Hutt Park Hopes Performed Well

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32395, 7 September 1970, Page 4

Hutt Park Hopes Performed Well

The Yaldhurst trainer. G. B. Noble, who harnesaed two winners at Addington Raceway on Saturday night, should head north this week feeling pretty confident of a successful outcome to a trip to Hutt Park with members of his team.

Rangatira and Rain Again were both impressive Nobletrained winners at the New Brighton Trotting Club's spring meeting. Rangatira broke through for her first win in the interests of Mr R. A. McKenzie, of Wellington, in the New Brighton Stakes. She did not have much to spare at the end but showed considerable gameness against ! stiff opposition after setting nearly all the pace.

Rangatira lasted by half a neck from New Law, which beat his bracket-mate, Royal Ascot, by a neck. It was a good result for New Law's Templeton partowner and trainer, F. E. Newfield, for he Is also part-owner of Royal Ascot.

It was an encouraging first-up run as a three-year-old for New Law. which has also been entered for the Wellington meeting. but no more so than Noble Lord's effort to finish fourth. He wtlted slightly towards the end but only after being forced over much extra ground while trying to reach a challenging position between the half-mile and the home turn.

Odds-on Fancy Rain Again made short work of his rivals in the Cam bridge Stakes, for which he was an odds-on favourite.

Rain Again took up the chase after Globe Bay running into the last half-mile, drew level with the pacemaker early in the run home and pulled right away to win by seven lengths. Although so soundly beaten

Globe Bay’s effort might well have been the forerunner of a victory at Hutt Park. Once beaten he was not knocked about in this, his first race since May, but still comfortably coasted home clear of the others.

Another Wellington-bound winner which made a big impression was Rauka Lad. Mr J. Jail's King Creed gelding almost looped the field between the half-mile and home turn In the Oxford Stakes then drew out in the run home to win by four lengths. Rauka Lad and his stablemate, Forest King. which finished fourth were like Rain Again, odds-on favourites.

Another short-priced winner was AH Alone —her win supporters just doubled their money when she came out best after a hard tussle with Logan Park in the last furlong of the Introductory Handicap. The other event on the programme for trotters resulted In an all-the-way-win for the 2/1 favourite, Beau Winter. Mr B. J. Hamilton's Winterlight gelding drew away In the last furlong to beat the win favourite. Waterloo, which was second on the outer from the six-furlong peg to the straight but would have had to equal or, perhaps, better the New Zealand record to win. by five lengths.

Well Backed

One of the most surprising features of Saturday night's betting were the odds on offer about False Square in the Travis Stakes.

After dismal displays at his two previous starts False Square was sent out second favourite and his supporters proved to be right on the mark. He made a big run from the back, three wide, through the straight with a round to go. took the lead five furlongs out and from that point ths others never got near him. False Square won as he liked by two lengths. Flying Tutta and Morris Pal. two of the longshots, filled the minor placlngs.

The best-price winner at the meeting was Master Regan which improved on a sound patch of placed form to take the honours tn the Avon Handicap. Master Regan, which is raced by Mr J. G. Crofts, whose former Interest in racing was with gallopers, rallied gamely to a hard drive In the last furlong and outfinlshed the long-shot. Flightella, by half a length.