On-course double to Chatmos, Bomber Bill

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

On-course double to Chatmos, Bomber Bill

Chitmat and Bomber Bill combined succeesfully In the omcoune double at Methven yeeNrday.

Chatmox, which had performed veiy poorly among the maiden trotters on the recent NelsonMarlborough circuit, was at surprisingly short odds in the Lyndhurst Handicap considering his form. He had not been better than tenth in his previous four starts and his stablemate, Court Verdict, which had not paid a dividend either lately were backed down to 3/4 favouritism in a field of 19.

Chatmos Improved from the third line to challenge Nimbo Stratus and Baffle Girl for the lead at the furlong and ran on best to win by three-quarters of a length. Nimbo Stratus held second by a head from Coral View, which was mid-field mostly but close to the leaders a furlong out. Baffle Girl was a length back fourth, clear of Strachur.

Bomber Bil ran on the inner in the fourth line till the home turn in the First Spaxton Handicap. M. Holmes worked him into the clear running to the furlong and he swamped Royal Lee, which had tried for an all-the-way win, for finishing speed. Bomber BUI won by a length from the pacemaker and Samaion, third equal to the straight, battled into third two and a half length back Sally Hanover, which tracked the leader to the straight, was a neck away fourth and the favourite, Irton Prince, was half a length back fifth. N. S. Benny had Irton Prince far back on the home turn and had to change ground several times in the run home to get a clear run.

DESERVED WIN Jenny Belle capped off a useful string of minor placings with a well-earned win in the Second Spaxton Handicap. T. C. Behrns had Sir B. McRralth’s Fallacy mare in the third line till the home turn, brought her forward to challenge the win favourite, Coionel Adios, inside the furlong and she ran on strongly to win by half a length. Colonel Adios, whose driver, J. W. Smolensk!, was without a whip for the run home and had to use the reins to keep the horse going, beat Morpheus for second by a length. Hopes of the place favourite reaching a place did not look good on the home turn when he was far back and on the Inside Mt once J. B. Noble brought him wide in the straight he finished resolutely. Beachcbmer, whiih was in touch with the pace all the way, was two lengths back fourth and Petermlte led in the others. BONNY LANDS EASILY Bonny Lands justified solid backing when she easily won the Lauriston Handicap. Mr A. C. Amyes’ Goodland mare began safely from the 36yard mark and was soon in midfield. She made ground steadily to reach a challenging position on the home turn and carried through with her run to win going away by two lengths and a half. Big Spender, which led for a while early, trailed later then led again six furlongs out, lasted

for second by three-quarters of a length from Tatsy Marie, which was handily placed on the inner throughout. Pacific Star came home well from mid-field for a cloae fourth and she was followed by Paroa and Dan Mack, which both ran Bound races from the 80-yard mark.

AT GOOD ODDS All Local, a sprint winner at Nelson only two starts beforehand, put another sprint win on bls record when he outran his rivals in L. L. Richards Memorial Handicap. Mr T. C. Lysaght’s Local Light gelding, the tenth favourite of 18, ran from the trailing position into a clear lead a furlong out and kept going strongly to win by a length. Refluent, which was far off the early pace and still not very weU placed on the home turn, finished with a powerful burst once he found racing room and nosed Calatas, the leader on the home turn, out of second in the last stride.

Bachelor Boy, fourth equal till the home . turn, battled into fourth two and a half lengths back. He was followed by Swift Action, running on from midfield, and Glenrock, which made the pace till Galatus took over.