Black Rod wins Guineas

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33033, 28 September 1972, Page 8

Black Rod wins Guineas

"The Press" Special Service HASTINGS. The Oncidium colt. Black Rod, impressively won the Hawke's Bay Guineas at Hastings yesterday and set a record for the mile race. Black Rod was a complete failure at Otaki last Saturday on easy footing but yesterday he was galloping easily all the way. D. Harris took him to the lead at the furlong and he came away to win well. The mile took Black Rod Imin 36 l-ssec, which broke Dare Devil’s Guineas record by threefifths of a second. Black Rod is owned by a former president of the Racing Conference Mr R A. Whyte, and is trained for him by C. A. Bowry at Otaki. Black Rod was one of last season’s more promising juveniles and won the Ryder Stakes at his last start as a two-year-old. However. like most of the Oncidium breed, he looked as though time would serve him best and he should now carry on to show some outstanding form. Black Rod has had three races this season. Apart from his Otaki failure he ran second to l.agham in the Three-year-old Handicap at Tauherenikau.

On that occasion the track was also soft. Yesterday the track was bard and fast and Black Rod was bitting out easily all the way. It was a welcome change of luck for rider D Harris. He has not been enjoying his usual good fortune this season, and apart from yesterday’s win and a handicap win on Arcon at Wanganui, he has had no good fortune at all.

Black Tetra was again unlucky. He just cannot keep a straight course when hit with the whip and he made a lot of ground for his second, but Black Rod was far too good on the day. That’s Luck, the Wanganui Guineas winner, fought on for third after having every chance. Fencourt Lass fought on solidly for fourth after setting a cracking pace. She could yet regain last season’s splendid form. She held the distinction of being the first filly home. The surprise favourite, Turfcut. ter, was almost last at the five furlongs and still a long way back at the three. He made ground strongly for fifth. Dhow, after racing wide, had a clear run in the straight but only battled on for sixth. Young Craig, obviously a juvenile of exceptional ability, had to be good to win the Hastings

Stakes as Southern Command looked all over the winner with a furlong to go. Southern Command jumped out brilliantly and shared the pace with Enchanting Lady. He shook her off at the straight entrance and drew clear

Young Craig, meanwhile, was in seventh place, but was coming on well down the outer. He looked to be making heavy weather of It with a furlong to go but stuck to his task and was not ridden out to beat Southern Command.

Young Craig ran the half-mile in 47sec which was only onefifth of a second outside High Delight’s track record. He has now won three races from three starts.