RACING Mediate stakes claim for cup favouritism

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33060, 30 October 1972, Page 8

RACING Mediate stakes claim for cup favouritism

The result was predictable, but the ease with which Mediate achieved his victory in the Banks Peninsula Club’s New Zealand Cup and Derby Trial on Saturday could not have been so confidently anticipated, even by his connections.

The six-year-old from Takanini spurted like a class sprinter at the end of a fast-run mile and a quarter to win running away by two lengths and stake a formidable claim for favouritism for the New Zealand Cup at Riccarton next Saturday.

Mediate carried 8-9 lb or 91b more than his Cup weight, conceding 181 b to the runner-up His Bestone, which had shown staying potential of a high order in his run from last for fourth in the Wellington Guineas a fortnight earlier.

Owned by Messrs J. K. and W. A. Callesen, of Waiuku, and trained by C. B. Naden, Mediate was ridden by the Te Awamutu jockey, J. P. Riordan, who now has good reason for confidence that he has a winning ride in a second two-miler this year well within reach.

Riordan rode Sailing Home in her Auckland Cup victory last January.

Riordan has ridden Mediate in all his wins, but he displayed fresh enthusiasm for his New Zealand Cup mount’s potential after Saturday’s race.

“He picked them up in a few strides. It was a really good Cup trial, and Blake Naden deserves the highest credit for the wav he has brought him to his peak,” Riordan said later. Derby hopes His Beetone’s first try beyond a mile and a quarter produced a performance that held out bright hopes for a Canterbury victory in the New Zealand Derby in which he will be ridden by the North Island horseman. B. Phillips. Mr A G. Bailey's Monitor colt, a close relation of the brilliant filly. Wood Court Inn, and the competent stayer. Winslow Boy, was in front half a mile out, and. although shifting ground slightly going to the last furlong, he stuck it out for second by half a length from Ribaldo. Ribaldo would have had to run his last half mile in less than 48sec to win His long run from the tail-end group for third at a distance now possibly short of his best held much promise for his New Zealand Cup chances. He went into the race looking robust and capable of finding still further improvement in a waell-timed Cup preparation. Foxy, the 2/3 fancy, struck “traffic problems’* Inside the last

half mile, and Golden Sam’s stablemate made strong progress when in the clear for her fourth a neck from Ribaldo.

Foxy was the popular fancy on the double with course patrons, carrying $1337 or $477 more than Mediate.

But weight of off-course support made Mediate a strong favourite. He carried $16,0541 in doubles through the T.A.8., Ribaldo carried $10,027 J in double off-course, and Foxy $8666. Zamia carried off her fifth

victory in six starts for the season in the Le Bons Handicap, the second leg of the T.A.B. double. Mr S. G. Mackenzie’s four-year-old Afghanistan mare is unbeaten in two starts in open company, and the Stewards’ Handicap at Riccarton next Saturday will be her next formidable test in her attempt to keep her record Intact.

Circus Girl ran pretty well up to her winning form from Ranglora in filling second berth, and at fairly generous odds. Sur-

prisingly, Zamia and Circus Girl had fewer win backers than Wingatui’s Queen Mellay, which wound up fifth. Otago’s lone winner, and an impressive one, was Show Gate. This Gate Keeper filly was not in distinguished company in the Brackenfield Hack Handicap, but it seems clear that Mr G. B. Thomson has Oaks material in this daughter of Gate Keeper and the good performer. Minglow. Show Gate was hotly engaged by Coorabln in the lead all the way to the straight, yet found the resources to last a mile out for a half-length victory after being subjected to late challenges. This was only her third start, and her second win. In her other race, the Dunedin Guineas, she was bogged down on a rainaffected track and finished fourth.