong, and kept her going) with vigorous hands and! heels riding for victory by i half a length over the top) I weight. Red Sash A Red Sash victory looked! likely for an instant inside; the furlong when the Craven] Plate winner was picking up ground on the outside. But her weight of 9st 41b took some of the edge off her final 1 challenge and I.ady Fort lasted safely enough. Gee Tee outfinished Red Scarf for third two lengths; back, improving the good all-) round record of Thistoll’s) Riccarton learn at the meet-) ing