TROTTING Barbara Del outclasses rivals in stakes

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32561, 22 March 1971, Page 8

TROTTING Barbara Del outclasses rivals in stakes

Barbara Del confirmed her position as the top two-year-old of the season with a dashing win in the Leonard Memorial Stakes at the Cheviot meeting at Rangiora Raceway on Saturday.

The run of the race was all against her and her chances of success looked remote when, with three furlongs left, she was five places back on the inside with the best part of a dozen horses in front of her.

She soon forced her way clear and looped the field with a tremendous sprint to be contesting the lead about half a furlong later. Although forced almost off the track at the straight entrance she had control at the furlong. Then it was just a case of what her winning margin would be. This turned out to be an advantage of six lengths“over Van Glory, with another length to Caninia. For 20-year-old- -. Kevin Townley it was his most important driving success. He has now had 14 wins. “I was on 13 at the start of the season and was starting to wonder if I would ever get beyond it,” he said after the race.

For Kevin it was a lucky drive. His father was to have travelled to Wellington early on Saturday morning and then on to Christchurch after having driven Stella Frost to a decisive win over another Canterbury horse, Manaroa, at Harold Park on Friday night. However, the flight on which he had booked was cancelled at the last minute, and he decided not to wait for an alternative flight. D. J. Townley will remain in Sydney with Stella Frost and return with her later this week, probably arriving in Auckland next Sunday. She will then be prepared for her trip to the United States, on which she will be accompanied by Kevin Townley. Poor run The poor run received by Barbara Del was not of her

own making. She attempted to follow Golden Guest from the start, but the latter broke ini front of her and carried her back through the field. “When I moved with her I thought I had left it late enough, but I knew she had a long if not particularly sharp sprint,” said her driver. “I certainly didn’t think she would sprint like she did. She was with the leaders inside half a furlong.” Raced by Messrs R. A. Burnett and R. G. Woodham, of Ashburton, Barbara Del has now had three wins and a second from four starts, her successes including the New Zealand Welcome Stakes.

Plans for her future racing have been revised. At one stage it had been considered lhat she would not start again after the race at Rangiora, but she can now wm a race without receiving a handicapping penalty. She will probably race at the Canterbury Park meeting, which starts next Saturday, and may even compete at the New Brighton meeting on Easter Saturday. The winner is by Armbro Del, sire also of the third place-getter, Carimia, a half- ! sister to Sam Carter.

Van Glory paced a splendid race for second, finishing solidly for her placing. She should soon extend her record. Barbara Del’s win comRecord day at

Rangiora The Cheviot Trotting Club bad a record day at Rangiora Raceway on Saturday. On-course otalisator figures amounted to *121,710, an Increase of *24,750 over last year and by far the greatest amount handled by the ■ club. Off-course the total was; 5131,061.50, an increase of *39.504 over last year and also a record 1 .for the club

pleted a good day for the Townley family. They had only one other starter, Kaipuke Song, raced by Mr J. C. Bishop, of Christchurch, secretary of the New Zealand Horseman’s Association. Kaipuke Song proved too good for his rivals in the First Our Thorpe Handicap, a race in which he was driven by Robert Townley. It was the 22-year-old reinsman’s

5 first success at a totalisaI tor meeting. Kaipuke Song, a five- . year-old by Hunting Song , from Kaipuke, was having • his first start for the sea- . son. He showed much prom- ) ise earlier in his career, but ! was troubled by coms. The i manner in which he won i suggested that further suc- ; cess will come his. way bes fore the end of the season.