Another big win for Commissionaire

Press, 25 October 1982, Page 17

Another big win for Commissionaire

From J. J. BOYLE Wellington _ The Woodville trainer. Noel Eales, had Manchu. one of the rising stars of his team, sold to Australia last week, and on Saturday he was wondering if Commissionaire might join the exodus. “He's running out of chances in the weights and he will need careful placing from now on." Eales said after Commissionaire triumphed under equal top weight A in the $20,000 Huttons Handicap at Trentham on Saturday. In the form Commissionaire showed to capture the Wainui-Huttons Handicaps double at the Wellington Racing Club's spring meeting. Mrs Muriel Ansfords five-year-old must capture the attention of would-be buvers.

But Mrs Ansford might be loath to part with him. Commissionaire was the last horse purchased out of the Trentham sale ring by her husband. Mr Bill Ansford. The bay half-brother to Battle Eve cost $16,000 but Mr Ansford did not live long enough to know his judgment of a thoroughbred was to be vindicated. Mrs Ansford is an infrequent racegoer but was hoping to come to Trentham for Saturday's race. Because of a virus she had to change her plans and remain at home. Noel Eales hinted on Saturday that Commissionaire would be stepped up to middle distance racing during the summer.

“There's a limited metric mile handicap for him at the New Zealand Cup meeting but few’ other chances for the distance he has handled so well," Eales said on Saturday. Eales said Commissionaire had disappointed him when he took him south for the George Adams Handicap at Riccarton at Easter. He had instructed his rider to ride him well back down the field in that race, but he had shown nothing from the home turn."He's a different horse, as we’ve found since, when he's ridden handy, and that's how Jim Cassidy was told to ride him today." Cassidy w’as heartened by Commissionaire's bold, free preliminary, and discovered that all systems were working smoothly with the bay on the home turn. He had hardly anything to concern him from that point. But for on-going interest there was much appeal in Zazanne’s dogged finishing

run into second. She nosed out II Vento the only other real contender from the home turn. Zazanne. a stoutly bred reindeer mare from the Garth Ivil team, confirmed with this run that she will be a force in big staying races during the summer. The DB Auckland Cup is likely to be on her programme. Magellan, the only South Island runner, scrambled and slipped on the shifting surface of the track on the turn near the 800 m. Tito Poblete tried to balance him to make another bid to take closer quarters, but the five-year-old never really got back into the race. "The way he felt today I think he is a better horse when he is at home." Poblete said. Amrica, luckless when fifth in the Wainui Handicap a week earlier, could pass only beaten horses in her run from the back and was a distant ninth at the end.