Waitaki Gamble holds on

Press, 21 August 1978, Page 18

Waitaki Gamble holds on

Waitaki Gamble gained her most important success When she led practically from end to end in the Christchurch Handicap at Addington Raceway on Saturday. The eight-year-old daughter of Waitaki Hanover had a busy time last season and her 32 starts resulted in a win at Hutt Park in June and seven placings. Jack Smolensk! was content to let her set an easy pace throughout Saturday’s race and she held on gamely to beat Power Cut by a neck. Power Cut tracked Waitaki Gamble, but did not give Felix Newfield a comfortable

drive near the 100 m. Near the end he was closing rapidly on the leader. The backmarker, Waipounamu, fought on for third, but he was three lengths back, a head in front of Charlie Wood, which broke after 400 m. The hot favourite, No Response, paying $2.10 for a win, was four back on the inside for most of the way. He tried for a run inside Aka Boy with less than 200 m left, but there , was insufficient room and he had to be eased back. He made a renewed bid near the finish, but it was too late. His turn should come next Saturday, Charlie Wood was later disqualified for pacing and No Response was promoted to fourth. SINGLE LORD WINS

Single Lord showed his true ability in the Metropolitan Committee Stakes. The Richmond-owned Lordship stallion was in the open for most of the race and he raced to the front with more than 400 m left. He had too much in reserve for his rivals and came on to win handsomely by five lengths in the smart time of 3min 26s for the 2600 m.

Single Lord had a long trip to Christchurch on Friday. His driver, George Hill left Richmond with him at 5.30 a.m. intending to travel by way of the Lewis Pass. However, after an hour and a half snow forced him to turn back and he had to come to Christchurch down the east coast.

Single Lord will probably be back for the New Brighton meetings next month, there being no suitable class on the second night of the national meeting. His win gave George Hill his first [ success at Addington. Ganelon, after being a fair [way back until late, came on [well for second, a short length in front of Blue Schell. The favourite, Columnist, made ground for a splendid fourth, ahead of Hanover Nelson and Hurricane Kirk.

The well-supported Tribunal was handy enough until the turn, but produced nothing extra and finished twelfth. FOUGHT ON

The grand four-year-old, Hano Direct, held off a determined challenge from Beach Road by a neck in the Intermediate Handicap. Hano Direct was never far away and joined Ailsa Hanover in front on the home turn. Beach Road did not receive a good run over the! last 800 m and he was far! from disgraced. The veteran, Excalibur, battled on from a! handy position to beat. Del; Maria for third, with Fabian, an early breaker, next. Passable gave further evidence of the depth of strength of three-year-olds in Jack Smoienski’s team| when he made a dashing

race debut in the First Canterbury Stakes. A gelding by Tempest Hanover from the useful winner, Margaret Marie, he is raced in partnership by Smolensk! and Mr John Wildermoth.

Stop the Clock, prominent throughout, held off the unlucky Orkan by half a head for second. Orkan did not work clear until inside the last 100 m and put plenty of dash into his finish. Affluent did well for a first starter to finish fourth, followed on Sonnellino.

The favourite, Oppenhein, was a shade slow from 20m and was never in a challenging position, finishing a distant tenth. BACKMARKER SCORES Abbe Princess, the lone runner on 10m, made short work of her rivals, in the August Handicap. She improved from the rear near the 800 m and heid off a late challenge from Garzandy by half a length. Smart Doll had her chance and was a

third, ahead of tyPort View was last, and a distant one, on settling after an early break in the Templeton Handicap and her half-head win at the expense of Jascoe was meritorious. The race was run at a fair dip and Port View came on generously for Dennis Nyhan to advance to a C 6 assessment. Jascoe was well back for much of the way and there was merit in her placing. The pacemaker, Joie de Vivre, battled on for a distant third, a nose in front of Bess Hanover.

The dominating favourite, Allspice, almost went down on his nose at the start. He settled in mid-field, but produced no dash.

Timely Robin and the pacemaker, Gentle Tag, fought out a keen finish to the Lightning Handicap, with the former getting home by a narrow margin. The second favourite, Lord’s Secret, was a moderate third. Timely Robin is closely related to Passable.