Pole Star now ‘star’ lot in Hazlett sale

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32539, 24 February 1971, Page 9

Pole Star now ‘star’ lot in Hazlett sale

(From Our Own Reporter)

DUNEDIN. Pole Star has become one of the “star” lots of the racing stock to be offered at the Hazlett dispersal sale in Southland tomorrow, Mr W. E. Hazlett’s Kurdistan gelding having recorded his third successive win in the second leg of the Dunedin Jockey Club’s T’.A.B. double at Wingatui yesterday.

Under instructions from the trainer, W. J. Hillis, E. J. Dldham rode Pole Star some way off the pace for a start, banking everything on a big run from the two furlongs. Didham applauded Hillis’s judgment. “ft was the right thing to do. Thia horse has lost some of his speed, but is running his races out much more strongly now,” said the Wlngatul jockey. Didham was able to get a charmed run in the grey when rival jockeys decided to keep fairly wide on the track In search of better footing at the home turn. Didham then thought Pole Star would win easily, but Shewetta, ridden by his brother. L. Didham, fought back strongly after pacemaking, and was only three-quarters of a length away. Tranquil Flight, which had been forced wide around the home turn when at the height of a big run, was half a length back third, but the others were CANTERBURY FINISH : Quick Magic, Bodl and Power, the only three runners from Canterbury stables, filled three of the first four places in .the Farewell Handicap. Quick Magic, from Rlocarton, coped with a stout challenge from Bodl fairly comfortably, although his winning margin was only a neck. Bodl, which is raced in partnership by the Washdyke trainer, J. C. McKerrow and Mr R. C. Idiens (Christchurch) was in no danger of losing second, and his renewed effort close to the post might have given him a win had not his saddle slipped. Edinburgh did best or the southerners, finishing third In a gap of five lengths and a half. Power, a runner for R. B. Taggart’s Rlccarton stable, was a

weakening fourth after being in close touch with the pace all the way to the straight. The favourite. Centre Gallery, was a well-beaten eleventh.

Notorious out of Stakes (N.Z. Press Association) TE AROHA. The Woodville mare Notorious Was scratched yesterday from the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes, to be run at Te Aroha on Saturday. This allows Supreme Miss to enter the field and Beatnik becomes the first emergency. The withdrawal of Notorious is the second since final acceptances closed on Thursday last.

Royal Ascot on 24 yards Royal Ascot, originally listed as starting from 12 yards in the New Zealand Metropolitan Three-year-old Championship at Addington Raceway on Saturday, should have been handicapped on 24 yards. The gelding has drawn No. 5, while Bachelor Blue moves into No. 1 on 12 yards.

Motor-racing.—Europe's richest motor race, with prize money totalling $107,150, win be held at Brands Hatch, Kent, in August next year. The first prize will be $42,860.