Desert Fox scores impressive win

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34131, 19 April 1976, Page 11

Desert Fox scores impressive win

(By

BOB SCHUMACHER)

Desert Fox became ene of the few greyhounds to better 33seci over 540 m at Queen Elizabeth II Park when he led throughout andi comfortably won the, Garden City Stakes at the Christchurch club’s equalisator meeting on Thursday evening. The feature event for open and limit class dogs had attracted an even field of eight, with the best Christchurch dogs being in Auckland for the country's richest race — the New Zealand Breeders’ Stakes Desert Fox. which is fast gaining a reputation as the swiftest dog to leave the traps in Christchurch, again began brilliantly from the awkward six draw. The long-striding white dog tore along the back straight three Lengths clear of Rua Moes, Moss-Key-Toe, along the rail. Farloc, improving wide. ai.-4 Junior Hobbs. STRONG GALLOP Desert Fox. which has In past| races weakened in the home stretch, had a handy lead on the I horee turn and maintained a strong gallop down the straight t® win well. His time was an impress!-, e 32.Rsee for the distance, only o.2sec outside the track record held jointly by Hobbe Galore and Rise and Shine. By the former New Zealand ehampion. Red Baron, from the South Island open champion bitch. Jetsam, Desert Fox has the breeding and ability to perform with distinction against the best of fields for his owner. Mr Kurt Wehrmann, who also owned Red Baron. The little Cardigan Moss bitch, Moss-Key-Toe, after looking beaten 130 m out, stayed close to the rails and the ground she

■ saved at the home bend enabled ner to hold second by a head itrom Farloc, which came with I his customary strong run wide 'on the track. Tiger Moss, back in the early was doing his best work ; at the finish to take fourth from | Junior Hobbs and Rua Moss, |wnich began splendidly from the ? nd rac ed keenly for 35 * ,P eforc his condition gave out. He looks an early improver. OUTSTANDING RUN run of the night was returned bv the capable HalsweU trained bitch, Eyes. As usual, she was ?w.T’ 7 >£ rox P 9 16 hoxes and standthe leader 10 lengths along the back straight. r>5 U u Old Hobbs-Moss Patches bitch moved past two riva.s and was fourth and within three lengths of the leading trio as they turned for home. szJ? n i Ce s J- ie ou nd racing room, Eyes sped by the pace--sn^? ing c?' hlte Heron in the final always in the leading group, finished resolutely along the outside to catch White Heron on the line. The first race for novice dogs 340 m went to Timmv Havoc, which appreciated the short rP. rint ' The Planet—Debbie i,. ? c do g h as inherited his family s speea from the traps, ” as not finished on over a 40ii i. ■ But after another grand start from box three, he had enough *h Reserve to just withstand |h« ’ated challenges from Topsv I and Vicki Kay, which improved | her position sharply from fifth I at the turn. FAVOURITE WINS The puppy race was won by the favourite, Rockford Lord, in the excellent time of 21.0 sec. The powerful light fawn Pee Dee dog is destined for top company. All having his first start, went boldly for second after being unsighted early. Kim’s Miller brought her record to two wins and one second from as many attempts on the track when she came strongly on the inside to hold off Kiwi Princess and the fastfinishing Kiwi Express in the Gordon Kingston progressive stakes. Happy Ending, Ms* Se af o rth

and Paspaium progressed from maiden company with Ms’ Seaforth, the fastest and most impressive winner. Paspalum’s win led to some jocular comment. He is by Muldoon from Worthiness. RESULTS Parklands Stakes.—Maiden 540 m: Happy Ending (I. Prouting) 1, Donnelly’s Flash (J. Tuite) 2, Leica Tiger fP. J. Gardiner) 3. Time: 34.0. Valley- Inn Stakes.—Novice 340 m: Timmy Havoc (J. J. Walsh) 1. Topsy fj. Hammond and M. Ruston: trainer, Ruston) 2. Vicki Kay (Mrs E. Parsons) 3. Time: 21.1 Bond Street Stakes.—Puppy 340 m: Rockford Lord (I. Fronting) 1, AU Profit <B. T. S. E. and A. D. McGrath; trainer, B. McGrath) 2, Scene Stealer tJ. J. Walsh) 3. Time: 21.0. Redwood Stakes.—Progressive 540 m: Bluey CW. J. Morris) 1, Whichforth King (S. Valentine and Mesdames D. Valentine and E. Robson; trainer, S. Valentine) 2. Streaky Hobbs <Mlss C. Mitchell, P. Bellaney and J. Raplev: trainer, S. T. Taylor) 3. Time: Garden City Stakes.—-Limit-open 540 m: Desert Fox (K. Wehrmann; trainer, J. J. Walsh) 1, Moss-Kee-Toe (Mrs C. A. Martin) 2. Farloc (R. J. Heeney) 3. Time: 32.8. Philip Morris Stakes.—Novice 540 m: Smokey Eyes (K. J. Davison) 1, Stargazer (Weedons Syndicate; trainer, G. Wilson) 2, White Heron (G. H. Kingston) 3. Time: 33.3. Gordon Kingston Stakes.—Progressive 540 m: Kim’s Miller <L. R. Joel) 1, Kiwi Princess (Mrs C. Harrison: trainer, N. Harrison) 2, Kiwi Express (Mrs J. Schultz; trainer, D. A. Schultz) 3. Time: 33.5. Avondale Stakes. — Maiden 540 m: Ms’ Seaforth (Builders Risk Syndicate; trainer, D. Schultz) 1, Tudor King (R. C. Kingston) 2, Delta Dawn (A. C. Trinder) 3. Time: 33.4. Farewell Stakes. — Malden 540 m: Paspaium (H. A. Brown and T. Green; trainer, Brown) 1, Tumai (Miss V. Barnes and Mrs L. Kingston; trainer, R. Kingston) 2, China Doll (G. Dench, trainer, W. Gill) 3. Time: 34.5.