Jacks Tram wins after poor start at Rangiora

Press, 10 June 1980, Page 32

Jacks Tram wins after poor start at Rangiora

By

G. K. YULE

After turning in a circus act at the start of the Rangiora Winter Cup yesterday, Jacks Tram showed r are gameness to come out on top at the expense of Ladyship Khan and Regal Guy in a spectacular finish.

It was his first win since he was successful in the Waikouaiti Cup early in November, 1977. However, he has done little racing since then. He split a pastern bone after that event and was turned out for 12 months. Then last year he suffered a bad stone bruise, losing the sole of the foot before the trouble cleared.

His win was not completely unexpected as he did well for fourth to Jericho at Ashburton a week earlier. Yesterday he swung round at the start and then reared. “As he came down his front feet whizzed past my ear,” said Dick Langford, who drove Lord Logan through inside him. Jacks Tram is trained near Kaiapoi by Trevor Ballantine, who races him in partnership with Mr Don Percy. He is a seven-year-old gelding by Arkle from Stylish Marie and, all going well, he will be prepared for an early spring campaign. Paul Hampton improved three wide with Jacks Tram from near the 1400 m. “He had cover for most of the way after that and was going well,” said Hampton. The field bunched racing to the straight, with Jacks

Tram taking a short lead inside the last 100 m. He lasted it out well to win by half a length from Ladyship Khan, which had trouble getting through inside the pacemaker, Regal Guy. The Raider, which was shuffled back to the rear, had to wait until the straight entrance before he could be swung wide to challenge. He did remarkably well to get up for fourth, half a length from Regal Guy. Then, in close order, came Dainty Judy, Lord Logan, Coo’s Boy, Bronze Regal and Trevor Hodgen, which was never clear of a pocket on the rails benind Ladyship Khan. Wickliffe had little difficulty justifying favouritism in the Magnet Handicap. He began splendidly and was never further back than third on the inside. He quickly gathered in the northern visitor, Cheyenne, which had tried to lead from the 800 m, and came on to win quite handily by a short length. „ . . Prince Nugent, well back for much of the way, improved on the home turn and fought on gamely for second, seven lengths in front of the tiring Cheyenne. Glen Fair was right up fourth, shading Reddition,

with a short break to Yankee Bomber. Cousteau followed up a third on the first day of the recent Ashburton meeting with a rather narrow win over Royal Scotch in the G. I. Morris Memorial Handicap. Cousteau moved to the front at the 400 m and re-

i- sponded well to win by half a neck. a They were the only two e vitally concerned in the fing ish. Double Blue, handy all n the way, took third seven r. lengths away, with Bonnie - Lass shaping like an early e winner when she finished :- fourth.