Regal Light extends record of sire

Press, 12 November 1977, Page 21

Regal Light extends record of sire

The fine record of the progeny of the dual New Zealand Cup winner, Lordship,! was continued at Addington; Raceway yesterday when Regal Light, from Mosgiel, outfinished a strong field in the Smithson Handicap. Lordship sired the winners of three races on Tuesday and Regal Light was his second yesterday. Lordship also sired Captain Pete and Lordable, the next to finish after Regal Light. The Smithson Handicap was the third leg of the oncourse treble, the other two being won by Spartan Prince and the long-shoot, Ascot Fair, The dividend was $765.45. Regal Light improved• from the back inside the last! 800 m and won most con-j Vincingly. There was merit in the] placing of Captain Pete as I

■ he was very wide for much of the first 800 m. j Ascot Fair, a winner at 5 the Masterton meeting last Saturday, was still one of the tailenders starting the run home in the Preview Stakes. He maintained a determined run wide out and got up to shade Alonzo, another well back for most of the way, by half a neck. Crown Top, which joined Overcheck in front on the home turn, was only a nose away third, a neck in front of the favourite Jaunty Hanover, which covered much extra ground. " Spartan Prince and Lord Septemus completed doubles i for the meeting in the first (two races on the proi gramme. i Before the Yaldhurst ■ Handicap Doody Townley (hoped that he would be able > to keep Spartan Prince back

in the field. “Everything went according to plan,’’ he said. “1 want him to learn to race in the field. I had to keep him back a bit further than I had hoped, but he was always going well.” Spartan Prince improved wide out at the straight entrance and surged past Rip Silver to win by a length and a quarter. Lifeline, an early breaker, got up to shade Rip Silver and Beach Road for third. Josephus did well for fifth. Power Cut broke when handy near the 200 m.

Spartan Prince will race again on Tuesday night.

How he fares then will decide whether he races again

on the final night. He needs one more win to gain an open-class rating. . Townley will not start him in the Free-For-All next Saturday, but will probably

reserve him for a $5OOO race for four-year-olds at Addington on December 31.

Lord Septemus led throughout the last 2100 m of the Author Dillon Handicap and Leo May did not have

to extend him to win by more than two lengths from the hot favourite, Glide Time, which came fast after, being pushed four back on the rails. Glide Time recorded a grand Derby trial, pacing his last 800 m in 59.15, and his final 400 m in 28.65.

Winning Chance fought on

for third, ahead of Frisco Frost and Smart Doll. Fraser Kirk took advantage of a slack pace to move American Chief to the front at the 100 m in the Adios Pace and the gelding had too much stamina for his rivals, winning by two lengths from Worthy Lord. Lancia came on for third, ahead of Sunseeker and Our Location. Raced in partnership by the president of the Metropolitan Trotting Club (Mr Eugene McDermott) and the trainer, Felix Newfield, American Chief is now a C 6 pacer. There should be more in store for him before the meeting ends. Southern horses filled the first three platings in the Show Day Stakes. Mighty Smooth and Sole Chance, from Gore, were first and second, with Tetarney, from Omakau, a sound third. Mighty Smooth’s win was ]a highlight of the day. He was well back after starting

from the second line and improved three and four wide to take a short advantage near the 1000 m, but it was not until starting the home turn that he was clear. Sole Chance challenged gamely, but could not get closer than a length and a halt from the winner. There, was a similar gap to Tetarney. Lauraine Hanover and Wikam came from near the tail of the field at the 800 m to head the others.