Trentham reject shows his class

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33933, 28 August 1975, Page 8

Trentham reject shows his class

(‘‘The Press” Special Service)

AUCKLAND

A disappointment at the time, having their Oakville-Fair Flash colt rejected as a Trentham sales yearling in 1973 again proved to be a great stroke of luck for two Waikato owners, Mr and Mrs R. C. Davey, when Flash Affair won the Bay of Plenty Gold Cup at Tauranga yesterday.

Because ot a lack of conformation or a flaw in his breeding. Flash Affair was not regarded as being of sufficient quality for the Trentham sale-ring. But he has now won a Hawke’s Bay Guineas as well as this latest handsome prize. The two good wins have come almost 12 months apart but for most of the time in between, Flash Affair was being spelled to avoid racing on the hard ground of the summer and early autumn. In four attempts after the Hawke’s Bay Guineas, which he won gamely from Boulder Block. Flash Affair failed to do anything like as well, and he was then put aside. It was not until early last month at Avondale that he returned to racing. This latest start was his fourth since, and followed a promising second placing over 2100 m at Te Rapa on August 16. Clearly improved by his Te Rap o race. Flash Affair ran like a winner all through the 2100 m of yesterday’s event. “He was a bit keen early,” said his rider. Bruce Compton, “but once he settled he was always going to win.”

It looked that way, too. as Flash Affair trailed the pacemaker Red Valley to the home turn then took over in a few strides. The others were too: far back to threaten him. Red Valley hung on to fill second place, three lengths and ai quarter behind Flash Affair and ■ two lengths in front of Arodella. PREPAK DISAPPOINTING Prepak. a hot favourite, was a neck away, ending a big run down the outside in fourth place, and Serroco was fifth. With 800 m to go, Prepak was? so far trom the pace that she; hardly seemed to have a chance.) but her rider, David Peake.) thought that she could go on| witn it and win when he sentj her after the leaders as they! neared the straight. “There was nothing there? though, when I asked for some-! thing extra.’’ Peake said. “It! was disappointing. I thought she was sure to be hard to beat.” The next assignment for Flash i

i Affair will probably be a 2400 m j event on the second day of the, Avondale spring meeting, with ■ the Whakatane Cup later in the month to follow. Bellota made an auspicious j return to racing in the second; leg of the T.A.B. double, the Bay of Plenty Sprint, which she won in a tight finish with’ Athello and Tonic 1 Time. Bellota. a good winner in Mel-j bourne last spring, had not raced' since the autumn. She came up particulartv well and turned i on the gamest possible finish | down the outside to edge out: Athello and Tonic Time right' on the post.