Proud Queen Surprises

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32266, 8 April 1970, Page 4

Proud Queen Surprises

"The Press" Special Service TE AWAMUTU. Proud Queen came came back to the form that secured second place for her in the Sumner Cup at Ellerslie a couple of months ago when she dashed past Neander Valley on the home turn and stayed there to win the first leg of the T.A.B. double, the A.N.Z.A.C. Intermediate Handicap, at Te Awamutu yesterday.

Between the Summer Cup and yesterday Proud Queen had six attempts without showing anything like the same form. But she was let up for a time after the first four and the spell evidently did her good. She resumed with a mile at Tauranga on March 21 and a middle distance at Ellerslie on the first day of the Auckland autumn meeting, plus her work at Takanini,

was all she required to bring her back to her best.

Her recent attempt at Ellerslie did not get her near the placings but this time, after being midfield for half a mile, she improved steadily then with less than two furlongs to go rushed past Neander Valley which had just wrested the lead from the pacemaker, Long Shot. Papahu, seventh and eighth mainly chased Proud Queen gamely but was two lengths and a half away, second, at the post. Baby Star and Neander Valley, third and fourth, were about in line with Papahu

and just ahead of Gay Reward which was fifth.

Proud Queen is a four-year-i old bay mare, by Pundit from i Queen's Navy, trained at 1 Takanini by 1. J. Tucker for , Mrs J. Bourns, of Auckland. 1 aiG PRICE i Proud Queen was the thir- ' teenth favourite each way in ' the Anzac Intermediate Handl- 1 cap, and paid $28.25 and $8.70 , on the win and place. Del Mar. ! the favourite, looked a proapect only briefly when she Improved through the Inside at the two furlongv after being well back. At the finish she was sixth. Kalgoorlie completed a T.A.B. double of $166.55 with Proud Queen, and had his ninth win (or the season when he outran : 12 opponents over seven furlongs in the second leg, the Winston Churchill Handicap, it was a fine effort under his 9-10. Nothing Could detract from the merit of Kalgoorlie's victory. but it was unfortunate that the race was marred by an unfortunate getaway. Bostock appeared to charge the gates a moment before they were sent away, rebounded and lost any chknce he might have had. No time was taken for the race, but the pace was on all the way, and it must have been a very good gallop indeed. Corrandulla. after appearing likely to reach Kalgoorlie with half a furlong to go, weakened , at the finish, but easily held second from Skint Dip. Grizzly showed little finishing dash when fourth.