Portfolio most impressive at Ashburton

Press, 15 February 1982, Page 30

Portfolio most impressive at Ashburton

By

PAUL MEIN

! A winning run in the $50,000 New Zealand Derby at Addington on Wednesday is well within the scope of Portfolio, the most impressive of winners at Ashburton on Saturday. , •

Mr Bruce Mcllraith’s talented colt had the job in front of him when he went off stride soon after the start, losing all of 20m. •

With Scottish Sunset ambling along quietly in front, the stage was set for a sprint home and so it developed, with Portfolio still last on the outer when the field turned for home.

Peter Jones waited until well into the straight before hooking out to lodge his bid. but when he did the response was immediate. Portfolio idled up wide on the track and, with a minimum of effort, caught the favourite. Lumber Jack, close to home, and cruised away to a halflength win.

Portfolio is by the 1974 Derby winner. Noodlum. ■from the Fallacy mare Jenny Belle, a ’ modest winner. Fallacy won the Derby for Jack Litten in 1951.

Mr Mcllraith has bred and raced many winners over the years but he is quick to single out Portfolio as potentially the best. . Lumber Jack went another fine race for second. He was given a perfect run three back on the outer by Richard Brosnan, scooted to the lead inside the last 300 m. but had no counter to the finishing powers of the three-year-old. Willie Coon, back on the outer, made ground well enough for third.- two and a half lengths from the winner with Royal Lopez holding fourth. The third favourite. Scottish Sunset, made all the running, but faded when headed over the last 400 m.

Dryden Amanda, having only her second start this

. season showed sufficient improvement from fourth to Fouroux last start to win the Merchants Handicap in style. Given a perfect run by Bobbin Geddes, the Green-park-trained mare improved

to challenge Ariemore for the lead 300 m out and stuck on wilfully to keep out the favourite. Regal Cheval, by a neck at the post. Regal Cheval was cramped for room slightly when Ariemore started to struggle and though she finished quickly, . Dryden Amanda was still going the better at the line.

Dryden Amanda could well be seen in action' next on Derby day also. She has been nominated for the Caduceus Stakes, a mobile 2000 m event.

The third favourite, Amaze, went a much improved race for third. He settled towards the rear of the field on the outer, but made ground strongly over the final stages to get within a length of the winner. Eden's Joy. four places back, stuck on well for fourth but the second favourite. Dreamy Dragon, despite putting in a likely looking run down the straight, wilted a shade to finish sixth.