Harrison Stakes easy for Lord Brigade

Press, 25 September 1978, Page 18

Harrison Stakes easy for Lord Brigade

In the absence of both Sovereign and Affluent, Lord Brigade scarcely had to draw deep breath in winning the T. S. Harrison Stakes, for three-year-olds. Driven by Cecil Devine, of Templeton, who owned last year’s top three-year-old, Lord Module, Lord Brigade, after racing handy to the lead, scurried away to win as he liked with Spartan Queen and Up and Go, which was making his raceday debut, filling the minor berths.

Lord Brigade is raced by Devine in partnership with his wife, and was purchased as a two-year-old by Devine from Mr Frank Murfitt, of Rangiora, who bred the gelding. Plans for the talented Lordship gelding are uncertain, but by what he has done in his brief racing career to date he looks classic material, and looms as a favoured contender for New Zealand Derby honours in November. The dual New Zealand Cup winner, Lordship, was credited with his third winner at the meeting

when Single Lord proved far too classy in the Methven four-year-old Stakes. Single Lord settled four back on the outer, careered to the lead about 200 m out, and from then on the only aspect in doubt was the length of the winning margin. The official distance was two lengths — it could have been lengthened — and, rambling home to take minor money came the Smolenski pair of Scottish Loch and Columnist. Single Lord is raced by George Hill, who drives the

bay, and his brother Brian-

The brothers bred their classy winner from the Bachelor Hanover mare, Single Girl, which won several races as a trotter, and was given to Brian Hill by the Hinds horseman, Ted Lowe.

The victory was Single Lord’s third career win and his second from only two outings this term. He was previously successful this season when he slammed those of his age in the New Zealand Metropolitan Committee Stakes (2600 m