Racing and trotting Maria Zana just lasts in tight finish

Press, 31 March 1977, Page 24

Racing and trotting Maria Zana just lasts in tight finish

From J. J. BOYLE

Nelson

The skills of Bob Skelton have seldom been more apparent than when he landed Maria Zana a narrow winner in the SmirnoS Handicap, first leg of the Nelson Jockey Club's T.A.B, double, yesterday.

Mana Zana found just! enough after a sustained battle to nose the favourite,! Dark Top, away from vic-1 Maria Zana has now won four races in the interests of; Mr and Mrs Denis Matthews. of Waikanae. and Bob' Skelton has been the sue-' cessful rider on three occa-; sions. But when she won her! first race at the Marlborough meeting last year her rider: ■was Paul Thistoll. From Ric-i! carton and her odds were approximately 70-to-one. Mr and Mrs Matthews.; Mho race Maria Zana on lease, plan to have theiri mare back at this year’s! Marlborough meeting next! month. “We have always been, treated well at Blenheim andL that might be the next start; for her,” Mr Matthews, wholi

i trains the mare said yesterday. Mr Matthews in his victtory speech yesterday showed a nice piece of sportsmanship when he com- ; miserated with the coninections of Manuka Street, ! the Nelson-owned Riccarton--1 trained four-year-old which was killed in an accident on the track the day before. Manuka Street was a strong I early favourite for the race tMaria Zarna won yesterday. Bob Skeiton had Maria Zana in front early yesterday, but gratefully settled for the trailing position I when Medalist loomed up on I his right. From the 1400 m to the straight Maria Zarna and i Skelton retained that trailing; position while Dark Top fol-< (lowed two positions further back. i Medalist surrendered his I lead to Maria Zarna well up!

- the straight but the Zamazaan mare did not have any - respite. Gary Phillips fired n y Dark Top’s challenge and f the early response to his ur- - gings left the Hawera jockey • fairly confident. :, They were dead level! -about'som out. but Maria i Zarna found a little bit extra i in the last few i. Medalist saved third com- ? fortably enough and Riccar- = ton’s Sound Barrier did best of the South Islanders in i finishing fourth. Bold Lion -icame from last for fifth, but i; never gave his backers high ii hopes. i i! The South Island came outj >iof ihe White Robe Lodge! I 'Handicap better the Riccar-j; ;j ton-trained Gotta Go meetling the demands of the occa- ■ •jsion comfortably to win by . a length and a half from the ;! O t a k i-trained American- 1 downed Kayenta. i

The Ashburton apprentice > David Walsh rode Gotta Go i confidently giving him ! plenty of time to get balanced in the small field. He took closer order just behind Lone Hand when the topI weight ran up three wide on I the home turn, burst through a gap and won with (something in hand. This gave Gotta Go an unbeaten record in two starts at the meeting for the Riccarton trainer, Tom Lalor, who races the Greek God gelding in partnership with Mr R. L. Williams, of Greymouth. ! ' Kayenta came from last for her second a length in (advance of Lone Hand. Hi Roona, a stablemate of the winner, tired to fourth again finding 1400 m more than he could manage after pacemaking.