Uncle Remus tastes defeat at Te Rapa

Press, 22 February 1978, Page 21

Uncle Remus tastes defeat at Te Rapa

Special correspondent Auckland Lucie Remus bad bis winning sequence ended seiisationally al ile Rapa yesterday when unable ito do better than tnlrd. behind >La Mer and Carlaw. tn the I $20,500 New Zealand Inter- < national Stakes.

The big crowd who had helped back Uncle Remus down to microscopic odds — nis win dividend would have been no more I than $1.30 for $1 — applauded I their favourite on to the track, cheered him when he dashed away in from from the start then sat in stunned disbelief .is ihe gave way to La Mer with 400 m to run, then yielded second place, right at the finish, to Cariaw.

After Uncle Remus they were beaten off. Tamboura (fourth) being three lengths away and two and a bit lengths clear of Big Gamble (fifth). La Mer. remarkable as site Is when at her best, careered away in the last 200 m and was out on her own at the finish by five lengths. It was her fourteenth win from 23 starts. In the nine others she secured six minor placings and her stake earnings are $121,375.

The only times she has been out of the money were this time last year, in the main sprint, in the Auckland Cup just about two months ago and in a 2000 m event at Tauherenlkau on February 6. Perhaps she would not have stayed the 3200 m of the Auckland Cup in any circumstances but her way was not made easier by the buffeting she received during the race.

Al Tauherenikau from all accounts the running went so much against her that she trad no chance at all to show her best. She w-as fifth at the finish, behind Ariana» Exotic. Astelia and Whispers, horses miles below her class.

In this one she was settled by her rider D. H. Harris back in second-last place of tire eight runners with 1600 m of the 2200 m to go.

While Uncle Remus dropped into second behind Ascending with 1400 m to travel, she loped along some six or seven lengths behind them. All in moments. It seemed, she streaked to the front as they came into the last 400 m.

The replacement rider T. G. Williams urged Uncle Remus hopefully hands and heels, then anxiously with the whip, but there was hardly a response. Second place still looked nrettv certain for the champion hut in the last few strides he folded altogether and Carlaw edged him out by a head. The rider of La Mer. D. H. Harris, said he was more than a little hopeful when his mount travelled so well into the last 1200 m. “She was just like her old self when I set her alight from the 800 m. When she came up alongside Uncle Remus I knew she would win. She was paceworking at the finish.” A chestnut mare, owned bv the estate of L. A. Alexander, t h e late nroprtetor of the Wvnthorpe Stud at Waitara. La Mer is in her last season of racing. The managers of the stud have been kind these cart few months to secure a new sire for Wvnthorpe with whom La Mer. they hone, will be mated this coming spring. Once he got clear in front after 900 m Williams steadied Uncle Remus so that the pace slackened annrer’ablv. It picked un when Ascending took over and La Mer’s winning time was a creditable Imin ITBsec. about half a second ontsi'le the track -ecord set b' Good Lord when he won at the Rnval meeting about 12 months ago. No blame was attachable to Williams for Uncle Remus being

beaten. The trainer of the horse, C. M. JUUngs, was first to dismiss any suggestions that the enforced change ut rldei Williams replacing R. D Vance - unglit ha>e had anything tc do with the result. The only excuse, it one could be offered, was that Unde Remus did rather too well between winning at Rotorua 10 da's before this one. Williams said the horse "blew up" afterwards as though he needed the run. JU Ungs said st the week-end lie was fearful the horse had done too well foi his own good. As long as he snows himself to have come through yesterday in good order and there seemed nothing wrong with him as he cooled off. Uncle Remus will meet La Mer again at Ellerslie

on March 4. in the AJr New I Zealand Stake*. 1 Kandwick on March 25. > yesterday would have given 11 wine in a row. hib record luuu ab a th ree-> ear-old being IS I wins, a second and a third from Carlaw's performance must 'Lis owneis who hate him entered : for Sydney at Laster in the IWOOm Doncaster Handicap as well as the Sydney Cup over *Blg Gamble also nominated lfor Sydney, did not do as well as expected. A decision on i whether he makes a trip to Aus | trails wUI be left until he runs ist Te Arohs next Ssturdsy.