Elfin beats favourite in Roydon Lodge Stakes

Press, 26 May 1979, Page 21

Elfin beats favourite in Roydon Lodge Stakes

Elfin, at odds of 19 to 1, raced away from the favourrite, Regal Cheval, at the end of the Roydon Lodge Stakes at Addington Raceway last evening. Her success credited her sire, a New Zealand Derby Stakes victor, Willie Win, with his first winner. Her win qualified Elfin for the final of the series at Hutt Park next Saturday, but her owner-trainer, Bob Negus, said he did not think he would start her again this season. There was much to enthuse over about her success. She was well back early after starting from the

, second line, and she was ■ forced three wide inside the ) last 800 m. j Then she gave the speedy ■ Regal Cheval a handy start ■ from the straight entrance, r mounting a powerful run , which carried her to the : post with an advantage of two lengths after one mile • in 2min 4.35, a respectable t time for such a cold night. , It was a New Zealand > record for a filly. : Regal Cheval’s placing i was full of merit. She was wide for the first 500 m and ■ then took the lead before - the 800 m. : She could not match Elfin s over the final piece, but

lasted for second by half a neck from Floriis Frost, which put plenty of dash into her last 100 m. Patsy Patron did quite well for fourth, shading Chantilly Belle. The third favourite, Bonnie Lass dropped out to eighth. Elfin completed an oncourse treble worth $5474.85. The first leg, the May Stakes, saw Crow Bar gain an easy win over Paul’s Express, which came home well from the tail of the field. Augustus Rex, which received an interrupted passage in the home straight, was a good third, ahead of

Star Fernando, which did not come on after racing in the open. Velebit gave Zane Gregg his first winning drive in the middle leg, the Ham Stakes. He was well back early and came with a determined run on the home turn. Crossgate, in trouble near the 600 m, was not disgraced in second place, with Tarmarga making ground strongly for third, followed by Best of Fame and Radiant Ruler. EEE TEE FAILS Backers of the favourite, Eee Tee, received a poor run in the Nigel Craig Handicap. She broke early and then again near the 900 m before being pulled up. Westminster Abbey, trained at Ashburton by Peter Cates, led almost throughout and was untroubled to hold off Kimrock and Stormy Morn, with Sir Henry a fair fourth. Viewy’s Pride and Elgin Lady had an intriguing tussle throughout the Winter Handicap, with the former getting home by a neck. Doody Townley and Elgin Lady pressed Viewy’s Pride and Michael de Filippi hard for 700 m, after which the last-named went on in the lead. Then, when de Filippi looked as though he was going to give Viewy’s Pride a “breather” Townley moved Elgin Lady off the fence with 100 m to run. Elgin Lady sustained a determined run in the straight, but Viewy’s Pride responded in grand style and lasted to win by a neck. Maudey battled on for third, but she was almost five lengths away, just ahead of Wee Adios, and Cameo Gold, which improved sharply but wide on the home turn.