Successful beginning to another campaign

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

Successful beginning to another campaign

A lucrative reward for perseverance went the way of Mr Rf C. Day and his wife at Motukarara on Saturday. They share in the ownership of Merrin, which beat a high-class field of trotters hands down in the Banks Peninsula Trotting Cup.

Merrin, which cost Mr Day 475 guineas as a yearling, took his stake-earnings to beyond $BOOO when he carried off the $1430 stake for first and a trophy valued at $lOO in the Banks Peninsula Trotting Club’s $2200 event. But 10 months ago, Mr Day, who prepares, Merrin for all his racing, had grave doubts whether the Court Martial gelding would ever earn anything again. Early this year, Merrin tore a shoe off when he became entangled in a fence. The result was a pastern which swelled until it was almost square. “The veterinarian who treated the horse advised that the only cure would be a blister and a long spell,” said Mr Day. Merrin’s leg was blistered and he stayed in the paddock from January until July. Although he lacked racing for all those months his reputation had obviously not diminished for trotting fans. An outstanding run at the Ashburton trials last week—-

he finished second in the free-for-all for pacers—probably influenced many backers who helped make him fourth favourite-in Saturday’s 18-horse field.

DOMINION HANDICAP One of Merrin’s main missions will be the Dominion Handicap, the chief event for trotters at the New Zealand Trotting Cup meeting next month. But before the cup carnival starts. Greymouth patrons are likely to get the chance of -seeing him in action. At present? Mr Day’s intentions are to start him in the main events at the Greymouth Trotting Club's meetings next Monday and Wednesday nights. unfortunately, R. Young, who has been associated with Merrin in many of his eight successes and was his driver on Saturday, will not be able to handle him at Greymouth. If the trip eventuates, F; E. Newfield will be offered the ilrlve.

On Saturday, Merrin gave an excellent exhibition of trotting. Young had him In front for a short time early In the race, and In touch with the pace all the way. In the run home, he was clearly superior and won as he liked, by a little more than a length. Precocious ran on strongly from mid-field to take second. Waterloo came from far hack in the last half-mile tor third. Going, which was mid-field mostly and had little room in which to improve between Precocious and Waterloo In the last half-furlong, was next. Conclusion led In the others.

Tony Bear did beat of the favourite bracket. He ran on late for sixth, four places ahead of his stablemate Johnny Gee, the tall-ender on the home turn, and six places ahead of Briganeili, which was responsible for some of the early pace. The biggest disappointment was Light View which, along with Fair Play, was the second fancy. She stayed in the rear group all the way and waa last to finish.

Break Through, which according to his owner-trainet, A. L. Pratt, became entangled in the barrier at th* start and Tasman, which broke badly early in the contest, both took no serious part.

FOURTH WIN Rauka Lad gained his fourth win fropi his last five start* for his Nelson owner. Mr J.-Hall, by winning the EUesmers Handicap. But he was all-out tn the last few yards to keep ahead in the tightest of finishes. R. P. Nyhan secured a parfect run for Rauka Lad from ths outset He trailed Robalan most of ths way, and mastered the pacemaker well Inside the last furlong, but was under extreme pressure close to home, when challenges came thick and fast. Globe Bay, finishing strongly wide out on the track, ran Rauka Lad to a nose. Monarrg was a head away third, and might have even won hid she kept her mind on th* task in hand Instead of trying to savage Globe Bay In the last few strides. Black Label, which was in touch with the pace all the way, outfinished Robalan for fourth. The rest of the 20 starters were beaten a long way from home. Wag, in a gap of 1* lengths, led them in. -