Third Degree off to Trentham tomorrow

Press, 9 July 1983, Page 19

Third Degree off to Trentham tomorrow

By

J. J. BOYLE

Third Degree, a brave winner of the Donald Grant Handicap at Washdyke yesterday, will be taken north tomorrow and will run in the Parliamentary Handicap on the second day of the Wellington winter meeting next Wednesday. Third Degree, and Paddy Speed, also from Riccarton, dominated the finish of the first leg of the Timaru Racing Club’s T.A.B. double. Third Degree clung tenaciously to a narrowing lead in the face of a sustained

challenge from the back runner, Paddy Speed. There was only a long neck in it, then three lengths and a quarter to the Wingatui mare, Supremity. This was Third Degree’s seventh win for George Hutton, of Darfield, and Mr Tim Saunders, a North Islander who has not seen the Honourary Degree gelding in his two recent middle distance wins, the previous one the Canterbury Jockey Club’s May Handicap. Jim Cassidy rode Third Degree in yesterday’s race,

and displayed an act of confidence in the bay’s stamina by urging him into a clear lead near the home turn.

As he was doing so David Peake had started Paddy Speed on the big looping run around the field.

Paddy Speed went through with his run with a show of the utmost gameness, but Third Degree had enough left to keep him out.

Cassidy will be offered the ride on Third Degree in the Parliamentary Handi-

cap. If he is not available Peter Jones will attempt to engage Gary Phillips, who won on the horse at Riccarton in May. Myra May, Paddy Speed’s best backed rival in the Donald Grant Handicap, was a fair sixth, but Auditory, the third choice, struggled under her 57kg in the conditions and came in twelfth.

Flag Lieutenant tired to eighth after forcing a strong pace early. Third Degree had his measure coming to the home turn.