TROTTING Intrepid in form with fine stayer’s run

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32425, 12 October 1970, Page 9

TROTTING Intrepid in form with fine stayer’s run

A determined run over the final half-mile enabled Intrepid to return to peak form with a win in the G. J. Barton Memorial Handicap at Forbury Park on Saturday evening. Intrepid was having only his third start for the season, and gave a performance which advanced him in favour for the $25,000 New Zealand Trotting Cup next month.

“The strong pace on all the way helped him,” said his part-owner and trainer, 'M. L. Edwards, after the race. “The other two races he started in resulted in a sprint over the last three furlongs and that didn’t suit him at all—he’s such a great stayer." Intrepid’s future racing is uncertain. He will either race at Forbury next Saturday or in the Hannon Memorial at Oamaru on Labour Day. There was much to enthuse over about the win, as the Local Light five-year-old must have given the leaders a start of 24 yards from the half-mile, and had to cover extra ground as he improved sharply on the home bend. It was late in the run home that Intrepid looked likely to return a dividend; but close to home he was finishing by far the best and won handily by half a length from Pun, which put in a sharp sprint once he worked clear in the last 75 yards. Inky Boy, which looked the winner when he was left in front as

Upper Class tired in the run home, held on to dead-heat for third with Garcon Roux, another to come from a fair way back starting the last half-mile. Intrepid’s 3 min 26 4-ssec for the 13 furlongs was a grand effort in the bitterly cold, blustery conditions. Stella Frost was a shade disappointing when fifth was the best she could manage. She had every chance, but the brilliant spurt which marked her earlier racing this season was missing. Upper Class, which vied for the lead with Hakim from the seven furlongs and worked to the front half a mile later, stopped badly to sixth over the final furlong. True Averil, Manaroa, and Chequer Board all finished on strongly over the final stages of the race after being well back early. The second favourite, Jacquinot Bay, was sadly beaten in eleventh place after having a good run to the three furlongs. He was pushed about a little after that, but was too badly beaten for excuses to be made.

Second leg False Square gained his second win for the season and advanced to a 2min 13 sec assessment when he outfinished Boy Friend in the Sandymount Pace. False Square, a five-year-old by Fallacy from Red Square, was third last when the field settled down. His West Melton owner-trainer, L. G. Thomas, improved with him near the [five furlongs, but he was forced three wide.

False Square was close to Boy Friend and Van Rover at the straight entrance, with Morano Lad starting to tire not far away. Soldato was checked and broke, and Major Bright met trouble. Boy Friend soon mastered Van Rover, but closer to home he was passed by False Square, which won by more than a length. Boy Friend’s run—his first since June—was most encouraging. He was in the open and trying to wrest the lead from Van Rover for much of the way. He was far from disgraced. Sheer Delight made up ground for a close third, clear of Van Rover, Valencia, which made up ground and Johnny Kawa, which was at the tail of the field early.