YET ANOTHER RECORD FOR NOODLUM

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33693, 16 November 1974, Page 8

YET ANOTHER RECORD FOR NOODLUM

Noodlum delighted the crowd at Addington Raceway yesterday when, in the words of his trainer-driver, F. L. I loimes, “he just cruised” throughout the Second Riccarton Stakes. Once again he created a New Zealand record, this time 3:21 for 2600 m.

His time was two seconds faster than the best by a three-year-old, that of Koarakau when he won the New Zealand Derby Stakes 12 months ago. ‘‘The time is unbelievable,” said Holmes. "He was just jogging all the way. I eased him down in the back straight as I didn’t want to run any risk of him running himself out.”

Noodlum was privately timed to pace his last 2400 m in 3:l.Bsec. He went his opening 400 m in 30.6 sec, 800 m in 60.6 sec, 1200 m in 1:29.85ec, 1600 m in l:s9sec, and 2000 m in 2:3lsec, figures seldom associated with even the greatest pacers of any age anywhere m the world.

Noodlum has now had 14 successive wins, and, his grand total is 19 wins and two placings from 22 starts, his other appearance resulting in a fall. He has now won $30,632.50 for his breeder, Mrs A. Wilson, of Christchurch, who races him in partnership with Holmes. Noodlum has practically rewritten the record book this season, having created new figures for 2000 m, 2200 m, and 2700 m as weU as 2600 m. He also sbares the-open record for 2000 m with Hi Foyle. The champion was slow at the start and he had not reduced his handicap of 30m at the 1630 m. However, he improved sharply soon after and, to the delight of the crowd, he strode round the field to be sixth at the 1200 m. He was in front at the 1000 m, with Gay Stroller trailing him. Holmes eased him in the back straight, but let him go soon after turning for home. With the crowd applauding and cheering he drew out to win by 14 lengths from Bronze Regal, with Ulusionist getting up for third a length away, a head in front of Gay Stroller. Then there was a short length to Quite e Tiie race did not prove the financial disaster expected by many officials of the Metropolitan Club. Off-course betting on

the race dropped by only $lOOO over last year, while on-course the drop of more than $14,000 was by no means as large as most predicted.

Deserved win Palestine gained a deserved win in the Hornby Handicap following on his scecond to Master Dean on the first day of the meeting. The Scottish Hanover four-year-old. raced in partnership by Mr H. E. Cook, of Ashburton, and Mr G. S. Walton, of Otakl. led for the last 2000 m and fought back gamely when challenged on the inner by Kawerau Gold. He lasted to win by a nose. Kawerau Gold was a short length in front of Master Dean, which did well to finish so close. Hal Foyle dashed up on the turn and fought on for fourth, ahead of Fuse and Hurrania, which met trouble near the 1000 m when Geoff’s Gift stopped quickly after a hopple came loose. Commissioner showed that he will be one of Noodium’s main rivals in the New Zealand Derby Stakes when he won the Improvers’ Handicap in the fast time of 3min 24.65ec for the 2600 m.

Commissioner was in the leading or trailing throughout the race. He gave his rivals no chance In the run home and won by a length and three-quarters from Seafield Dauphine, which was handy throughout. Steven Stock, another Derby candidate, battled on for third, ahead of the unlucky Hurricane Star, which faUed to secure a clear run in the straight. Long Chance was a fair fifth, ahead of Scottish Chief.

Royal Tango lost ground at the start and seventh was the best he could manage. WUllam Point paced roughly and tangled twice.

Game finish

Screws Loose, an unlucky third on Tuesday, qualified to start in the Greyhound Handicap on Tuesday night when she wore down the favourite. Now Charles, in the Yaldhurst Handicap. Her 3min 27.75ec for the 2600 m suggested that she will not be out of her depth in the top company. Screws Loose was patiently driven by I. S. Sutherland, who kept her near the tall of the nine horse leading group until the 500 m. She then moved up wide out and maintained a de-

termined run until the finish. She had half a neck to (pare over Now Charles.

Scottish Cavalier made a late bid .for third only a neck awaj, with half a head to Castleton’s Pride and a neck to Plumpton. which tried to lead for the la»t 1200 m. The consistent Gay Tennessee proved too good for her rivals in the Author Dillon Handicap. She was well placed on tbe outside in the fourth line. Improved to fourth at the straight entrance and ran on much too strongly to win by a length and a half.

True Fortune, four plaeed back on the rails until the 400 m. fought on gamely to hold second by half a head from Palmdale, which challenged along the rails after being five back until the straight entrance. The surprise favourite. Junior Armbro. bad his chance, but fourth was the best he could manage, ahead of Lady Hodgen. Thurber Command received a splendid run three back throughout the Cashmere Handicap. He hit the front with less than 2#om left and held off Micron, a slow beginner, by a short length. Bon Heur came on gamely for third half a head away, with a neck to Lily Chase, which tired in the straight. Hanover Clan, which lost his place in the middle stages, came on well to head the remainder. Rolon Waitaki broke at the start and again at the 800 m when improving along the inner. Game Lad went within onetenth of a second of Robalan’s track record of 3min 20.4 sec for 2600 m when he proved much too strong for the others in the Smithson Handicap. He had to work hard to get to the lead, but once the straight was reached he had the others well covered and he won by almost two lengths.