March Legend's dam cost only 65gns

Press, 20 March 1978, Page 18

March Legend's dam cost only 65gns

By

J. J. BOYLE

For the small outlay of 65gns at an Avondale sale several years ago Mr Don Nash, of Takanini, secured the filly that was to become the dam of March Legend. On Saturday March Legend became a six-figure earner by winning the Wellington Racing Club’s £35,000 Marlborough Mile, at weight-for-age. Mr Nash also prepared the five-year-old for the race, but was quick to show his appreciation of the skills of Bill and Graeme Sanders, who educated and prepared March Legend for his early racing.

When Mr, Nash started on his retirement Bill Sanders suggested he might fill in his time pleasurably and profitably by taking over the 'training of March Legend. Bill Sanders also suggested that Alwyn Tweedie would be the, ideal rider for March Legend because of the strength and fitness ol the former Otago horseman. Tweedie rode March Legerid from the middle of the field on Saturday, bringing the five-year-old forward into a challenging position near the 300 m. Once he struck the front March Legend never looked likely to surrender his lead, bravely though Orchidra finished. Orchidra, the each-way favourite, was in tight quaretrs on the inside early, and her rider, Bruce Compton, said he was thankful Alwyn Tweedie had made every effort to arrest the drift from the outside,

Orchidra came strongly once Compton brought her out of the pack, and the power of her finish buttressed the belief of her Woodville trainer, Noel Eales, that she is now ready to go on to notable deeds at middle distances. She will probably be tried beyond the metric .mile in the Awapuni Gold Cup next month. Eales does not plan to race the star of his stable at Easter. Clive Comet outfinished Vice Regal to finish fourth. Big Skipper did best ofi

the South Island-trained horses in the race, finishing fifth.

Grey Way was a lacklustre eighth, and Nuriootpa was tenth, fading quickly after a brief dab near the home turn. The withdrawal of Lord Mercury from the H. R. Chalmers Stakes left the last of the major staying races of the season without a strong form candidate. Win favouritism went to the Matamata-trained Bermadez, the mount of Bruce Compton but this five-year-old had to bow out to a contemporary, the Hastings* owned and trained Dandaleith. Dandaleith set standards for versatility with this win, in record time of 3min 17.5 s for the distance. He showed

just as sure mastery of Trentham’s winter conditions by winning the Winter Oats for Mr A. P. Pringle last season.

Dandaleith is a brown gelding by Palm Beach from Zalamera by Golovine; One of the most interesting staying influences in his pedigree is his third dam, Swanee, winner of an Auckland Cup for the late Mr Dave Blackie.

Marie Zana, the 2/1 favourite, was given every possible chance in the running, but ran a one-paced fifth.

Seven Forty Seven, at nine year the veteran of the field, carried top-weight of 58kg doggedly into fourth, but in a gap of a length and a quarter behind the third horse, Even Son.

DRIVER FINED.—J. Cooney, the driver of Stormy Affair in the Conference Mobile Stakes at Alexandra Park on Friday night, was fined $4O for not taking sufficient corrective action after his horse hung out badiy in the home straight.