Ringtrue third in Epsom

Press, 3 October 1983, Page 33

Ringtrue third in Epsom

NZPA Sydney New Zealand’s Ringtrue was short of full fitness and running short on luck when he came home third in the $120,000 Epsom Handicap at Warwick Farm on Saturday.

Halfway down the straight as the 11-2 favourite was turning on his customary late charge, his jockey, Bobby Vance, thought he would win by half a length. But the Ring Around the Moon five-year-old died on his run over the last few metres, while the New Zea-land-bred Cool River overcame front-running Leica Planet to score by a long neck, with Ringtrue a length away third.

The other New Zealander in the first Epsom to be run away from Randwick for 118 years, Another Phenomenon, was a disappointing fourteenth.

Vance had problems matching his mount’s racing style to the tight triangular track, and had to shake off an unlucky run to get as close as he did from fourteenth at the turn.

Ringtrue ran near the back for the early part of the 1600 m journey, and once into the second of the three straights, Vance struck trouble. “From the 1000 m on there were four outside me, and then there were five outside

me on the turn,” he said.

“I was lucky to be on the fence, and as we straightened up I was able to squeeze through a gap that opened, but by then the leaders had skipped a bit. “Still, halfway down the straight I thought we could do it, I thought he would win by half a length, but he died on it over the last bit.” Vance put that laststretch failure down to a combination of lack of fit•ness and the peculiarities of the Warwick Farm track.

Ringtrue was having only his fourth run back from a spell, and his trainer, Colin Jillings, said last week before returning to New Zealand that both Ringtrue and his stablemate, McGinty, were still on the way up. Result:—

(T.A.B. CODES: AUST RC) EPSOM HANDICAP $120,000; 1600 m 9-9 COOL RIVER 16 49 J. Marshall 1 3-4 LEICA PLANET 18 48.5 B. Compton . . 2 1-1 RINGTRUE 1 55.5 R. Vance 3 Others in finishing order 4-2 Rare Form, 10-8 Trench Digger, 7-7 Our Shout, 12-14 Hussar’s Command, 5-5 Secret Romance, 17-17 Kaidahom, 6-6 Lord Baltina, 15-15 Anchor In, 13-11 Manuan, 14-13 More Rain, 2-3 Another Phenomenon, 16-16 Artist Man, 8-10 Gelsomino, 1112 Our Fable, 18-18 Reflect. Long nk, len. Time: 1:35.7. Win: $19.60. Places: $5.90, $2.70, $225. Quinella: $103.40.