Notable ‘first’ for Ted Lowe in Methven Stakes

Press, 17 April 1978, Page 16

Notable ‘first’ for Ted Lowe in Methven Stakes

By

G. K. YULE

The Hinds trainer, Ted Lowe, has usually concentrated on racing his team in open-handicap events and before Saturday he had started only three two-year-olds in totalisator events.

West Street credited his owner-trainer with his first success in this type of race when, after a keen tussle with Prince Rapide, he won the Methven Two-year-old Stakes. All of Lowe’s other two-year-old starters had contested the Sapling Stakes only, Atanui finishing third to Phillmark in 1965, Wag fourth to Glamour in 1969 and Alienton fifth to Sam Carter in 1970.

All three are closely related to West Street, a gelding by Tarport Coulter from the well-performed Corwar. Lowe’s other representative in Saturday’s race. Wing Commander, a gelding by Flying Lord from Fair Alda, by Armbro Del from Corwar, put in a remarkable run for third, even though he was seven lengths from Prince Rapide. Wing Commander was “wiped out” at the start and settled at the rear of the field, apart from the favourite. Marble Arch, which broke hopelessly early. Wing Commander was still near the tail of the field starting the long run home. He sustained a determined run dnd gave the impression that he has tremendous potential as a stayer. | In the meantime Doody Townley was keeping West Street fairly close to the pace. Prince Rapide tore clear near the 800 m and West Street was pushed into the open soon after. He joined the pacemaker early in the run home, took a short lead, and, although inclined to race greenly when

hotly challenged near the end, he lasted it out by a head.

“I suppose he had half the three-quarters of a length on Prince Rapide with 200 m left, but he didn’t know what was expected of him,’’ said Townley. “1 just had to keep nursing him and hoping he would keep going. It was a splendid run, really,” he added.

“I’ll probably start them at Addington next month,” said Lowe. “They are two nice horses and I’ve no intention of giving them more than another start or two before putting them aside till the spring.” DECISIVE WIN

Townlev had another win later in the day when the fine three-year-old fillyj Hano Direct, a place-getter at Addington Raceway last Wednesday, beat Del Maria and Question Mark quite decisively in the Lauriston Handicap. When Townley discovered the track was heavy for the first race he gave serious consideration to scratching the filly. However, an approach to officials brought a lukewarm response and Townley decided not to force the issue, with happy results.

The race was penalty-free for Hano Direct, which Townley races in partnership with his wife and Mr Fergie Girdler, of Timaru. If she has suffered no ill effects from a hard slog over 3200 m on Saturday, Hano Direct will race at Addington tomorrow.

The race was noteworthy for the failure of the firm win favourite, Scotch Tar, in the hands of his ownertrainer, “Slim” Dykman, to do better than ■ twelfth.! Scotch Tar broke several! times early after beginning from 40m.

Dykman was questioned by the stipendiary stewards about the horse’s poor racing performance. ’He told them the horse could not handle the conditions and also that he had invested money on this horse at the T.A.B. Evidence of this is to be produced before the stewards. GAME EFFORT Ascot Fair, which was checked in the Cheviot Cup a week earlier, showed gameness in a hard finish to shade Dreamy Boy in the J. McCloy Memorial Handicap. Jenlight came on for third, ahead of Jaunty Hanover, which lost a few lengths at the start, Paula Brigade and Johnny Regalo.

Adironack and Fallimento collided at the start. The stewards later ordered that Adironack be restricted to mobile-start events for the remainder of the season. Ascot Fair has now won six races this season for his southern owners, Messrs C. H. Humphries and R. B. Wilson. His trainer. Felix Newfield, said on Saturday that Ascot Fair would go out for a short spell. “He was going to have one more start at Ashburton at the end of the month,” said Newfield, “but now that he has won I’m not certain if there are any

isuitable races for him.” Fraser Kirk,- who is assoi ciated with Newfield’s I stables and has won several i races with Ascot Fair this ! season, drove Remorse to an I all-the-way win in the L. L. Richards Memorial Handicap. In what was her first i success for more than 12 months for her Mount Hutt owner-trainer, Colin McLaughlin, Remorse held off Crown Top' by a shoe | length, with the three-year-old, Orfeo, overcoming a slow start for a fine third. The softish track brought heavy support for Roseland Lord. The rather surprise favourite had his chance, but could not quicken and sixth was the best he could manage. There was little* joy in the Allan Smith Memorial Handicap for backers of the two favourites, Castle Derg and Robbie’s Talent. The last-named lost his driver near the 600 m when well back. Castle Derg made a belated bid for third after receiving a shocking run on the inside. He did well to finish a neck and half a length from Armbro Rhythm, which showed gameness to wear down Rock On.

There was only one ticket on Tigerade, a stablemate of Ascot Fair, and First Encounter, winners of the first two legs of the on-course treble. The holder, a young Christchurch man, did V not have to reinvest on the final leg, the Two-year-old Stakes, and received $3858.80 for his $1 ticket.