Black Label wins at Methven

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32540, 25 February 1971, Page 9

Black Label wins at Methven

“Lazy, but honest and pretty good as well,” was how the Templeton trainer, F. E. Newfield, described Black Label after the strong black gelding had beaten his rivals hands down in the J. MeCloy Memorial Handicap at Methven yesterday.

Black Label’s victory in the first leg of the Methven Trotting Club’s T.A.B. double was his sixth—not a bad record for a horse which began racing only last season—in the interests of Mr E. T. McDer-

mott, a steward of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club. Although Black Label was having his first race since December he ran out the two miles in the manner of a thoroughly seasoned campaigner. He dawdled off the mark but once Newfield gave him a reminder that the business at hand was serious he went about his task in workmanlike style. When Walk Alone improved three wide near the half-mile and went ahead on the home turn Black Label was still back in the fifth line. When they straightened for the run home he still

had Walk Alone, Forest King, Logan Light, Moascar, Kran, Finesse and Hot Feet ahead of him but had reached a challenging position at a fur. long out and was cutting quickly into Walk Alone’s lead a bit closer to home. At the end Black Label was going away by a length. Kran, which kept going strongly cut Walk Alone out

of second in the last few strides.

Stratton, far back running; into the last half-mile, came 1 on the scene late for a close fourth. He was followed in by Finesse and Moascar which could not quicken in the run home. SATISFACTORY

Lord Ashbury, which was stood down for six weeks for what was termed an “unsatisfactory” performance after finishing second at Westport on December 28, gave a very satisfactory performance in his first start since and ran away from his rivals in the Springbum Handicap, second leg of the main double. Lord Ashbury spurted clear from the second line on the home turn, was out by a couple of lengths beginning the run home and widened that margin to six lengths at the post. Eden Pal ran a good race from the back mark of 36 yards for second. He began smartly and was in mid-field after a furlong, led the chase after Lord Ashbury on the home turn and kept going gamely to keep out the other challengers. Mighty Batten, which was in touch with the pace al) the way, took third, half a length back, at long odds. He shaded the favourite, Rangatira, which finished solidly wide out after being one of the tail-enders half a mile out

Aerial Mom, third on the inner on the home turn, was a close fifth just ahead of Water Skier, another which had every chance.