Kanga's Lad emerges as Gold Cup prospect

Press, 6 November 1978, Page 18

Kanga's Lad emerges as Gold Cup prospect

By

W. R. CARSTON

The brilliant late bid of Kanga’s Lad to snatch a last-stride victory in the Jockey Club Handicap at Riccarton on Saturday might not have settled the question of favouritism for the Canterbury Gold Cup on Wednesday but it certainly convinced many good judges that he is again going to be a force to reckon with in the Canterbury Jockey Club’s $14,000 weight-for-age event.

In coming to Riccarton early — he was brought south after the first day of, the Wellington spring meet-; i..g last month to give him I plenty of time of “settle in”, —- Kanga’s Lad’s Hastings 1 trainer, Tony Burridge. made! the right decision. Almost] from the day he arrived ! Kanga’s Lad has thrived and s consquently for Burridge and] I Mr Barry Neville-White, his j partner in the racing of the; Gold Sovereign six-year-old. the trip is proving lucrative, ; This latest victory was 1 Kanga’s Lad’s third for the season and his second at, Riccarton — he was also successful here at the Grand National meetin;, in August. This time round he is unbeaten in two starts. His! j campaign on this trip south [ began with an impressive | victory in the Banks Peninisula Insignus Flying Handicap at Motukarara last Saturday week. In both his races on this latest campaign Kanga’s Lad has been handled by the Riccarton horseman, Maurice Thornley. Whereas the combination had the result in ■ safe keeping a good way out Ii t Motukarara it was a I touch-and-go affair on Saturday.

Thornley secured a good

run for Kanga’s Lad close to the pace in the Jockey Club Handicap but when the time came to make a challenge he found he had nowhere to go. ”1 was following Loma Lass and 150 m out was convinced that the best I could hope for was third." he said after the race. “But when a gap finally came between Loma Lass and Grey Way my mount took it brilliantly and his determination got us home.”

Loma Lass and Grey Way i emerged from Saturday's • race as strong contenders ;for Members’ Handicap honours on Wednesday. At I first it seemed that one then, I the other would win until i Kanga’s Lad came on the (scene and there was only; |the nod of the head — in; [Loma Lass’ favour — be-i [tween them for second and! I third. | Kanga’s Lad got there by; a head and Loma Lass took; 'second by a nose. The •favourite, Polly Porter, was • far from disgraced in finish-) ling fourth, half a length back. In the closing stages; I she made ground promis-1 ingly from mid-field but the eye-catching run came from i Sean’s Gift, which came' [from last 600 m out to lead in the others.

In winning the Jockey Club Handicap Kanga’s Lad completed a T.A.B. treble for North Island stables. The first leg, the Welcome Stakes, went to the Te Awa-mutu-trained Fantan, and the second leg, the New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas, was won by the Te Rapa-trained celt, Teddy Doon. The combination paid $1205.30. The Wingatui-trained Melli seur proved too strong for I his rivals in an all-South Island field for the Waimairi High-weight, first leg of the

course treble, but the southerners were no match for Life’s A Gamble and Gay Heiress, the north's lone runners in the second and

third legs, the Brighton Handicap and Spring Plate respectively.

The Mellseur-Life’s A Gamble-Gay Heiress combination paid $557.50. Dark Isa and Amalgic, both from Gore stables, formed the quinella for the Hagley Handicap, first leg of

the course double, but Wingatui’s Wyella had to survive an inquiry into alleged interference before her third placing was confirmed. D. J. Thistoll, the trainer of Jaws, which finished fifth, lodged a protest against Wyella being awarded third place, alleging that she had caused interference to Jaws 300 m from the finish. After hearing submissions from Thistoll, from his son, Paul, who rode Jaws, and evidence from the I stipendiary stewards, from Maurice Campbell, the rider lof High Tension, and Alister 'Robinson (Wyella). as well as viewing various films of the incident, the judicial committee dismissed the Iprotest.

In making its decision the ■ judicial committee found 'that there had been a minimal movement inwards from Wyella on to Jaws at the same time as High Tension came to the end of his run and drifted out into Jaws’s line of running. They found that both these factors contributed to the interference received by Jaws.

The combination of Dark Isa and Kanga’s Lad in the course double paid $17.15 for $1 and the concession, with Loma Lass, was worth $7.45.