Times Up gains fifth success

Press, 18 February 1980, Page 21

Times Up gains fifth success

Times Up gained her fifth win, for the season, more than any other in her age group, when she was successful in the Two-year-old Stakes at Addington Raceway on Saturday.

As well she has had two placings and has won $7500, an amount exceeded only by Graham Brown with $9925 among the first-season runners.

; Times Up was always reasonably placed in what Was one of the slowest races for this age group this season. She did not have to be driven out by Eddie Cowie to hold out Lomondu Host by a short length. • Almighty, the pacemaker, battled on for third, ahead of Firewood and the favourite, E! Regale, which lost his chance in a mix-up near the 300 m.

Times Up will race next in the Timaru Nursery Stakes on Saturday when she will be solidly supported to extend' her already splendid record.

The hardy Truant Lass came fast from near the tail of the field starting the last 250 m to wear down Nandina Maestro and win the Marine Handicap. It was her first success of the season for her Methyen owner-trainer, Bert Stevens, but she had contributed something towards expenses with eight platings from 22 other starts. Truant Lass is now a C 6 pacer and will start from 10m in the Cheviot Cup and the Hororata Cup early next month. The favourite. Hand's

Down, lost much ground early and did well to finish third, ahead of Sepoti and Jericho. GREAT RUN

The old-timer, Excalibur, a 12-year-old, came with a great run to shade Relinquish, with Maudey, Spot Luck and Lee Mir close by at the end of the Autumn Handicap. He was the outsider of the field, paying $38.05. He carried no tickets in the final leg of the second on-course treble, holders of tickets on Relinquish receiving a dividend of $787.80. An inquiry was held into interference to Lee Mir by Maudey in the run home. It was decided to relegate Maudey from third, to fifth and to promote Spot Luck and Lee Mir to third and fourth respectively. Ricky May, the

driver of Maudey, was found guilty of careless driving and suspended until after February 28. Scotch Tar, which started from 50m, was badly checked by the breaking Ailsa Hanover with less than 600 m left, losing all chance. Game Way, although becoming a little “rocky” in the run home, did slightly better than Best Choice to win the Waimairi Handicap by half a head. Both horses look capable of further early wins.

Merry Chase raced right up to a placing on Tuesday at Methven, with another win in the Twilight Handicap. She has now won seven races for her Annat ownertrainer, Les Thomas, and should not bq difficult to

place to advantage in the coming months. Philippa Frost paced another sound race for second, followed by Ascot Fair and Fallimento. Aran Hunter, driven by Robert Anderson, showed improvement on his recent racing when he shaded Big Idea, Karate King and Wilma’s Chance in a keen four-sided finish to the Air New Zealand Probationary Qualifying Heat.

D’Or Favori, a half-sister to Mandarin, which started his North. American campaign with a win recently, showed courage to wear down Follow Up and beat him by half a head in the Burwood Stakes. Velebit was only half a neck away third, clear of the tiring Reuben James and Seafield Rose.