TROTTING Obstinate wins at Nelson

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32634, 16 June 1971, Page 8

TROTTING Obstinate wins at Nelson

(From Our Own Reporter)

NELSON.

Obstinate, a big disappointment when she just plugged on for fourth over two miles on Saturday, made no race of the Waimea Handicap on the seeond day of the Nelson Trotting Club’s winter meeting at Richmond Park yesterday. Obstinate’s part-owner and trainer, G. D. Shand, of Washdyke, gave her a perfect run throughout. She was close to the leaders at the straight entrance, worked clear racing to the last furlong, and came on to win most convincingly by a length and a quarter from Aero Circle.

Obstinate, a four-year-old mare by Fallacy from Worthy Scot, had not been successful since the same meeting 12 months ago, when she won twice. She seemed to handle the puggy going yesterday much more confidently than she did the loose track on Saturday. Aero Circle added to his fine record for consistency in winter conditions when he finished second. He broke at the start, and was well back until the three furlongs. He then began to improve, and ran on gamely over the last two furlongs to be second by a half-head from the South-land-owned Dancing Step, which had a splendid run all the way.

Crystal John, a little slow away from 36 yards, came gamely from the tail of the bunch at the three furlongs to finish fourth, but was three lengths from Dancing Step, and clear of Fingal!, which attempted to lead for all but the first two furlongs. Young Warwick, which was slow, was next, ahead of the win favourite, Silver Valley, which moved up to dispute the lead with seven furlongs to run. She took a short lead on straightening up, but was soon in trouble and dropped out Johnny Kawa again swung round at the start and virtually took no part. VISITORS' HANDICAP Dee Pee gave S. L Henderson, of Orari, his second win for the day when she overcame the disadvantage of losing ground inside the last half-mile to win the Visitors* Handicap, a race notable for the failure of Pono < to begin cleanly. However, his , lapse was probably due to the fact that the starter showed far too much leniency to the wayward Red Flash, which refused ; to line up properly. The other . horses were kept standing for some minutes while efforts were made to bring this horse into line. Dee Pee was fairly handy to Mister Chance which led in the back straight. Later, when Jack Margon worked clear, Dee Pee and Mecca Scott locked sulky wheels and appeared to lose all chance. Leldon moved to the front early in the run home, but late in the race Dee Pee challenged, finishing best to beat Vonnell by half a neck. Leldon tired to third a similar distance back, clear of Snow Light. Young Native, and Twilight Fair. Tringles, Pono, Red Flash, Spooky, and Slumber On lost ground at the start. MOTUEKA HANDICAP Clandeboye led for all but the first two furlongs and a half in the Motueka Handicap, Aerial Morn trailing him until inside the last furlong. He made a game effort to overhaul the favourite, but was held out by a neck. Country Martial was two lengths and a half back third. J. W. Smolensk! worked hardest of the four drivers in the race in getting Our Way past the post to earn the $45 attached to fourth place. Our Way was unable to handle the going with any confidence and tangled many times. He was at least two furlongs behind the third horse in a race in which the winner returned the slow time of smin 18 3-ssec for two miles. DECISIVE WIN Betters were on the mark in the First Trial Handicap which resulted in a decisive win for the favourite, Dryham Lea, over John Haig and the second favourite, Tom Hanover. Dryham Lea, trained and driven by J. D. Litten for Mr L. A. Pearce, of Hororata, broke and galloped towards the outside of the track at the start However, he caught his gait quickly and lost only 48 yards. Tom Hanover was just in front of him and Dryham Lea followed that runner through when he went to the front near the mile post. Tom Hanover continued on at a steady pace, with Dryham Lea waiting until the straight before issuing a challenge. He had control about the furlong post, and came on to win untested by five lengths from John Haig, which was slow away and fought on gamely to take second by three lengths from Tom Hanover. Grand Winter, after improving on the home turn, dropped out to fourth, ahead of another slow beginner in Henry Dee and Lldonna. SECOND TRIAL HANDICAP The Blenheim-owned and trained Totara Jack, improved by the race he had when third on Saturday, made no race of the

Second Trial Handicap. F. E. Newfield sent the Scottish Command three-year-old to the front from the start, and he was not afterwards headed. He won without being tested by two lengths and a half from Miss Dominion, one of the slow* est beginners. She showed speed to improve on the home turn, and fought on well to beat Avanzata for second by three lengths. Teen Hoven battled on for a fair fourth, ahead of Jack Scott, Sherwood Em. and Flight Honours. which had the run of the race.

THIRD TRIAL HANDICAP Opal Water showed gameness in a hard finish to win the Third Trial Handicap which drew a very weak field. She took the lead from Helkeiwa about the five furlongs, and looked to be well covered by the Richmond pacer, Hustleen, on the home turn. However. Opal Water responded gamely for S. L Henderson and held on to win by a nose. Hustleen held on for second, a head in front of Max Peterson, which fought on solidly from mid-field. Further interest was added to the finish by Drastic Girl, which was a good way back starting the last six furlongs. The others, headed by Secombe, which showed speed after breaking at the start and again near the seven furlongs, were beaten off. TAKAKA HANDICAP Echo Valley, promoted to first on Saturday, completed a double for the meeting when he outstayed his rivals in the Takaka

. Handicap. He moved up to sec- - ond. almost on terms with Last t Round, on the home turn and t drew out to win well by a length and a half from Lucky 1 Lad. which was soon fairly handy i after starting from 48 yards. • Wadestown. which galloped along I the rails for the last five fur- . longs, was third. : Etter, he was disqualified and . Chatmos, which crossed the line > In a break, was promoted to , third, ahead of Coronet Peak • and Caswell, which broke sev- > eral times. Last Round stopped badly in the straight, and finished ninth. s OVERDUE WIN I Coronet Peak, which finished i tn the money in her two starts ! on Saturday, gained an overdue > win for Mr S. C. Graham, of s Templeton, where she is trained I by J. A. Carmichael. She was > a fair way from the lead until . starting the last half-mile, when . she Improved to follow Eni chanted. Local Rules, and Mysti- . cal into the straight, with the i others well back. i Coronet Peak had too much In reserve for her rivals, and won > easily by three lengths from the > three-year-old, Tryphena, which , recorded a fine trial for the Con- , ference Handicap on Saturday, at i Addington Raceway. t Tryphena, well hack early, j made up a lot of ground. Mystical battled on for third a length and a half away, dear of the tiring Enchanted, which was t close up over the final mile. s Chatmos, which like Caswell - broke near the half-mile, was 1 next.