One successful treble ticket

Press, 15 June 1978, Page 18

One successful treble ticket

From G. K. YULE Blenheim Mia Mana gave Nelson stables their second success of the day when she wore down Dash Up and beat him by half a head i.i the Frank Scott Memorial at Waterlea Park yesterday. The race was the final leg of the on-course treble, the other two being won by Tutaki Lad and Armbro Winter. There was only one success-, ful ticket on the com-1 binat i o n , which paid $2844.75. Dash Up tore to a handy lead earlv in the run home' and looked to have the' ot.iers well beaten, but Mia I Maria responded well for 18-I year-old Brian Court and got I up to win ay half a head.

Raced and trained by ’"Snow” Campbell. Mia Maria is by Scottish Hanover from Unreal, a mare purchased from Court’s father. Bob. who has trained an occasional horse in the Nelson district. Brian Court, an employee of the Roydon Lodge trainer, Fred Fletcher, was having only his fifth race drive and his second in an event for probationary horsemen.

Cheekv Wave made up ground for a fair third, well clear of the disappointing favourite. Protea. which was given every charce.

Brian Hill could not win a race on his home track, at Richmond but he produced I Miss Cromwell to win the second Scollard Handicap. Hill took over the training o' Miss Cromwell last April after she had built up a long list of placings. The daughter of Protector and Shendi Lass is held on lease by Mr Don Thomas, a fishing-traw-ler engineer, of Nelson, who had not previously owned a winner. Mr Thomas was at sea yesterday and did not see his mart win. Miss Cromwell, along with other members of the Hill team, will nrobably race next at Rangiora, but after that her future is in doubt. •'Don Thomas has the right to take a foal from her before he returns her to Dave Oxnam and he might put her to the horse next spring,” said Brian Hill.

There was a keen finish i for the other placings, the favourite. Paul’s Express, ; beating Wairenga by a nose for second, with Sailing On a similar distance away, 'ahead of Lady Everdina. Matakai Royal, a borhter I of Shendi v <ay, the dam of Miss Cromwell, sired Tutaki [Lad, winner of the Grandstand Handicap. He beat the [unlucky favourite. Ponderosa Ginge, by a head, with a ■length to Lunar Lad, and | narrow margins to Arion I Hanover and Kemra Bank. Matakai Royal, a brother

chased for i(>- by his Christchurch part-owner and trainler, John O’Callaghan, for whom he was driven by Ron Bryan. FIRST WIN Armbro Winter, driven by lan Walker, gained an overdue first success in the First Scollard Handicap. He outfinished Waitaki Supreme, driven by Michael de Filippi, by a length, with a neck to the outsider, Wayne Martial, driven by Colin de Filippi. The favourite, Buckley, pulled himself out, while the second favourite, Lord Apollo, finished two places in front of him in sixth position after a bad start. Max Miller had a change of fortune when he drove Terrace Frost to a last-stride victory, in the Creswell Handicap. The race was almost over before Terrace Frost worked out from a pocket and he got up to shade Ayesha Gold by half a head. Then there were noses to Georgie Girl and Oversight. Next came Coringa Bill, checked near the 700 m when Safe Hanover broke, and the disappointing Waralene. Coringa Bill will probably go to North America shortly. Subject to a veterinary examination, he has been (purchased by Mr Brian Meale, of Auckland FOR U.S. Kevin Holmes has added

three horses to his team to be taken on to the United States. Luther and Dutch Command have been purchased and he is to take the useful trotter, Be Free, owned by Mr Clarrie Rhodes, of Christchurch, with him. John Noble waited at Blenheim for only one drive and it was a successful one behind Lucky Dud, which had been placed twice at Nelson. He kept the eight-year-old back beyond midfield for much of the race and it was late when he set out after the pacemaker. Roddy Dee and got up in the last few strides to shade him by a neck. A length and a half back there was a big line-up for third, Crafty Key taking that placing by a nose from Polight, which shaded Lord George and Port Ligar. Starborough gave Noel Berkett his first win on the circuit and Nelson stables their third success for the day when he cleared out early in the run home in the C.R. Rabbits Memorial. He lasted it out solidly to win by a length and a quarter from Zarzuella, which was handy throughout Single Lord made ground for third a neck back, with a head to El Joli, which shaded Highland Lad. Ganelon, Pine Ship and Thurber’s Boy were almost in line next.