LORD MAC UPSETS

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32665, 22 July 1971, Page 8

LORD MAC UPSETS

"The Press" Special Service

AUCKMND. [ From" dead last the ' time before, in a mile at 1 Trentham, second last [ the time before that, and last again, three races i back, in the A. R. C. Cornwall Handicap, Lord ! Mac showed remarkable improvement to outrun 11 opponents all the way i over 11 furlongs in the Storey Memorial at Te [ Rapa yesterday.

Lord Mac took the lead in a few stride? and never looked like giving it away. Through tnost of the course, Lord Mac kepi two or three lengths in front. He sneaked further ahead making the home turn and with the others, to all appearances, well beaten, he ran away to win by six lengths. Not many middle distances, in recent years at any rate, have been won more impres-

sively. A six-year-old gelding, Lord Mac won his second race after a spell, the Golden Mile at Te Rapa on May 1, at good odds.biji. ran disappointingly in; fou/races between then and yesterday. After his. win in fhe Golden Mile Lord Mac jyas unfortunately troubled By a bruised fdot, which caused him to miss some work, it was hoped he would show improvement by the time he got to Trentham. Mis failure, in the Whyte Handicap was a disappointment but it seems he burst a brood vessel during the race.

Intensive treatment, meanwhile, worked wonders and Lord Mac was a different horse altogether when it came to yesterday’s big race. Lord Mac is raced by an Auckland businessman, Mr R. H. Gurney, who did so well a few years ago with Khisdir and Fair Time.

Lord Mac cost Mr Gurney $llOO when a yearling at the Trentham sales and has won nine races, so. he has been a

valuable acquisition. He will have the chance of another good stake next Saturday in the Taumarunui Cup.

The ease of Lord Mac’s victory left none of the beaten horses in the Storey Memorial with much credit. But Free Pass showed something more like his best form when he battled home from mid-field for second. Sir Cullus, after trailing the leader, weakened to third. The favourite, Ruakiwi Lass, was a disappointment, showing nothing of the dash which marked her close second at Matamata last Saturday in finishing only fifth.

Lord’s Gift also showed considerable improvement when he took the second leg of the T.A.B. double, the Hillcrest Handicap, with hardly any trouble from Fairscott and Shimmering. But a reasonably good beginning must have given Fairscott success. As it was Fairscott drifted quickly from the start. The way he finished suggested he would be one to beat next time, per'haps over a longer distance than yesterday’s six fur- : longs. Lord’s Gift was ridden by N. B. Holland who in his only other mount at the meeting won on Cyretta. He trailed the flying pacemaker, Lady Defence, then went ahead and stayed there gamely. Fairscott got to within a length and a half of Lord’s Gift and was a length clear of Shimmering which battled home well from fourth into line.