Stablemates quinella main event at Dunedin meeting

Press, 25 February 1980, Page 22

Stablemates quinella main event at Dunedin meeting

Special correspondent . • Dunedin The Fantasy provided the. Dennis brothers, with their biggest win in racing at Wingatui on Saturday when she , decisively won the White Robe Stakes. The four brothers, Martin, Ray, Tony and Joe, who train and breed their horses at Woodlands, also provided the runner-up in Saturday’s race. The Twinkle. The Fantasy and The Twinkle are both bv Gate Keeper from The Pixie. The Fantasy earlier won the Warstep Stakes at Riccarton and The Twinkle the Otago Mannequin Stakes. They are the first two foals of The Pixie,

which won the Southland Guineas. She was retired to stud as a four-year-old because of a stifle problem. Her other two foals are The Dimple, a two-year-old filly by Noble Bijou, and a yearling colt by Native Turn. The Pixie has failed to conceive the last two seasons and she is returning to War Hawk at Wanganui. Gate Keeper, the sire of The Fantasy and The Twinkle, has a serious fertility problem and he left only two foals this seaS °The Dennis brothers chose to take the stallion services to Noble Bijou and Native Turn from the three donated by White Robe Lodge for the race. The brothers have a share in Native Turn and Causeur, the third sire whose service was attached to the race. They have been long-time clients and friends of White Robe studmaster, Brian Anderton. Thev sent their first mare to the stud in 1959. That was Eager Lady, the great grand dam of The Fantasy and The Twinkle. The result of that mating was The Guide (by Harken). Earlier, Eager Lady left the hard wearing sprinter The Wanderer whom Anderton rode in 123 races. , , The Fantasy raced in the middle of the field until the straight then finished boldly to win bv two lengths and a quarter from The Twinkle, which trailed the pacemaker. Like Magic.

Mellseur, the favourite, was never in the clear after racing three back on the inner and she finished sixth. Plans to race her in the Air New Zealand Stakes at Ellerslie next month have been changed and she will be aimed for the Chardon Mile on the third day of the Wellington autumn meeting. She has the Awapuni Cup on her programme. Her trainer, Hector Anderton jun.. feels she would be faced with too much travelling if she raced at Ellerslie Yipp’s Secret mastered 58kg to win the Penfolds Handicap with a storming finish from the tail of the field. Keith and Sylvia Robson’s fine mare, which was conceding amounts of up to 13kg to her rivals, is to race next on the second day of the Cromwell meeting next Monday.

Master Grey, which easily won the Chardon Handicap, will be nominated for class one races at the Manawatu meeting next month. , „ Master Grey, owned by Mr Peter Louis, of Wellington, and trained by Hector Anderton jun., has now had five wins and six placings from 14 starts, ail this seasons. He should not be out of depth in class one company judging by his win on Saturday. He disputed the pace in the hands of stable apprentice. Neal Williams, and drew clear by three lengths. Bert Crooks, of Longbush, brought up a century of wins as an owner when Off An’ On easily won the AUanton Hurdles at Wingatui on Saturday. It was Off An’ On’s initial win as a jumper and heralded a successful innings for the Bell-borough-Cascara gelding in that role. Off An’ On. which won seven races on the flat, including the 1978 Riverton Cup, is to be campaigned in the North Island after Easter with his stablemate Jack Dugan.

Mr Crooks, who farm-trains Off An’ On, had his first win as an owner with Oscillate in the second day of the Southland autumn meeting in April, 1948.