Racing and trotting Outstanding performance by Windvale Beau

Press, 28 May 1979, Page 25

Racing and trotting Outstanding performance by Windvale Beau

Special correspondent Dunedin Windvale Beau, the budding top-liner, provided the star turn at the Oamaru Jockey Club’s meeting on Saturday when he came from a seemingly hopeless position to win the Members’ Handicap.

It was the best performance the writer has seen on the Oamaru course since Show Gate won her maiden race there as a three-year-old in 1972. Windvale Beau drifted Boon after the start of the 1200 m race and was last of J 6 runners with 500 m to travel. His rider, Philip Jones, took him through the field from the 400 m and the Beaufort Sea — Graeroel three-year-old gained the

- upper hand near the line and ; i won going away by a length “ and a quarter without Jones ■ i resorting to the use of the ' - whip. i “He was all out of stride i i early and I just had to sit • on him and let him get balf anced. He got a run after--3 wards.” said an unperturbed >1 Jones after the race when ?I explaining his tactics to e * Windvale Beau’s owner--11 trainer, Cecil Stewart. 8 Stewart is undecided

about the next start for Windvale Beau but he has him nominated for the Otago winter meeting next weekend and the Otago Hunt meeting - week later. Wingatui has been a happy hunting ground for Stewart in the past. Napiat wound up his five-year-old campaign on a winning note when he stalled off Ultimate and the fast-fin-ishing Lady Belinda in the Kentucky Handicap.

Napiat, which has been in the care of Kevin Morton in Christchurch, since Easter, returned to Otautau with his part-owner, John Carran after the race. Carran, who races Napiat with his wife, Evelyn, has prepared Napiat for his other 11 wins, including one other at Saturday’s distance, 1600 m at Invercargill as a three-year-old. Seven of his wins have been at 1400 m. Napiat is not at his best on winter tracks. Ultimate overcame a slow start to get within a head of Napiat and he looks close to winning form. There was considerable merit in Lady Belinda’s third placing as she was towards the tail of the field with 500 m to run.