HARDCRAFT WINS STAKES

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32846, 21 February 1972, Page 8

HARDCRAFT WINS STAKES

Hardcraft confirmed a bold run at trial earlier in the week when he won the Two-year-old Stakes on Saturday evening. He credited his sire, Good Chase, with his second winner from 20 live foals in his first crop.

Raced and trained at Springston by his breeder, R. H. Negus, Hardcraft made a brilliant beginning, with the majority in an unwiedly field making mistakes or meeting interference.

Hardcraft was quickly clear of Carmel and Kimbell Star and he set a solid pace, recording 2min 39 4-ssec for the 10 furlongs, the final mile in 2min 7sec. He was never seriously tested and won by a length and a half from Carmel, with seven lengths back to the dominating favourite, Young Quinn, and a length and a half to Mercury Momtego, which was followed by Apollo Fifteen and Lord Gregory.

Young Quinn lost no caste when he finished third. He was slow away after tangling for a stride or two and was ninth, awkwardly placed on the inner, with six furlongs left. He put in a long and determined run from the three furlongs. Mercury Momtego was back with Young Quinn after the start and he, too, did well. The surprise 2min 3sec favourite, Vince, was handy enough early, but made no impression later, finishing seventh. KEEN FINISH

The trotters provided one of the keenest finishes of the night in the Autumn Handicap. Le Char, which was eliminated from the first night at Hutt Park next Wednesday, led all the way and fought off several strong challenges over the final furlong to win by half a head.

Philemon, which drifted and lost some 50 yards at the start, put in an amazing run to > finish second, a nose in front of Arita, with a length to Black Frost, which showed speed after meeting trouble and breaking after about three furlongs.

Fri, after receiving the run of the race, finished fifth, ahead of Al Mundy and Aronmot, which broke at the start. Levana returned an outstanding effort for a 2:17 class pacer when, driven by A. Ching, she led throughout the Au Revoir Stakes, pacing the 10 furlongs in 2min 35 l-ssec. Sherwood Em made ground for second, a length in front of Individual, which had every chance. The winner’s stablemate, Ladies’ Pride, was only half a head away fourth, clear of Kimbell Duke. Looking Forward made a successful first appearance in pie 2:16 class when she finished solidly to win the Burwood Stakes by a short length from Armbro Free, which looked a shade unlucky. Armbro Free was having his first start since December 27. The race should bring him to his peak for engagements at the Wellington meeting.

Galatus held on gamely for a close third, ahead of Heather Royal and Ron Hanover, which did well to finish so close after being a tailender unjil the two furlongs. The

favourite, Highland Wedding, was pushed back at the start and did not recover. Leldon, well rated by G. A. Adamson, led from end to end in the Marine Handicap, for probationary drivers. He won with something in hand by a length and a quarter from Thursa, with Samaion beaten off third, just ahead of In Disguise, Mackinlay and Baltimore.

Venfall set the pace and had too much in reserve for his rivals in the Twilight Stakes, winning by a length and a half from Talavara, which finished gamely from a long way back. Royal Deeside just plugged on for third, ahead of Local Rose, which did well as she was having her first start since November. A break on the home tumi did not stop Snoopy winning the Waimairi Handicap. Caswell was checked when he broke, recovering to finish third. These two were separated by Glencree, which was handy all the way. The fav-| ourite, Jason McCord, broke after two furlongs and did; not trot comfortably.