Kintyre beats Canterbury rivals easily

Press, 8 May 1978, Page 32

Kintyre beats Canterbury rivals easily

By

G. K. YULE

Quite a few reputations crashed heavily when the Invercargill gelding, Kintyre, sped away with the heat of the Sires’ Produce Stakes at Addington Raceway on Saturday.

A place-gettrr at three ofi his five starts in his home province. Kintyre has always had a big reputation, but southerners felt there were three or four others superior in ability in their district.

However, Saturday’s win showed that Kintyre is a top youngster and he will probably start favourite in the $5OOO final of the event next Friday.

A gelding by Good Chase, sire also of the pacemaket and runner-up, Prince Rapide, he is out of Witchlight, an unraced mare by Local Light from Witcha, by Stonnyway. He is trained at Invereargil! b.' Andy Laidlaw and was driven by Peter Jones.

The race was far from inspiring. Prince Rapide was soon in front, with Kintrye trailing, and the others well spread. Prince Rapide scorched over the opening 1600 m in about 2min 6s, giving the stragglers no chance of making up any leeway. Kintvre came out about the 200 m, mastered Prince Rapide easily and came on to win by almost five lengths in 2min 36.8 s for the 2000 m, 1.4 s outside Noodlum’s New Zealand record.

Saben made ground steadily for a distant third, clear of Dam Bromac.

I Three of the four favourites made no impression. Augustus Xjx was fifth after having his chance; Trio was ninth without ever raising the hopes of his supporters; and West Street was eleventh after cutting capers

during the running. If excuses could be offered for any runner, it would be Avalon, which began well only to be badly checked after less than 200 m. Not surprisingly he did not recover, but he could do better on Friday. EASY WIN Southland stables started the night well when Craig Del held out the favourite, Sir Robin, with ease in the Free Holmes Stakes. Craig Del will be taken to the Auckland meeting, opening next Saturday, by Maurice Skinner, who will have Haughty Romeo from his own team at Alexandra Park.

Craig Del is trained by Henry Skinner, who said that ' after competing at Auckland, the four-year-old would race at the Canterbury Park meeting on May 24 and 26. Canis Minor returned an astounding effort to win the Caduceus Stakes and deservedly earned the Travelodge horse of the meeting award made by trotting journalists.

He raced in the open for most of the way and forced the pace with the tearaway favourite, Jack Ruler, over the final 1100 m.

Jack Ruler paced his opening 1200 m in Imin 29s and 1600 m in little worse than 2min, but Canis Minor had his measure before the 200 m and then had to pull out all stops to hold out Remorse by half a head. Tineka made ground steadily for third, a fine ran as the winner took 2min 31s for the 2000 m, with Jack Ruler, not surprisingly, tiring to fourth. Game Pointer, one of the more promising young troto ters in Canterbury, gave further evidence of his potential when he outclassed the field in the Vodka Handicap. Del Maria made ground for second, just ahead of Excalibur. Master Brett had his chance and was fourth, ahead of the unlucky Westport mare, Ailsa Hanover. About Now, in trouble early, made no race of the D. F. Glanville Stakes. Denis Nyhan did not hurry her and waited until close to the straight entrance before asking her to move. She raced past her rivals with ease and won by more than two lengths after sprinting her last 400 m in 295. Her owner-trainer, Bill Doyle, is undecided about

taking her north for the Rosso Antico Stakes next Saturday. The pacemaker, Pridevale, held on gamely for second, ahead of Powerful Junior. Hano Direct, which gave Doody Townley a difficult drive, was fourth.

The Trotting Stakes winner, Kotare Gunner, broke just after the start and again at the 600 m.

John Douglas and Jim Curtin both experienced their first winning drives at Addington Raceway. Douglas drove Lord’s Secret to an all-the-way win in the R. W. Saunders Stakes, adding to the fine record in recent weeks of the horses trained by Robert Dunn.

Curtin gave Ladyship Khan a perfect trail in the Improvers’ Handicap and she raced away from Truant Lass and Danum Girl. Ray McNally drove the third horse, Danum Girl, and ins creased his lead in the contest for the Maurice Holmes Trophy. He now has 21 points, four more than Murray Rennie, who moved into second when Lion Brown took fourth. Rennie has yet to drive a winner in the contest, but he has been a consistent place-getter. The favourite, Don Cortez, paced roughly.