Mellseur shows class and courage in Stakes

Press, 23 September 1980, Page 22

Mellseur shows class and courage in Stakes

Mellseur showed all the courage and class that has earned her top ranking among New Zealand mares with a brilliant first-up victory for the season in the Geraldine Racing Club's South Island Thoroughbred Stakes at Orari yesterday. In winning this one, the 17th race of her career, the six-year-old daughter of Causeur and Queen Mellay brought her stake earnings for her Gtago owners, Messrs Fred Anscombe and Ted Smart, to just over the $lOO,OOO mark. . Although Mellseur had not raced since winning the

.Canterbury Jockey Club’s George Adams Handicap at Riccarton .at Easter Hector T. Anderton, at 39, the youngest member of one of Wingatui’s best-known racing families, produced her in terrific racing trim. Twenty - one - year - old “Nick” Harnett, who was associated with Mellseur in several of her major successes.last season, never had a moment’s doubt about the outcome of yesterday’s $12,000 race/ While Karozshah and Killjoy disputed a torrid pace and Gretna Green tracked them closely, Harnett had

Mellseur going kindly in fourth spot. He took her forward io join the leading line as they made the straight and it was all over then. Mellseur coasted home a length and three-quarters in advance of Colada, which had shared the fourth line with Belle Camille and Dan’s Joy till the home turn. Although weakening, Karozshah battled gamely to hold third. She was a length and three-quarters from r jlada and lasted for her placing by half a head from Raise A Lark, one of the tailRaise A lark, one of the tailFlight ran on well wide out

for a close fifth, and she was followed in by the weakening Gretna Green. Hector Anderton, jun., has no firm plans about Mel-; Iseur’s immediate programme. He said after yesterday’s race that he might line her up next in the open sprint on the second day of the forthcoming Otago meeting then have a tilt at Gore Cup honours or, perhaps, the Harcourt Stakes at Trentham on Labour Day. He is also having thoughts about taking her further north for the Avondale Jockey Club’s $60,000 IZB Allrounder early in November.