Great day at Nelson for de Filippi brothers

Press, 18 June 1979, Page 23

Great day at Nelson for de Filippi brothers

Racing and trotting "1

From

G. K. YULE

Nelson Twelve months ago the de Filippi brothers, Michael and Colin, drove 12 winners during the two days of the Nelson Trotting Club’s winter meeting. On Saturday they got away to a splendid start when they had five wins, Colin being successful three times. Last year the first day score was four to three in favour of Michael.

Both of them had one win; with a member of their own! teams on Saturday, Colin i qualifying Ota Creek for the! Baaz Watch Handicap to-i morrow with a stylish win i over Flagship in the' Wakefield Hotel Handicap. She received a splendid run until well into the straight, challenged along the inside and without being asked for a serious effort, she won by a length and a half.

True Peterson came from I far back on the home turn I to cut Sidi Rizegh out of al third in the last stride. The favourite, Steelfield, which is under offer to: North American interests, was a disappointing seventh. He was slow away, but put little dash into his run and was always battling. Ota Creek will meet opposition quite a bit stronger in the first leg of the T.A.B.

I double tomorrow and she' [might be all out to match | Paul’s Express, a desperately I unlucky third to Orphan Lad :and Nugget in the Caltex :Gold Cup on Saturday. Paul’s Express lost ground at the start and he was five back on the rails in a: packed field for much of the race. His chances looked hopeless racing to the straight. Peter Yeatman had to change course several times with him and he put in a tremendous final sprint, a neck and a head separating the first three. Paul’s Express will only need to receive a slightly more favourable run to come out on top. But Ota Creek is a safe beginner and she can be relied on to take up and maintain a handy position. Nugget’s placing on Saturday was a sound one and be must be prominent again. Deluxe Circle was another to have every chance on Saturday and she went quite well to hold fourth ahead of the second favourite. Alta mura, which could produce nothing extra over the final 200 m after receiving a splendid run. Orphan Lad has been penalised 10m as a result of

his splendid win on Satur-i day. He lost ground at the! start, but recovered quickly! and Wes Butt sent him to the front after about 600 m. Several runners tried to pressure Orphan Lad, but the four-year-old by Schell Hanover, skilfully ’ handled by Butt, held them all off. His extra handicap tomorrow should not worry him. Colin de Filippi won both races for trotters, driving Gerry’s Girl in the Dianthus Girl Handicap and Tigerade in the Stan Lowe Memorial. The win of Gerry’s Girl was popular as she is trained on the course by Michael Austin for Mr Ray Glanville, of Richmond. She is the first horse owned by Mr Glan- ( ville. who paid only $6OO for her as a yearling. “She was a real handful [when first we tried her.” ! said Austin. “but she’s [becoming reliable now.” i Austin is hopeful that she |will go on to good form. The three-year-old, Charlie [Glass, competed the quinella i for local stables when he (fought on for second clear |of Abaco Isle and the (favourite, Irton Glen. Michael de Filippi had to wait until the seventh race, the Norwich Handicap, for his first success. He allowed Loyal Wave to track Miss Coquette, driven by his brother, and then he raced away to win with ease by a length. Individualist, in the open for much of the way, was a useful third, ahead of Regal Law and Boltin, which was last with 300 m left. Three races later Clare Armbro returned a splendid performance to win the Goodland Handicap. She (broke and lost 30m, but re-

covered more quickly than she did early in the day in the H. Lowe Handicap, a race in which she made ground for sixth. Patiently driven, Clare Armbro strode past Lord Apollo and Paleface Lad with ease inside the last 200 m and won going away by a length and a half. She [was a dominating favourite (for the race. Particularly (heavy support coming from! | on-course patrons. She will be a popular (choice in the Kirby’s Handiicap, second leg of the T.A.B.' double tomorrow. Clare Armbro’s improved showing came under official scrutiny. The explanation of de Filippi that he would have finished much closer in the earlier race with a more favourable run was accepted.