Firpo fought best for win at good odds

Press, 24 October 1978, Page 22

Firpo fought best for win at good odds

By

J. J. BOYLE

birpo, in the experienced hands of Graeme Mein, triumphed at odds of over 25 to one in the North Canterbury Racing Club’s Rangiora Centennial Cup yesterday.

Firpo gave Jipcho a start of close to three lengths from the home turn and beat *hat long shot by half a leneth. “But if you had asked me on the turn if I could beat Jipcho. I would have said no.” Mein said later. "1 gave mv fellow a crack with the whip before 'he home turn, and did not feel he was making any headway after Jipcho at the time.” Mein who also won .he Hororata Cup and the C.J.C. Islington Handicap earlier this vear on the Greymouthowned geldine d>d not have much regard for Firpo’s chances yesterday after three unplaced runs since the Grand National meeting. “I didn’t think it was a ride worth ‘wasting’ for.” said Mein, who ’•ode the bav over, weight yesterdav. Mein -aid Firno had shown' previously that he could: make marked improvement■ with a race, but thought the horse would be better at the’ New Zealand Cup meeting.j where he has been entered | for the Cup and the Benson* and Hedges Gold Cup.

Firpo is by Pep. a New 'Zealand Derby winner, from ' Chert Suisse, a daughter of I Turon. He is raced by his [breeder,. Mr Cliff Marsh, who ! was a skilful boxer as a j youngster, and named his | young horse after one of his • boxing heroes. The top-weight. Sir James, [carried 57kg bravely into third a length behind Jipcho ' in the Rangiora Centennial I Cup. David Walsh was forced to ' make two sprints on the [chestnut, one of them in an ■ attempt to get over early from a wide barrier position, and another in a vain attempt to get to grips with Firpo and Jipcho in the! straight. Sir James, which is trained i at Ashburton bv Jim Lalor,; lost little caste in his attempt to give awav big lumps to his rivals Fourth, i less than a length behind him j yesterday, was his stablemate I Joss. Joss’s fourth was creditable after an interrupted run in a field that packed up going to the 600 m. Greysun was also held up when Young Kelly and Prince

Cicero drifted through the field near the 400 m. Royal Dell, the second favourite, was fifth, fading close home after looming up in the middle of the track on straightening. Entourage was a fair sixth after running about the middle of the field on the inside for most of the way. FAVOURITE FAILS Hi Roona, a stablemate of Firpo, was a firm favourite for the Black and White Handicap, second leg of the T.A.B. double, but ninth was the best he could manage in a field of 11.

A speedster usually able to dictate the pattern of sprint races when clear in front. Hi Roona came under strong pressure from Tarrion and River Lady in an early tussle yesterday. Later Colfix dashed to the front, but Sean’s Gift closed doggedly, and beat her by a neck. This was Sean’s Gift’s first start for the season, but the Greymouth-owned, Nelsontrained Trophy Case gelding was equal to the demands of a fast-run race at 1200 m. His performance yesterday

will bring him in for some attention when he returns to Riccarton, where he won the Waltham Handicap last Easter. Sean’s Gift is owned by Mr A. E. Biddington, and prepared by C. Pfefferle. He was ridden yesterday by Leslie Collins.

El Nicky, the tenth favourite, led the others in after the first two in yesterday’s sprint race. She was two lengths better than Blue Sage; then there was half a length to Royal View. Gotta Go was sixth, finishing three positions ahead to his stablemate, the disappointing Hi Roona.