Merman gets up in last stride to win

Press, 9 June 1980, Page 28

Merman gets up in last stride to win

PA Auckland Merman handled the very heavy ground better than any in the Cornwall Handicap, first leg of the T.A.B. double on the third day of the Great Northern meeting at Ellerslie on Saturday and ran out a handsome winner from Golden Fox and Happy Union.

To the disappointment of most bettors on the big, 2200 m event, neither Judena nor Van der Hum, the first and second favourites, appeared likely to pay a dividend. Judena came in gamely for fifth but Van der Hum was. well back in tenth place. Ridden with nice judgment by Greg Chitty, Me'rman waited on the leaders, Bunvaro and Golden Fox, until into the last 250 r.. He then made a strong bid down the centre of the track and, with Bunvaro fading, went on to run down Golden Fox close to the line. There was only half a length in it, with Happy Union showing his best form since back from a spell when threequarters of a length away third. Merman is a small six-year-old gelding from Te Awamutu, ...where he is trained by Mr G. B. Taylor, part-owner of the horse with his wife. This was his fourth win at Ellerslie and his best. Merman was a well-back-ed third favourite for the Cornwall but it was an alloutsider finish in the second leg, the Visitors’ Handicap when seven-year-old Inkys Gcid shaded Sarong for an upset win.

Inkys Gold, winning his first race for three years was thirteenth win favourite and Sarong was fourteenth. Sarong tried to win in front all the way and Inkys Gold, after being taken wide to challenge by Debbie Stockwell, headed her only in the last stride to score by a head. There was a length

to Cullimore who beat Wanbin and Even Dollars in a photo-finish for third. The main jumping event went to Stipulation, which was much too good in the Campbell Hurdles and Fancy Edition (McGregor Grant Steeplechase). Fancy Edition, which had been first and second in minor races over the country during the Great Northern meeting, stayed on solidly to beat another lightweight, Forty Four.

Favourite Thumbs Orf seemed anchored in the heavy ground and pacemaker and second favourite Bean’s Beau failed to stay after leading for a good part of the journey. T.A.B. code: AR. (Weather cloudy; track heavy.) ORAKEI HURDLES $3000; 2760 m. 3/3 CRAIMAR (5) 61.5 D. Graham 1 2/2 KAUERE KING (4) 65 B. Waters 2 11/11 JOHNNY FAIR (12) 59 W. Hillis 3 Scratched: Candiman, Fair Steve, Ajara, Te Awanui, War Zone. 3 ien, 3J len, nose. Time: 3:28.3. Win: $5.75. Places: $1.90, $1.70, $17.30. Quinella: $12.70. PARNELL HANDICAP $3000; 1400 m. Hl. VICKI BELLE (5) 54 J. Hayes 1 3/2 GREAT AVON (2) 57 C. McNab 2 6/6 TRENDY (3) 56.5 J. Grylls 3 Scratched: Blue Amondo, Furst A’Mour, Noble Wren. Nose, ij len, 1J len. Time: 1:33.71. Win: $12.90. Places: $3.85, $2.10, $3.15. Quinella: $40.25. CAMPBELL HURDLES $6000; 3200 m. 2/2 STIPULATION (2) 59 K. Browne 1 ; 5/4 KAZAN (7) 57.5 p; Hillis- 2 7/6 MANCINI (10) 57.25 K. Smith 3 Scratched: Young Jeff, Clansi, Fair Rose. 3 len, 5 len, J len. Time: 4:02.42. Win: $2.90. Places: $1.85,- $3.45. Quinella: $15.70. MeGREGOR GRANT / STEEPLECHASE $12,000; 4900 m. J 3/3 fANCY EDITION (9) 57 I L. Cavanagh 1 6/6 FORTY FOUR (10) 57 1 D. Gray 2 1 12/11 RUSTY MURA (14) 57 D. Anaki 3 1 Scratched: Fair Faux, Tassaby. I 1, len, 5 len, U len. Time: 1 6:34.58. Win: $6.60. Places: $2.25, : $2.75, $8.25. Quinella: $28.55.

WINTER HANDICAP $3800; 1200 m. 3/3 SWAPS (15) CZ» 51 <3. Grylls 1 5/3 NIP DEE (13) car 54 W. Vance 2 1/1 KING CARL (4) car 54 P. Aiderman 3 Scratched: Wia Nui, Leinster, Shuffles, Shifvaughan. 2 len, J len, nk. Time: 1:18.67. Win: 56.80. Places: $2.40, $2.50, $2.20. Quinella: $24.70. CORNWALL HANDICAP $20,000; 2200 m. 3/2 MERMAN (5) 54.5 G. Chitty 1 9/11 GOLDEN FOX (14) 51.5 W. Robinson 2 7/8 HAPPY UNION (3) 54.5 P. Johnson 3 Others in finishing order: 6/6 Bunvaro, 1/3 Judena, 4/4 Rajah Beebe, 14/14 Kauere Lad, 8/7 Heineken, 10/9 Shahwon, 2/1 Van der Hum, 16/16 Ina Ville, 12/12 Noelani, 13/13 Dark Purple, 15/15 Coober’s Knight, 5/5 Sirtain, 11/10 Shelter’s Gold. J len, 2 len, len. Time: 2:32.29. Win: $7.25. Places: $2.20, $6.30, $4.30.

TECOMA HANDICAP $3300; 2200 m. 4/4 ROSS HUNTER (8) car 50 B. York 1 6/8 PALRAHP (2) car 53 P. Tims 2 3/2 BREAKAWAY (3) 55 N. Tiley 3 Scratched: Louis L’Amour. 3 len, 3J len, 5 len. Time: 2:33.67. Win: $6.75. Places: $2.35, $4.35, $2. Quinella: $81.85. VISITORS' HANDICAP $6000; 1400 m. 13/11 INKY'S GOLD (13) 51.5 D. Stockwell 1 14/14 SARONG (18) 51 D. Peake 2 7/8 CULLIMORE (11) 51.5 B. Compton 3 Others in finishing order: 3/3 Wanbin, 2/2 Even DoUars, 5/5 Saltash, 7/7 Hytest, 6/6 Balkan Chief, 10/9 Sovereign Step, 4/4 Devaney, 15/16 Llanfire, 1/1 Baird of Avon, 9/10 Wild Fire, 11/12 Proud Belle, 16/15 Maori Boy, 12/13 Rubicon. Hd, len, nose. Time: 1:32.84. Win: $38.70. Places: $8.65, $12.25, $5.45. Quinella: $1012.85. FITZROY HANDICAP $3300: 1600 m. 3/5 ALCAMO (11) 53 R. Taylor 1 8/8 FIRE GOD (13) car 51.5 J. Hayes 2 17/17 SARONA (21) 51.5 W. Robinson 3 Others in finishing order: 2/2 Prince A Chara, 4/3 King Acha, 6/4 Stardina, 12/12 Indian Magic, 11/11 Father Jack, 16/16 Dual Purpose, 13/14 Noble Way, 9/10 Cannonade, 1/1 Red Dusk, 5/6 Deino’s Ruler, 14/15 Spinnerin, 7/7 Doctor Dee, 15/15 Craigola, 9/11 Kennygo. 2 len, J len, 2 len. Time: 1:48.03. Win: $7.45. Places: $2.75, $5.65, $28.60. Quinella: $77.65.