Mares round off double at Oamaru

Press, 22 August 1978, Page 20

Mares round off double at Oamaru

Special correspondent Dunedin Lady Belinda impressively won the South Island handicap, feature race at the Oamaru Jockey Club’s meeting yesterday, and another mare. Blue Sage, gained a runaway win in the second leg of the T.A.B. double. Lady Belinda, which looked bright and muscular to start her tt-year-old season, came from well back after starting from near the outside. . Raced by Mrs Doris Shirley, of Washdyke, Lady Belinda is trained by Mrs" Shirley’s husband. Bill and daughter. Colleen, who accompanied an air lift of horses to England last Saturday. Lady Belinda has the Ashburton Cup as her immediate mission. Lady Belinda won by a neck from Watelse. which came along the inner from mid-field. Young Kelly came from well back for third and Sparrowhawk, fourth, was another fast finisher. Mt Aorangi. the favourite, dropped out to tenth after being within striking distance of

the leaders at the straight entrance. Show Keeper stopped to third last. He looked in need of the run. Michael Mein, who rode Lady Belinda decided to stay with her stablemate, Slick Chick in the second leg of the T.A.B. double, and his earlier engagement, Blue Sage, was taken by Ron McCann. Blue Sage, raced by Messrs Scot Grey, of Oamaru. and Ivan Horrell, of Invercargill, the breeder, led out, then trailed and careered away in the straight to win by five lengths. “She can’t handle W'et tracks, she has only struck four hard tracks and won each time,” said Peter Williams, who trains Blue Sage at Riccarton with his father, Joe. Blue Sage now has her sights on the South Island Thoroughbred Stakes. Postscript and Morava Boy, won both divisions of the first maiden race. Postscript which was having his first start is a half-brother to Trieste, the smart 3-year-old filly of last season and the good steeplechase win-

ner, Berwen. He is owned and trained by Stan McKay. Te Jocama returned a smart performance to win the Glenmoa Maiden, coming from near the rear on the inner at the 500 metres. Young Command justified his favouritism when he made a one-horse finish of the J. M. Shaw Memorial Steeplechase. Young Command headed off the pacemaker. Super Guy at the 1400 metres after racing in third place about 10 lengths off the pace. Young Command gradually increased his advantage and at the finish was 20 lengths in front. Jockeys who rode in the race were critical of the lack of width of the first fence. They felt there was just not enough room for 13 horses to take the fence soon after the start and another panel is warranted. This appeared the case to the writer and there was considerable crowding. Never Know and Spindler both parted company with their riders in the skirmish. There is an international flavour about Captain Scott, which gained his first win

as a jumper in the Spring Hurdles. By the English sire, Arctic Explorer, Captain Scott is raced by Mr Terry Flinch, a Japan-based United States Navy man and his wife, and trained at Riccarton by Ross Simpson. Mr Hinch bought Captain Scott 14 months ago and has yet to see the horse. Et Tu, which is being aimed at the Graduation Etakes at the Southland meeting in October, won his second 2-year-old parade at Oamaru yesterday. Et Tu, a brother to Brutus, which finished second to Royal Choice in the Graduation Stakes last year and went on to win the Aurora Handicap at Trentham, shaded Hunting Call, a halfbrother by Grey Gull to Charwood, a member of Rex Cochrane’s team. There was two lengths to Mull O’Kintyre, a Grey GullRed Bow gelding in Pat Corboy’s stable and a head to Royal Terrace, by Noble Bijou. Ray Harris, who trains Et Tu at Tuahiwi, has set his other promising Balios 2-year-old, Scotch Mist, for the McLean Stakes at the Otago spring meeting.