Popeye too good for trotters at Addington

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34105, 18 March 1976, Page 8

Popeye too good for trotters at Addington

The ability of the Richmond trainer, Noel Berkett, to fit his horses for racing after long absences from competition was .emphasised ...when Popeye led his rivals a merry dance in the Belfast Handicap last evening.

Popeye had not raced since he performed dismally at Addington on April 16 last. Before that he had finished second at his only other start.

Last night Popeye was quickly into stride and he soon opened a handy advantage. He did not look like be-

ing challenged and at the end he had eight lengths to spare over Flameur and Celerrima. A five-year-old gelding by Rodney Day from Norma’s Light, Popeye is raced by Berkett. He has a splendid style of trotting and should not be long winning again. Last night he was a dominating’favourite and paid only $4.40 for’a win. I Held on Glenwood fully justified favouritism in the A. J. Bourne Handicap. He got away, well from the second line amd took the lead witfs 1800 m left. Challenges came thick and fast in the home straight, but he lasted it out by a short length from the Invercargill pacer, Carlton Chief, which was in the open for much of the way and fought on under pressure from the 400 m. ’ Cameo Gold made a late bid for third, shading Gay Jaydee, Barossa Pearl and Sail Again, with narrow margins back to Lordson, which finished eleventh. change of luck to his Rangiora part-owner and trainer, Erin Crawford, when, at his first race start, he outfinished the favourite, Ghinty, in the A. C. Amyes Handicap. Charteris Play was first out, but was soon steadied. He worked clear before the home turn and challenged strongly along the rails to win by half a length.

Ghinty was not disgraced as he was forced wide over

the last 600 m. Mark’s Mistake finished well for third, shading two solid finishers in Iron Road and Plutus, with Royal Zest tiring to sixth after being forced wide open and then left in the open. Kerry O’Reilly moved into second place in the competition for the Maurice Holmes Trophy when he drove Lord Burlington to a decisive win in the Air New Zealand Handicap. Second place went to Royal Banner, driven by Peter Jones, who leads the competition with 35 points, more than double O’Reilly’s total cf 16.

Royal Banner lost his position in the middle stages and w’as second last into the straight. He was a short length in front of Roseheath, with Heathstock and Kanapa next.