Our Location has narrow win in Methven Cup

Press, 22 September 1980, Page 27

Our Location has narrow win in Methven Cup

By

G. K. YULE.

Our Location’s liking for grass tracks carried . him through to a narrow victory at the expense of Wing Commander in a keen finish to the Methven Cup on Saturday. This week he will have his most serious test to date in the Ashburton Flying Stakes, in which his rivals will probably include Lord Module.

Our Location gave his driver, Michael de Filippi, a few anxious moments at the straight entrance, where he began to hang aqd get off balance. However, when properly straightened up, he came on strongly and wore down Wing Commander to win by a head. Our Location was handily enough placed in the fourth line for most of the way. The Lopez Hanover seven-year-old is raced in partnership by his Templeton train-

er, Reg Curtin, and Mrs Lillian Grubb, of Westport, for whom he won three races, all on grass, last season. He has now earned a C 9 assessment.

Wing Commander drifted at the start, but recovered quickly to lead for the last 2500 m. He looked likely to be lucky to hold on to third some 70m out, but made a renewed bid near the end, just failing to get up. Tinwald, which paid $11.50 for a place, was always handy. He was inclined to pace roughly at times and was not disgraced when he tired a shade to third, half a length from Wing Commander. The favourite, Trevor Hodgen, five back on the outside, surged up to the leaders early in the run home, but could not carry on and fourth was the best he could manage, two lengths in front of Bionic Star, which had every chance, but could not

quicken in the run home. In to View did remarkably well to finish seventh. He was not properly in line at the start and must have been 60m from the leaders on settling. He was still last into the straight and put in a dour finish.

Dreamy Dragon. the fourth favourite, broke when handy turning for home. The royally-bred Amaze, having his first start for the season and his second altogether, gained an impressive win at the expense of the dominating favourite, Bionic Star, in the T. S. Harrison Stakes. Bionic Star started from 20m and received a rocky run early. He rushed to the front 1200 m out and lost little caste when beaten three-parts of a length by Amaze.

Super Byrd made an impressive race debut by finishing third a little more than a length back, with a similar margin to Worthy

Del, with a nose to Cheval Du Roi.

Amaze is a colt by Out to Win from the open-class mare, Torrent, a top performer a few years ago. Amaze is her fourth winner from as many of her foals to have raced, the others being Torcon, Torrid and Elite Del. Another, now three, is now in Australia. Her only other live foal is a yearling filly by Out to Win, which Mr Connolly says is not for sale.

He is raced by Mr and Mrs Jim Connolly, of Temuka, and his Washdyke trainer, Scobie Harley. “He lacks experience, but is a beautiful colt to do anything with,” said Harley, “I’ll see how he comes through that race before deciding on his next start. He’ll start in the Waikouaiti Stakes at the end of October and then we’ll discuss the possibility of paying the late entry fee to start him in the Derby.”