Memorable day for young driver

Press, 4 October 1982, Page 40

Memorable day for young driver

By

G. it YULE

Saturday will be a day long remembered by the young Methven horseman, Ricky May. He enjoyed his most successful race day ever with a hat-trick of wins, including the T.A.B. double behind Vita Man and Stortford Lodge.

His third win. and his first of the day. was behind Watbro Mist in the Hinds Handicap.

Vita Man gave May the easiest of drives when he outclassed his rivals in the Ashburton Flying Stakes. He settled three’ back on the rails, waited until the straight entrance before challenging, and then gathered in the leaders with a minimum of effort.

Vita Man did not have to be asked for an effort to have an advantagee of six lengths at the line.

Mr Ray Anicich's five-year-old will race next under invitation conditions at Forbury Park on Saturday when he will attempt to gain the one win he needs to earn a start in the New Zealand Cup. Vita Man will probably be driven at Forbury Park by his trainer. Alistair Malcolmson. who had commitments with his team at Invercargill on Saturday. "He's a beautiful horse to drive." said May. who has now had two wins and two placings from four attempts behind the striking-looking chestnut.

"He never pulls and has a great turn of speed. If he gets that other win he

wouldn't be out of a race like the New Zealand Cup. "

Tarlad. which, like Vita Man. went into the Ashburton race a C 8 horse, put in a remarkable run for second after making a rare mistake at the start and losing some ,50m.

Bonnie s Chance, after having her chance, was. like so many in the race, all at sea in the slushy track conditions. and she made up a little leeway for third.

Quiet Win. knocked offstride after beginning safely, came on for fourth, ahead of Right Bower and Betty Adios. which could not quicken in the run home. Dundas and Enterprise, never in the clear over the last 300 m. headed the others.

Vita Man paced the 2400 m in 3min 13s. with the last 800 m in Imin o.Bs. That time does not compare favourably with the 3min 11.9 s of Watbro Mist, which led for most of the Hinds Handicap and paced the last 800 m in 59.95. The track- was reasonably firm when . Watbro Mist raced. ■ but heavy showers made the going slushy and much heavier when the Ashburton Flying Stakes was run more than two hours later.

One week earlier Stortford Lodge lost second placing in the Methven Cup as a result of interference in which one of the horses affected was Chance Fortune.

Stortford Lodge was backed down to $2.30 in the President's Handicap, but. after winning most impressively. he again had to run the gauntlet of an inquiry for alleged interference to Chance Fortune with about 600 m to run.

After a fairly lengthy inquiry Stortford Lodge retained his winning position. The favourite did not look to be pacing too comfortably early, but when the speed was on over the final 1600 m. he went most impressively. The son of Lordship gathered in Cheltenham close to the line and beat him by a rapidly-increasing margin of two lengths. Dreamy Dragon struggled into third after a gap of almost five lengths.

Watbro Mist, which fell in his race at Methven a week earlier, heralded a most successful season when he won the Hinds Handicap. Trained by Terry May at Methven. he is raced by Mr N. A. Goodwin, of Ashburton, who paid $3OOO for him at the national yearling sales. A gelding by Out to Win

from Misty Mom. he was bred at Annat by Rosewood Stud.

Watbro Tarn, a close relation of Watbro Mist, raced by Mr and Mrs Peter Cunningham. of Akaroa. caused an upset when, in a battling finish in which the leading bunch practically staggered to the line, he made a winning debut in the Etffelton Handicap.

The winner is a four-year-old entire by Scottish Hanover from Rose Chase, the winner of six races.

Robert Cameron managed one win during the day. that being achieved behind the talented three-year-old. Mighty Me. an odds-on favourite, in the Elgin Handicap.

Cameron had a few placings during the day and ended by driving the hot favourite. Bionic Adios. showing $1.70 for a win in the Seafield Handicap. He was slow away and finished tenth.

So heavy was the support for Bionic Adios that the winner, the second favourite. Kind Nature.-paid $ll.lO. Wee Junior shaped like an early winner when he finished second, with Glen Lustre coming strongly to cut Bachelor Singer out’ of third in the last stride.