New Zealand record set by Noodlum

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33532, 13 May 1974, Page 8

New Zealand record set by Noodlum

Noodlum quashed lingering doubts regarding his ability to handle the Oamaru grass track under late autumn conditions by soundly beating Parlez Vous and completely outclassing the others in the Oamaru Juvenile Stakes on Saturday.

It assured him. too. of being, the hottest favourite in years' for the rich’ New Zealand Sapling Stakes at Ashburton next month. He will almost certainly be • racing on a track much heavier i than the dead footing he covered so nimbly at* Oamaru, but j there was really nothing in his< win to suggest a failing over such ground. M. Holmes, who had driven the runners-up in the three pre-: ceding races, soon had Noodlum in front. Parlez Vous, Fancy Kate and Hodgen's Heidi were handy; Kancho rushed up three I wide after breaking, and most of the others galloped. At the 800 metres Noodlumi and Parlez Vous were going nose i to nose, and Kancho, a promis-i ing chestnut colt, was doing his I best to stay with them. On the turn. Noodlum and Parlez Vous quickly left the oth-. ers to a race of their own. Un- ‘ til Holmes brandished the whip, Parlez Vous remained alongside Noodlum. Then Noodlum showed the qualities that make him the champion he undoubtedly is. drawing powerfully away, and by the time he had reached the post Parlez Vous was four lengths back.

The win — his ninth — gave 'Noodlum a New Zealand record for the greatest number of wins: . scored by a two-year-old in a season. The previous best uas tithe eight shared by Young .Quinn and Sam Tryax. Il also gave Holmes his second win in the race; the other was with :; Lightsey in 1971. Noodlum is also within easy reach of another New Zealand record, that being the $13,215 earned by Young Quinn in the 1971-72 season. Noodlum’s winnings stand at {512,577.50, as a result of 12 starts: . for nine wins, a second and a i fourth. According to his part-owner., 'Mrs A. A. Wilson, Noodlum is! ! unlikely to have another race ibefore the New Zealand Sapling: I Stakes. After that he might l j finish off the season by racing i in the $7OOO New Zealand ■ J Juvenile Championship at Auck-1 land on June 15. The Edendale-trained colt. 1 Parlez Vous. although four: lengths back, lost no caste by.l running second after being in the open for so long. He has now : raced eight times for three: wins, three seconds and two• thirds.

The T.A.B. double was won by the four-year-olds, Glentohi. from G. D. Shand’s Washdyke stable. ) and Martial Salute, from S M. Miller’s Methven stable. FORM IGNORED Form followers had themselves to blame for sending Glentohi out 9/10 in the betting after his last-start win at Forbury Park. A tough gelding by Keep Away, Glentohi was having his twenty ' ninth start for the season, and for most of nis five wins has been at generous odds. He will race at Addington on Friday week, and over 3200 metres at Ashburton next month before being put aside. By far the best performance among the slower class horses was the incredible winning : ieffort of Velazquez, a three-year-old gelding by Honest Master, trained and driven by P. C. Yeat- | man. Named after a famous Spanish * painter, Velazquez lost 60 metres at the start, charged round the , ifield, at times four wide, sat! outside.the leader, and actually managed to improve in the straight. ■’ The weather was fine, but cold, iThe attendance was good.