Fine tactical drive by Peter Jones

Press, 12 April 1982, Page 17

Fine tactical drive by Peter Jones

By

G.K. YULE

A brilliant tactical drive by Peter Jones saw the favourite, Hands Down, hold out a late challenge from Bonnie's Chance with ease by three-quarters of a length in the Lion Brown Easter Cup at Addington Raceway op Saturday. Jones looped the field with Hands Down and took the lead from Bonnie’s Chance at the 1600 m. From then on he set a steady pace and, with Quiet Win on the other in second equal position with Bonnie's Chance, he kept the mare badly pocketed. Richard Brosnan was able to work Bonnie’s Chance clear with about 50m to run. She closed on the favourite, but Peter Jones did not ask him to sprint and he went to the line under restraint. "He's never been better than right now,” said Jones after the race. “He just jogged all the way up the straight."

Brosnan was a shade disappointed that he had not been able to get Bonnie's Chance clear earlier. However, he was pleased with her run and will take her north for the Standardbred Breeders’ Stakes at Alexandra Park later this week.

“I felt she might have trained off a little before the race, but she went really well,” said Brosnan. For Hands Down it was the last race of the season. It was his second Easter Cup win for Mr and Mrs Bill McAughtrie, of Omarama, and it brought his record from 54 starts to 21 wins and eight placings worth $183,330 in stakes.

The six-year-old by Armbro Del from Snow' Chick paced his 3200 m on a very slow track in 4min 14.15, with the final 400 m in 30.45. Mai Mai continued his unbeaten record at the meeting when he led throughout

the Firestone Flying Stakes. His win graduated him to an open class assessment. The gelding by Nevele Holiday from Fortuna’s Return is raced by his Invercargill trainer, Ron Macdonald, in partnership with his son, Charles. He gave southern stables their second win of the day. the other being the Welcome Stakes with Lord Manhattan. Both horses were driven by Robert Cameron, who was released from Mighty Me by Colin McLachland so that he could drive the two-year-old.

Mai Mai. was all out to beat Mister Wood Chips by half a length, with two lengths to the unlucky Hilarious Guest, which finished strongly along the inside after failing to get into the clear.

Portfolio came on gamely for fourth, ahead of Mel’s Boy, which tired a shade after being left in the open.