Taksan noses Arwon out

Press, 23 October 1978, Page 12

Taksan noses Arwon out

NZPA-Reuter Melbourne Racegoers were astounded when the former New Zealand five-year-old, Taksan, won the $156,000 Caulfield i Cup by a nose from Arwon on Saturday. The finish was one of the most dramatic in the cup’s history with most of the 45,000 racegoers and commentators believing Arwon, another former New Zealand gelding, had the race as they crossed the finish line. But after studying two photos, stewards confirmed that Taksan. a grey gelding by Kazakstaan from Queen's Court, was the winner.

To add to the thrilling finish Arwon’s jockey, Ron Quinton, lodged a protest against the winning jockey, John Duggan, alleging interference around the 1800 m mark.

After a hearing lasting 25 minutes, stewards dismissed the objection and Taksan retained the race. Taksan, backed from 20 to 1 to 14 to 1, was the eighteenth New Zealand-bred horse to win the Cup since 1953.

Arwon, a five-year-old by Auritzo from Fair Flash, which raced in New Zealand as Flash Guy. Third in the race, three and a half lengths behind Arwon, was the rank outsider, Father's Day, which got into the race only after Over the Ocean was scratched.

I The win by Taksan gave I the trainer, t. J. Smith, his i first cup victory since the (legendary Tulloch, 21 years i ago. j A syndicate comprising the Sydneysiders Pat and Peter Samuels, Merv Brown and Albert and Monty Millson owns Taksan. The shock of the race was the poor performance turned | in by the favourite, So [Called. The four-year-old I Sobig-Entire, ridden by I Brent Thomson, firmed from 3 to 1 to 9 to 4 but nevet | got near the fence. ! The favourite was at least ; six or seven horses wide going out of the straight and that finished his winning prospects. He finished fourteenth. Thomson said So Called was beaten before the turn after being trapped wide leaving the straight. Thomson had the difficult job of overcoming his wide No. 17 barrier. He urged So Called out of the gate and sprinted him down the straight. He went into the turn five deep and had no alternative but to keep sprinting, and along the back straight was in a position to win. Near the 1100 m, So Called received a check and dropped back and then found the early effort too much and faded to 14th. Lefroy (Decies —Beaute de L’Or), 13 to 2 third favour-! ite, was another big disappointment, finishing seventeenth after being one of the leaders into the straight. Lloyd Boy, fourth favourite at 8 to 1, had the run of the

race on the fence, but afte; being fourth coming to th« home turn weakened t< (finish seventh. The New Zealand entire i Big Skipper, which startec iat 20 to 1, finished eignti behind Lloyd Boy, while the other New Zealand entrj I Vice Regal, which easec 'from 33 to 1 to 40 to 1 be fore the start, finished six teenth. The New Zealand-bred In ceptor (Oncidium — Chan tai), was fourth, and tin top-weight, Ming Dynasty fifth. CAULFIELD CUP Sl.rti.OOO; 2400 m. 7/8 TAKSTAN (14l 52 J. Duggan 1 6/5 ARWON (17) 48 R. Quinton 1 18/17 FATHER'S DAY (19) 48.3 i Also started: 15/14 Inceptor 4/4 Sting Dynasty. 11/10 Crepel lox. 5/7 Lloyd Boy. 8/6 Lavache 10/12 Stormy Rex. 14/15 Belmuu Lad. 16/16 Marell To Glory. 12/11 Marceau, 1/1 So Called. 3/2 Bit Skipper. 13/13 Lady Athenaia 9/9 Vice Regal, 2/3 Lefroy. 17/11 San Raphael. Short J lid, len Time: 2:27.5. Win: $12.70. Places $4, $3.60. $34.35. Quinclla: $51.35