Westport trip pays off for Otaki trainer

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34120, 5 April 1976, Page 8

Westport trip pays off for Otaki trainer

(■The Press ’ Special Service' WESTPORT. It was a long but happy venture to the Westport .lot-key Club’s meeting by Otaki Trainer C. A. Wallace, who followed up his win in the Greenwood Handicap with \driatic bv taking the main event on Satur dav with Bold Lion, which he owns, both horses were patiently ridden by the apprentice S, McGovern.

This horseman had his anxious moments when he weighed in a fraction light on Adriatic, causing an inquiry, but it was insufficient to rule him out. Bold Lion was fairly well back after 200 m and still looked a doubtful prospect at the mile but the lionhearted gelding came through fast in the straight to win comfortably. Mr Richmond coiifirmed Nelson form by running on for second after being fairly handy for most of the way while another northerner. Blue Poseidon, well back for most of the way. had much merit in his flashing effort for third ahead of Tokyo Lad and Bennelong. The favourite, Kowhai Glen, had a bad run and finished well back. Graham Mein, the veteran Riccarton horseman, showed that his skill has not lessened over many visits to Westport when he rode the Washdyketrained Eros to a comfortable win in the second leg of the on course double, the Albion Handicap. The Greek God gelding added to Maurice Jones’ good record on the citcuit. by coming away at the finish after being fourth for most of the way. Ferrier held on for second ahead of Windvale Lad with Te Pango Nui and Hi Roona next. The latter faded after leading at the four. The Grange was responsible for a good effort in the first leg of the on course treble, the Roy Powell Handicap, to just head off the northern candidate Cheval d’Azure in a stirring finish. The winner, one of Jim Lalor’s Ashburton team, was patiently handled by D. M. Walsh, his young apprentice, and after being in the bunch early finished fast. Cheval d’Azure was actually called in first by the judge and was well clear of Shifand, which made up a lot of ground. Red Dane, after being well up in the straight, weakened to fourth ahead of Mr Spitz which was very slow over the early stages but came on well. When leaving the birdcage for the Powell Handicap, the well-supported Duke of York broke his bit and bolted and cannoned into the outside rail, badly gashing a leg, and is likely to be out of action for a time. His rider G. R. Gullery was dislodged and suffered foot injuries which will also keep him I idle for a week or two. In-| vestments on Duke of York were returned. Better fortune came to Lionel Pratt, the Orari mentor, after the earlier mishap to Duke of York, when Graham McLeish brought Gundagai home in the Patterson Park Maiden No. 1. The Causeur three-year-old wore down Lo Sai Chu I in the run home with I Pondora always holding third ahead of Blue Beacon and Conway’s Command. The Tuahiwi trainer, Ray Harris, started seven horses in the field of 13 in the War

Admiral Handicap and went close to scooping the poo! His Up A Hundred, a stronglooking Never Give Up gelding, was always handt tn the pace and won well but there was a very close tussle for second with the Nelson horse Moutere Gold finishing fast for second ahead of two more Harns candidates Hebrides and Pa rilla. There was a false start with Idle Rich and First Light going two furlongs before being pulled up. The North island candidate Adriatic, which had |won at Nelson, completed a (lucrative treble of $1834.40 when holding on well to win the third leg. the Greenwood Handicap, but only after a (close finish with Battle Joy and Bright Idea. The winner relished the good conditions after his racing at Nelson on a softer (track. Battle Joy ran right up to his good Nelson form Mel far was right up fourth with William Leigh making up ground for fifth The Richmond mentor I. Healey- added a good record on the circuit -when Questo Tempo won the Seddonville Handicap narrowly but decisively from Kataghan and Irish Jan with La Quenna right up there for fourth.