Double winners were old rivals

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33580, 8 July 1974, Page 8

Double winners were old rivals

Ahjay’s lone win in 22 starts in Australia last season was in a middle-distance race at Mornington, near Melbourne. One of the unplaced runners behind him that day was Frederik.

On Saturday Ahjay combined with Frederik to carry off the Wellington Racingl Club’s T.A.B. double at odds of better than 60 to one. Ahjay showed high courage for a half-neck victory after a hard slog through one of Trentham’s heaviest tracks. The horse to run him soi close was Scotch William,! the South Island’s only runner in the race. Scotch William lodged his chai-' lenge from an inside trailing) position but lost vital ground: as he drifted away from the j whip of the left-handed Rlccarton apprentice, L. J. Molloy, I finishing out beyond the middle.: of the track. For a time it seemed that, Scotch William might lose second) to Denraine, which had finished) down the outside for third, but I stewards did not support the: protest which sought the) reversal of the placlngs. SAME SIRE Ahjay. like Frederik. was sired;

(by Better Honey, whose death (after a brief stud career proved . a blow to New Zealand bloodstock breeding. Mr and Mrs H. J. Tapper bred their Whyte Handicap winner from Ella, a daughter of Fair’s Fair belonging to the famous Hebrew Maid family. Ahjay was ridden with cool- i ness and vigour by P. Ilaitana.' who was a newcomer to Trentham.

Haitana kept the seven-year-old in close touch with the pace, and had him poised to challenge from behind Just Tops, Even Return, Scotch William and Kutati on the home turn. Of the horses behind the dividend-payers none impressed more than Bleu Streak. He was slow away, but dashed home late for fourth, just ahead of Special Son, which became badly placed on the inside at about half way.