TROTTING Forbury free-for-all to Bachelor Tom

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33520, 29 April 1974, Page 8

TROTTING Forbury free-for-all to Bachelor Tom

Bachelor Tom had his second win under free-for-all conditions in three days when he won the South Island Trotting I Free-for-all, the second leg of the T.A.B. double at Forbury Park on Saturday night.

IJachelor Tom. which won the Air Force Trotting Free-for-all at the New Brighton meeting on Thursday night, earned his owner-trainer. J. L. Ferguson, $3650 in the two victories. His record this season now stands at five wins and 16 places from 27 starts. Bachelor Tom was always w-"l placed on Saturday, and after he took the lead with 700 metres to run he soon had his rivals, a mixture of open class and C 5 and C 6 horses, struggling. Lessaday. which worked dear from the rails to follow Bachelor Tom down the back, looked a threat for a short time, but he was soon under pressure, and it was left to Ldis Nova, which finished brilliantly from an awkward place on the rails, to add in-1 terest to the race.

Edis Nova had filled a simi- ■ lar placing behind Bachelor; Tom at Addington, and a win for her is overdue. Fri. after enjoying the run I of the race, battled on well for third — his first show ol form for some time — shading Lessaday. Cee Ar, one of the early' breakers, ran on for fifth .-•head of Screws Loose and Sue. another to make ground. first LEG Tbursa was rewarded for vome eon«»tent performances recenth when he won the Otago Handlrap, the first leg of the T.AB. Thursa trailed on the outer for the !a«t 2'loo metres, and was not forced to cover much extra, around when he improved near’ the straight entrance. Stroll Away, which had fol Inwed Tbursa most of the wav. ran on strongly and looked the lik -ly winner at the 200 metres but could not manage the little extra, and was bea'on bv three quarters of a length. Star Guest, which had been back on the rails, made ground! strongly for ’h>rd. -hading the] tiring pacemake-. Cannv Glen.| short of *he line. Noodlum made no rate of the! Mlanton Stake- for tWB-J ear-olds I and gave M. Holmov his S“ven-t-th win for the season Holmes' ha, won four mor, races than P T Wolfenden. He was sue-, ressful earlier in the night with Plimpton The win wa« Noodlum's seventh for the season and con-; firmed the Welcome Stakes win-’ nrr'-. ranking as the season's topi youngster. Parlez You* raced back in the, mall field for much of the race.: Near the turn. H. W Skinner) tr.r.k him quickly to lead How-; ever, he was no match in the I vraight for Noodlum, finishing six lengths back, a dozen lengths clear of In Or Out. the pacemaker, which just held off Sly Kiwi Ptumplon returned a perform ■ snee well above average for his,

class when he easily won the Mosg.ei Handicap. The full brother to Lightsey was an early breaker, and was giving the leaders at least 80 metres when the Heid settled down M. Holmes gave the six-year-old time to settle, and did not trv to improve until the 1000 metres He moved up quickly in the straight, and did not have to cover much extra ground to get handy to the leaders.. Holmes moved Plumpton up on the turn, and he raced away to beat Main Chance, which had improved gradually after being slow early, bv more than three lengths. Given Time. Christian Dior, and Airdrie finished next almost in - line, without looking likely to threaten the first two in the final stages FALSE PRICE Charlie's Romance, an unlucky third at his last start at Adding- , ton on April 13. returned a false dividend of $lO.lO in the Forbury Firing Mile Charlie s Romance was held up for room in the final stages of the race at Addington, but on Saturdav night, after making a good beginning from behind the (mobile arm. he led all the way and held on gamely from the

s. favourites, Forta Cavalla and] Gentle Miss. ■ Foria Cavalla was well back ■> until approaching the turn. She : 1 raced up quickly and looked] t likely to overtake Charlie’s Romance near the 200 metres, but' - he held on by a head, with only t half a head to Gentle Miss.j ) which appeared to have every; i chance. 2 Armbro Song had her second! ’! win in as many starts when she] I stormed home to win the,' 1 Momona Stakes from Me-!' 1 ’ Grouthe-. Just-A-Glow. and Han-1 ' over Clan. • Armbro Song was well back; E until the turn, when she im-j proved sharply, and once she • headed McGroiither near the 2001 J metres, she drew out to win bv ? two lengths. ' Just-A-Glow. the pacemaker.! battled on well for third ahead], of Hanover Clan, which was alv wavs handily placed and looked 1 • likelv at the top of the straight. < ? Coral Donna gave her rivals no : I- : chance when she raced away ! with the Taieri Pace by five 1 > lengths from Champion Rose and ; f Delamanda. t Coral Donna was always well J placed on the outer, and once ■ » she made her claim at the top ; of the straight the result was not •I in doubt.