Eye-catching run by Cup contender
Special correspondent
Auckland
The Christchurch five-year-old, El Regale, must have won himself a sizeable number of supporters for next month’s New Zealand Trotting Cup with his fine performance in the first leg of the T.A.B. double, the Radio I Free-For-All, at the Auckland Trotting Club's meeting on Saturday. He showed real' staying qualities in wearing down Remarkable and taking the honours narrowly. Even though the track had been slowed by showers, the time of 3min 26.4 s for the 2700 m has not been bettered very often at Alexandra Park.
El Regale had looked a little unlucky when fifth on the first night of the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting, and it was surprising he was at odds of 14 to one.
He was skilfully driven by the Kumeu reinsman, Colin Evans, in the Radio I Free-For-All, being eased out of an awkward position, at the 400 m and brought along with a well-timed run.
Remarkable, nicely placed on the outside just behind the leaders most of the way, looked the winner when he was clear with 100 m to run.
It was easily his best performance for some time and he obviously relished the wet track conditions.
Captain Smooth, the surprise winner of the corresponding race on the first night, did extremely well to finish third after being well back most of the way.
Remote, which was fourth, did not have a clear run in the straight. She finally broke about 100 m from the finish post while trying to secure an opening. Ben, the warm favourite, was disappointing. He had no luck in his previous two races, each time striking trouble while his driver endeavoured to extricate him from a pocket on the fence. No excuses could be offered for him in the Radio I Free-For-All. His driver, Graham Reaks, let him bowl along freely in the lead and Ben’s supporters assuredly were on good terms with themselves when he looked to be going easily turning for home, but he soon tired, and finished a well-beaten sixth.
An entire by El Patron from Quite Regal, El Regale is trained by George Noble for Mr Brian Register, a spray painting manufacturer, and his wife, Peg. The Registers bought Quite Regal about six years ago. After she produced El Regale she missed three times so her owners were naturally highly delighted when she foaled a filly last Wednesday by Stanley Rio.
One of the first to congratulate Mr and Mrs Register was Mr Max Harvey, an Auckland businessman who has paid some very big prices in his quest for a good horse.
“That’s another good one I missed out on,” Mr Harvey said good-naturedly. “I offered them $60,000 for El Regale when he was a yearling."
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Press, 27 October 1982, Page 37
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460Eye-catching run by Cup contender Press, 27 October 1982, Page 37
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