Thurber Globe continues on his winning way

Press, 8 January 1980, Page 15

Thurber Globe continues on his winning way

Bv

G. K. YULE

Thurber Globe gained his third win in less than four weeks when he sped down the outside to shade Cheltenham at the end of the E. r l . Mercer Mile at Addington Raceway last evening.

Less than a length separated the first five past the post, with Thurber Globe coming from last on straightening up. First Cheltenham and then Ryal Pont and Armbro Star looked to hold winning chances, but they could not counter the) bulldog finish of Thurber Globe, which won by a head after nacing the mile in Imin 59.35.

“He was flat keeping up with the back of the field until the turn, and then he found another gear,” said his driver, Bob Nyhan, after Thurber Globe’s win. “He’s pretty good, but very green and doesn’t know what it is to race hard.”

A gelding by Lordship from Thurber Lady, Thurber Globe is trained at Rangiora by Frank Murfitt for Mr Ted Lewis, a farmer in the same district. Cheltenham moved up to the pacemaker, Ryal Pont, near the half-way mark and:

took a short lead just insidei the last 200 m. He fought off; a renewed bid from Ryal Pont and then Armbro Star; came- at them, with El Guago only half a neck from Armbro Star after making ground solidly over the final piece. Wing Commander returned one of the finest runs of the meeting when he was successful in the Members’ Stakes. Along with Flora Dor he was checked when Passable broke near the 1900 m, but he recovered fairly quickly and looped the field, to have control about the 1200 m. Flora Dor followed him up and the pair drew out to a short advantage.

Wing Commander’s superior staying powers carried him through by two lengths from Flora Dor in a most respectable 3min 19.7 s for the 2600 m. Hurricane Kirk came on for third, shading Hurricane Squire, Truant Lass and the hot favourite,

I Philippa -Frost, which lost] her position in the middle part. FORCED WIDE I Spot Luck, a winner two 'starts earlier at Motukarara, upset calculations in the Grand Stand Handicap. He was allowed to coast along at the rear of the bunch until near the 800 m. He then began to improve, but was forced very wide, being outside at least six horses turning for home. He had too much in reserve from then on and won handily by three lennths. Maudey had her chance and held on for second, with Sure Mart, an early breaker, doing well for third, just ahead of another bold finisher in Kate’s Return, which broke at the start. Bellabill was close by fifth, shading Fair Alda. Gilnockie Tower came from far back with a pow-| erful finish to catch Stop’ The Clock close to the end 1

lof the Plurripton Stakes and he won by a short length. [ Glen Fair, which tried to I lead for the last 1900 m, held I third, ahead of Poseidon, Celevale Bay and Boltin, which was never in the clear in the straight and looked unlucky. I Real Lumber. broke through for his first win since being trained by Trevor Thomas at Belfast when he held the favourite, West Street, out by a nose in the Addington Stakes. Real Lumber raced some way off the pace for most of the way, but he. was fairly handy cn the home turn. He fought on strongly and lasted it out gamely. West Street, which looked beaten on the home turn, came on for second, a neck in front of Merry Chase, which came from well back at the 200 m. Nandina Maestro tired a little to fourth, just ahead of Winfield Lord.