Huge Jackpot At Waipa

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32321, 12 June 1970, Page 7 (Supplement)

Huge Jackpot At Waipa

"The Press” Special Service AUCKLAND. The last time the Waikato District Racing Club’s jackpot was brought back to earth, at Te Rapa on February 14, nearly $30,500 was poured into the pool and the two winning entrants split $88,602. At Te Awamutu tomorrow, the pundits are predicting a similar amount will be outlaid.

One official who could be excused if he were fervently hoping the jackpot remained intact is Mr M. F. King, secretary of the Bay of Plenty Racing Club which races tomorrow week at Tauranga, when Mr King will be making his debut as a race-day secretary. Be that as it may, the immediate task is how best to tackle the jackpot tomorrow. Two factors might be helpful. One concerns jockeys, the other, the theory that the Te Awamutu course suits front runners in middle-dis-tance races.

No other jockeys riding there tomorrow know the course better than J. P. Riordan and J. F. Grylls, both of whom were apprenticed to local trainers in the early 1950 s and who have remained at the centre ever since. Distinctive Because of its distinctive sweeps and bends, the course can trick the unwary, but Riordan and Grylls are seldom caught in a spot; hardly a meeting goes by that they do no* land at least one winner. In fact, in 1951 Riordan won the equivalent of the Te Awamutu Cup in his first winning ride. It is this character of the course that troubles the front runner. The average field seldom becomes excessively strung out, and the horse in front cannot count on being allowed much peace from as far as half a mile out.

Loofah (J. P. Riordan) came home from well back to win the Woodstock Stakes at the Waipa summer meeting. Whakamoa took the Te Awamutu Cup last year with a great burst from mid-field. Roganne. a runner tomorrow, collected the 1966 Taumarunui Cup in extreme circumstances. With half a mile to go he was four lengths last. Besides the jackpot, the Te Awamutu Cup is an attraction in itself tomorrow. The event has brought together manv of those who contested the A.R.C. Cornwall Handicap last week, and some notable newcomers in Gene, Cambridge Fair, Twitchit from Carterton, Captain Jest, and Lancelot. The weather has been mainly fine this week and the ground should be in good winter order. Selections: — Its a.m.—Orakau Hurdles: Mycet, Ganet, High Sky. 11.45 a.m.—Pokuru Maiden. First Division: Clover Honey, Red Songster, Our Mac. Second Division: Puerto Rico, Shimmering, Flush Royal. 12.25 p.m,—Arapunl Handicap: Prince. Ironic, Teleost, Escolta. , 1.5 p.m.—Pukeatua Maiden. First Division: Della Fileu, Heanderbelle Advance Guard. Second Division: Merlana, Crestilina, Survey. 1.45 p.m.—Kay Memorial Schoolmate, Fairylore. 2.15 p.m.—Te Awamutu Cup: Captain Jest, Ah jay. Lancelot. 3.5 p.m.—Te Kawa Handicap: Snuggles, Firebird, Beau Dee. 3.45 p.m.—Waipa Flying Handicap: Gold Heights, Brylee, Menander. 4.25 p.m.—Halrinl Handicap: Top Chick, Monty, Honey Spl.