Roydon Magic noses out Braedoon at Blenheim

Press, 28 June 1983, Page 22

Roydon Magic noses out Braedoon at Blenheim

From G. K. YULE Blenheim Roydon Magic overcame a check at the start to nose Braedoon out of first in the last stride of the Penfolds Winter Handicap on the second day of the Marlborough Trotting Club’s winter meeting at Waterlea Park yesterday. The incident at the start sent him to the tail of the main bunch, with only the worst beginner, Wary, behind him. Peter Blackmore, who races the seven-year-old in partnership with his brothers, David and Murray, had not made much progress 400 m out, but once into the straight he burst through the bunch and got up to take a narrow decision. Roydon Magic started only once at the Nelson meeting, where he went off his feed. He looked rather unlucky when fourth on the first day at Blenheim, but he was only one of several which failed to secure a clear run in the straight. Roydon Magic is beginning better at present than he did earlier in his career. Blackmore intends to race him at Addington Raceway next month. Braedoon, another to fail to secure racing room on Saturday, did well from 20m to take second. All going well, he will go south and join Robert Dunn’s team for racing at Addington in July. His stablemate, Lord Kevello, will probably go north to join up with members of Dunn’s team racing in the Auckland district, Castle Del confirmed a fine second on Saturday by holding third, a length from Braedoon, and a head in front of Rapaki Lass, which looked unlucky. Rapaki Lass was shuffled to the tail of the field and was still last at the 1000 m. She came fast on the extreme outside of the track after being almost last turning for home. Armbro Gold

made a late bid for fifth, ahead of Lord Thorpe, Zansark and Miss Bromac, which broke badly at the start. Tight finish Darren John, which had been successful on the Waterlea course in February, capitalised on a splendid run to win the E. M. O’Malley Memorial Handicap in a tight finish. Sly Dig and Classical, both of which started from 20m and were still back beyond mid-field starting the last 700 m, finished boldly wide out on the track to finish second and third with a nose between them. They were a neck from Darren John. The second favourite, Shezahe, when trying desperately for a clear run well inside the last 75m, appeared to hit a wheel and crashed to the track somelsm from the line. The official inquiry disclosed that the horse was pacing roughly and fell. The D.B. Superstar Series at the New Brighton meeting in September could be on the programme for Idyll Garrison, which was having only his third race start when he held out the favourite, Darren Hanover, by half a head in the McMurtry Real Estate Maiden. Idyll Garrison, a three-year-old colt by Garrison Hanover from False Idyll, is raced in partnership by his trainer Ross Payne, of Ladrbooks, with Mr Alistair Halligan and his wife, Carol, of Dunedin. The partnership paid $4200 for him at the National Yearling Sales. He is closely related to a New Zealand Cup winner, Lunar Chance. “He’s a grand stayer and hasn’t developed much of a sprint yet,” said Payne, who intends to race him at Addington next month. Mr Tom Bannan, of Christchurch, had a first

winning experience as an owner when Shah capped off some useful efforts with a win in the Marlborough 0.T.8. Maiden. He was always in command and, after being out by almost five lengths before the straight entrance, he held on to win by two lengths from Margaret Dale and Bogart True. Shah was driven by Peter Jones, who had been successful in the first leg of the on-course treble behind the Richard Brosnan-trained Muricata Miss. Favourite wins The second leg was won by the favourite, Falcon Lad, a rather inelegant trotter trained by Michael Beecroft, who races him in partnership with Mr Bill Lucas. The partners bought

the six-year-old for $lOOO last January after they had sold a three-year-old qualified maiden pacer, Scotch Riddle, at a five-figure price to Australia. Beecroft has a few horses in work, but wins for him have not been frequent. Before yesterday his closest win was with Colonel Bogey at a Tuapeka on-course meeting at Forbury Park some 20 months ago. Falcon Lad returned the smart time of 4min 26.3 s for the 2600 m, suggesting that he could do well among the slow-class trotters at Addington next month. John Burgess experienced an overdue change of fortune when Ready Money followed up two second placings earlier on the circuit with a narrow win in the E. J. Wilson Memorial.

He raced in mid-field, and came gamely down the outside to shade Dunback Lad and Laracon, with Worthy Adios making ground for fourth after starting slowly from 60m. Just when it looked likely that Redeemer would complete a double for the meeting in the Creek Restaurant Handicap, Touch of Class secured a clear passage along the inside. He sprinted through in most determined style and won going away by a length an a quarter to give his part-owner, Ross Payne, his second success of the day. Redeemer shaded Andrew James for second, with Noble Rex, never properly in the clear, half a length back, followed by Memphis and Ulster Prince.