Bonnie’s Chance easily wins New Brighton Cup

Press, 7 December 1981, Page 28

Bonnie’s Chance easily wins New Brighton Cup

By

G.K. YULE

Bonnie’s Chance gained her reward for consistent racing when she came out on top at the expense of the favourite Hands Down, in the New Brighton Cup at. Addington Raceway on Saturday. Bonnie’s Chance was pushed three wide with more than 600 m left. She was outside Hands Down and Glen Moria turning for home, took a short lead with slightly less than 200 m left, and over the final piece she drew out to win by a length and a half. “She’s a grand pacer. I

only had to flick her once with the whip.” said Patrick O'Reilly jun.. who was driving the mare for the first time in a race. Raced by Mrs Karen Grice, of Invercargill and Mrs Bonny McGarry, of Timaru she is trained at Kerrytown by Richard Brosnan. She has now had 45 starts for 16 wins. 13 placings and $100,535 in stakes. She earned $26,000 at the New Zealand Cup carnival where she was second in the Cup and the Benson and Hedges Free-forall. Bonnie’s Chance will prob-

ably have the $20,000 Standardhred Breeder's Stakes at Addington Raceway on January 1 as. her next main mission. Armalight is expected to be among her rivals that day. Hands Down was far from disgraced. He began safely, but was badly checked and lost at least six lengths when Right Bower cannoned into him after' a few metres. Peter Jones sent him to the front at the 1600 m and he fought ■ back gamely when headed. Cyllarus and El Regale dead-heated for third a

length and a half from Hands Down which was showing a win dividend of $2 when the totalisator closed. Idolmite battled on for fifth, just ahead of Glen Moria. Norton made no race, of the Placemakers CelebrityStakes which was reduced to a disappointingly small field of five as the result of a leg injury suffered by Hilarious Guest on Friday morning. Norton was extremely lucky to escape disaster when Portfolio broke at the end of 200 m. Portfolio came out almost on top of Norton.

but Kerry O'Reilly was .able to swerve him away from a serious check. Norton then assumed the role of pacemaker and drew out in the run home to win untested by three lengths and a half. Lil Abner, which had his chance, held second by a slightly greater margin from Portfolio, which did well to finish so close after his early lapse. Gemini Byrd, was two lengths, away, fourth ahead of the disappointing Glen Lustre.