Orchidra has close call at Trentham

Press, 11 May 1981, Page 29

Orchidra has close call at Trentham

Special correspondent Wellington

The top-class mare, Orchidra, headed a fine hattrick of successes for Woodville trainer Noel Eales at Trentham on Saturday. Coupled with wins by Audace and Bidston Hill, Eales now has a season tally of 34 which surpasses his best previous season. Eales has consistently been one of the leading trainers in the Central Districts these last few years with 29 wins in both the 1978-79 and 1979-80 seasons and 30 in the 1977-78 term. It is perhaps ironical that while he has had a record number of wins, the season has certainly had its share of problems. Three of the best horses he has trained have been Varnamo, Lone Hand and Orchidra, He lost the services of Varnamo late last year because of a continuing back problem, while Lone Hand has been recently retired because of a niggling joint problem. Lone Hand and Varnamo won 17 and 16 races respectively, while Orchidra scored win No. 18 when she narrowly won the Galaxy Stakes on Saturday. He has also had worries with another two of his top performers in recent months - Loretto has had to be turned out'because of an injured hock, while Zamalou is also spelling after jarring a ligament. While many of her contemporaries have been retired, Orchidra could be gracing New Zealand racecourses for some time yet. There have been persistent rumours that the mare

would be retired at the end of this season but this may not be the case. Eales said no d:"nite decision had been made on a retirement date. “She is not getting any worse for age, there is a 50-50 chance she will race again next season,” Although now seven years old, Orchidra is probably racing better than she ever has, according to Eales. This is evident from her record this term of three wins, four seconds and one third from 12 starts with stake earnings of $46,035, her best tally for one season.

The mare has now had a total of 48 starts for 18 wins, 11 seconds, six thirds and one fourth for stake earnings of $147,650. Providing she comes through her latest success in good shape, she could travel north for the $12,000 Founders Plate (1600 m at Te Rapa this Saturday. Beyond that plans are very much up in the air. Her owner, Mrs Dorothy Sanders, of Clyde in Central Otago, was on hand to see Orchidra win on Saturday, the first time she had seen the mare win on the course. Trentham has been a good hunting ground for Orchidra, which has now won five races on the track. Her previous successes have included the Galaxy Stakes two years ago' and the North Island Challenge Stakes last season. She has also won two open sprints, the Nainai Handicap in October, 1977, and the dead-heat victory with Prince Lee in the Awatea Handicap in October, 1978. Other top efforts on the course have included a sec-

ond to March Legend in t’ Marlboro Mile and a third it. the George Adams Handicap. ’ Saturday’s race was.something of a close call for Orchidra as she only had a ' nose to spare over another of Oncidium’s stock in Sunflower. Sunflower was the pacemaker for most of the journey but Orchidra appeared to have control when she surged to the front on the turn. However, she began to shorten stride in the last 100 m and Sunflower fought back doggedly. The winning post came just 100 soon for her. There was a gap of a length to Hot Heir in third spot. She was handy to the leaders all the way and fought on well. Two Can Play and Cielle both finished on well for fourth and fifth. Orchidra was ridden by the South Islander, Kevin Morton, who had also teamed with the mare when> she . won. the Galaxy Stakes at Riccarton on April 22. Morton had only one . other ride between his two ' wins on Orchidra and that was also a winning one on John Peel at Riccarton' on Anzac day. Morton is contemplating a break away from riding but would be keen to ride Or- • chidra again if asked. He has a real estate position to return to: in Christchurch and recently purchased two yearlings to keep him busy in his spare time. One of them is a close relation to Ring The Bell. Saturday’s win was a particularly pleasing one for him as it was his first sut> cess at Trentham. He first rode there about 10 years ago.