Golan’s wanderings were a help to Dandaleith

Press, 18 July 1977, Page 16

Golan’s wanderings were a help to Dandaleith

Racing and trotting

Special correspondent ellington Dandaleith snatched the Winter Oats at Trentham on Saturday in just about the last stride, but really was presented with first money by the hot favourite, Golan.

Winner of the Parliamentary Handicap by eight lengths on Wednesday, Golan had looked a good thing for the Oats and was backed accordingly, but after hitting the front fairly early in the run home and appearing to have the race in safe keeping he swerved badly inwards, almost hit the running rail, and was checked sufficiently to let the outsider. Dandaleith, through for a neck win.

Tony Williams twice had to stop riding in attempts to straighten Golan. The first time about 60m out when Golan wandered from near the centre of the course, and again about 10m from the line when he had to haul back on the reins. The judicial inquiry acknowledged

that Wiliams was obliged to take the action.

The Hastings ownertrainer Alan Pringle was naturally delighted with Dandaleith’s victory in his biggest race to date. Pringle said that he had been considering taking Dandaleith over to Australia — but as a hurdler.

Now, though, the win changes the complexion of the trip entirely, and the four-year-old might well be a Melbourne Cup starter. Pringle, who bought Dandaleith only nine months ago, will be taking his two-year-old, Gold n’ Glory, for a crack at the important three-year-old races in Australia in the spring. Dandaleith had two previous wins this season to

his credit, the Mungaroa High-weight at Trentham in January, and the Carroll Memorial at the Wairoa r.’eeting in February. He is a son of Palm Beach out of the Golovine mare, Zalamera, and is closely related to Topsy. Zalamera’s dam was Querida, out of Swanee, a sister to Foxhaven and dam herself of the Chalmers winner, Dyak. Swanee also foaled M’ssissippi, which in turn threw Topsy, Creolian, a good stakes winner, and Awaroa, dam of the good two-year-old Counsel. Pringle said that he had no immediate plans for Dandaleith and had no idea where the gelding would next race. Cattle King ap eared to

out of things going to the turn, but he ran on well under some strong urging from Roger Lang to take third a length and threequarters behind Goland Lang said, “It was a good run, but he really needs the ground to be looser than it is.”

Wanbin made relative!) light work of completing his double for the meeting in the Onslow Handicap. He won the Stewards’ Handicap on the first day and was ridden by Ken Reggett both times.

Reggett sent his mount through quickly in the home straight and kept him going, well to hold off My Binnie in the closing stages, a neck separating the pair on the line.

Lichelle unwound an eyecatching run wide out on the track to take third, a length and a half further back.