TROTTING General Idea eligible for big events

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32620, 31 May 1971, Page 8

TROTTING General Idea eligible for big events

General Idea qualified to start in the Ashburton County Handicap next Saturday and the $3500 Canterbury Park Winter Cup a fornight later when he won the Rangiora Winter Cup on Saturday. He took charge inside the final furlong and held off David Frost and John Charles.

General Idea paced the!! two miles in 4:22 3-5, an! 1 outstanding run in the ! conditions, especially asj he was forced over some ' extra ground Jn the/ middle stages. J, General Idea’s win was as-, sisted by a brilliant begin-, ning, Then, when the pace eased slightly, R. P. Nyhan moved him off the fence with II furlongs left. He was, forced three wide two furlongs later as he improved: behind Garrison House, and he began to pull viciously ini the back straight. He improved to fourth on the home turn and took charge early in the run home. David Frost, which led over the last mile, looked to be badly beaten when he was!

passed by General Idea, but i he came again close to home i and was only half a length, from the winner at the end. John Charles, which had ! difficulty working clear from i an awkward position towards . the rear of the main bunch, came home in great style for! third, a short length further back, with a length to the three-year-old, Robert Mac, :! which had little in his favi our throughout a rather i roughly-run race. Adult Hanover, reasonably ; handy all the way, fought on 11 for fifth, ahead of Fortunate, I i Biackbeard and Garrison i! House. General Idea, a four-year-i old stallion by Fallacy from : Fluid Drive, is raced in part- . nership by his Belfast r trainer, C. S. Donald, and Mr : W. Toomey, of Christchurch. >1 His win was well overdue. He

met trouble at Washdyke a fortnight earlier and finished last, while he was considered rather unlucky when second a week before behind Monarrg at Oamaru. He looks as though he could be one of the leading winners for the stable next season. Back to form

Rangatira, which had raced rather unluckily in recent starts although he was third three starts earlier, made an overdue return to winning form in the Eyreton Handicap. He was back in the middle of the field for most of the way and challenged wide out in the run home. He finished in great style near the outside fence and won by a nose from Darkie Song, which was at good odds con-

sidering his win a fortnight earlier at Washdyke. Rangatira will race next at Ashburton where his main mission will be the Queen’s Birthday Stakes on the second day of the meeting. Darkie Song was reasonably handy all the way and fought on well for his second, a neck in front of Top Tune, which came home well after being awkwardly placed on the rails until the straight entrance.

First Pigeon and Frosty Chat were next to finish, just ahead of the tiring pacemaker. Mighty Batten. Jenney Belle and Master Key, two of the favourites, lost their chances at the start. Frontier became eligible for the main races for trotters at the Ashburton meeting when he outclassed his rivals in the Oxford Handicap. He galloped at the start, but soon settled down. He had control half a mile out and from then on he had his rivals well covered. Chief Walk and Paroa, two other candidates for Ashburton, filled the other dividend bearing placings, with Mighty Dollar a sound fourth, ahead of Lucky Lad and Snoopy. Bob Crane, a disappointment at Washdyke a fortnight before, gained a decisive win in the Ohoka Handicap, the other race for trotters. He won easily from Securable, Frisco Sal and the unlucky Piclo, which did not work clear in the run home.

Tiawana, a rival of Rangatira in the Queen’s Birthday Stakes, made an overdue return to form in the Waikuku Handicap. She won handily from the free-legged Clandeboye, with Jack Margon tiring to third. Sunshine Boy, bought recently by Mr E. Sliper, of Wellington, made a winning debut from J. A. Carmichael’s team when he outclassed his opponents in the Archer Memorial Handicap. He began fast from the unruly position and was in charge after about a furlong. From then on he was pacing comfortably and was not tested to win by four lengths from Stereo Light in the good time of 2:40 4-5 for the 10 furlongs. He is booked to race at file Ashburton and Nelson meetings and he should be untroubled to extend his record.