Battle Eve wins G.N. Foal Stakes

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33113, 2 January 1973, Page 6

Battle Eve wins G.N. Foal Stakes

(From Our Own Reporter» AUCKLAND. On the eve of the Auckland Cup meeting, the Matamata trainer, J. W. McCrea! made a prediction that his two-yearold Battle Eve would come through her Ellerslie campaign unbeaten. He was immediately astray. In her first start at the meet-, ing the filly was a well-beaten second, four lengths behind Princess Thalia, in the Goodwood' Stakes. But everything startedto fall into line for McGreal yes-! terday when Battle Eve won the? Great Northern Foa] Stakes and' !a stake of $3750 for Mrs McGreal,, who races the chestnut in part- ! nership with Mrs C. G. Brown. • Mrs Brown is the wife of the ! Waikato studmaster who had 'Battle Eve’s sire. Battle Waggon..'

|at his stud when the Never Say ' Die horse sired top-liners such as Panzer Chief and Susan Jane. Battle Eve won the Great Northern Foal Stakes after a. duel with the hard-wearing i Young Craig, whose rails chai-; lenge would have almost cer-i tainly paid off in another 20 yards. Princess Thalia, Battle Eve’s conqueror on the first day of the! meeting was third this time, al-i most in line with the winner and) runner-up, and Prepak. unbeaten; in her two previous starts, was; a well-beaten fourth. Trumpet Call the each-way lav-1 iourite, dashed to the lead im-j mediately but put up only a flicker of resistance when the; i challenges came, and tired to? fin’sh eighth. Frances gave Noel Crombie,; i then a South Island jockey, his; {greatest thrill in racing when • she won the 1948 Auckland Cup for the late D P. Wilson. Mr. Cromb’e was back at Ellerslie I I yesterday for another pleasurable experience. He is a part-. I owner of the two-year-old. Pure Luck, an easy winner of the sec-1 ond division of the Midsummer! ,Handicap. Mr Crombie races Pure Luck! |in partnership with Mr R IL Cameron, and the chestnut is l prepared by W. C. Winder atl ITe Rapa. From all accounts, Pure Luck,! a daughter of Golden Plume, was carrying a lot of condition when placed at Te Awannitu at her; only previous start. Yesterday) she had the speed to be in! front from the start, came to | the straight outside one rival I and had it as good as won on l straightening up.