Lord Module out at start

Press, 4 February 1980, Page 18

Lord Module out at start

Special correspondent Auckland

As a lead-up to the Auckland Cup next week-end, the feature event at Alexandra Park last Saturday only served to confuse early calculations, with the main attraction, Lord Module, taking no real part in proceedings. . Without taking anything away from the eventual winner, Katy’s Command, and runner-up Trevira, the Choysa Marathon Handicap was robbed of much interest by a mix-up at the start which put Lord Module and Roydon Scott out of the race.

Roydon Scott, which made a “flier” from the 10m mark, had to be checked off a horse in front of him and in the process broke and veered in.sharply onto Gold Rand.

Gold Rand was badly checked and his driver, M. McKendry, was temporarily dislodged. Lord Module, oh the insideof Gold Rand was severly hampered in the incident and was squeezed against the fence. “I was lucky to stay in the cart.” Lord Module’s trainer-driver, C. Devine, said afterwards. “I was nearly tipped over the running rail.”

Lord Module lost a considerable amount of ground in the incident and Devine did not knock the horse about once they finally caught the tail of the field. “There was no use trying to do the impossible,” Devine commented later.

Lord Module ran on without a chance and finished eighth. Katy’s Command, however, did ah that was required of her in winning. After leading early, she settled to trail as Trevira took over the running at the! 1800 m.

i She responded generously [to the urgings of her train-er-driver, G. Reaks, once round the home turn and, after a tense struggle with Trevira, wore him down to win by a neck. ’ ‘ '

Delightful Lady kept, up a strong run from midfield to third, two lengths back, with Rocky Tryax a similar distance away fourth. It was Katy’s Command’s eleventh win and fifth this season. A great favourite with Alexandra Park patrons, she must be in with a sound chance next week-end. Reaks confirmed that Katy’s Command would be competing in the Inter-Domi-nion championships in Sydney next month. Devine was philosophical about Lord Module’s bad luck on Saturday. “That’s the first time he’s been out of the money in 16 attempts. I suppose he had to get beaten again some time. “I just hope he gets as good a draw in the cup next week as he had tonight.” . The champion, which started from No. 3 on the front on Saturday, was just getting into stride after a shade slow beginning when disaster struck.

Trevira’s. game second placing earned him more friends for the cup, and Delighful Lady showed that she will be a force to be reckoned with next week-end with a bold effort for third. The Christchurch horseman, W. F_. Fletcher, has every reason to think that Alexandra Park has a “hoodoo” for him.

On two previous trips north with Roydon Scott, Fletcher has had bad luck with the horse — in the N.Z. Messenger he struck trouble in the running before finishing a creditable fifth. In the Great Northern Derby he broke and lost all chance at the start.

On Saturday in the Choysa Marathon, Roydon Scott made such a good beginning, said Fletcher, that he was almost on top of a runner in front of him.

Fletcher attempted to adjust the horse’s hopple shorteners but Roydon Scott broke and veered in sharply onto Gold Rand which cramped Lord Module. Roydon Scott fell and lost a lot of skin from his off foreleg. 4