Winning Note expected to atone at Nelson today

Press, 30 January 1984, Page 24

Winning Note expected to atone at Nelson today

From

G. K. YULE

in Nelson Winning Note could do no better than fifth when favourite for the Benson and Hedges Nelson Cup on Saturday. However, the promising five-year-old should make amends in the Dominion Breweries Handicap on the second day of the Nelson Trotting Club’s summer meeting at Richmond Park today. Only nine days before Saturday’s race Winning Note was one of those involved in a bad smash at the Ashburton trials and lost much skin from his knees. This meant that he could have been a shade underdone for the Nelson Cup. He was prominent all the way and, while he was disappointed for a run near the end, he could not have done much better. The race is certain to have improved him and back to a shorter distance he should redeem himself.

In Touch did well to run Delark to less than two lengths on Saturday. He was a good way back and improved to second in the open in the back straight. He had no chance with the winner over the last 50m, but held second fairly comfortably. He looks in great heart and as that was his first race for some time, he, too, could improve. If one horse was unlucky more than any other in the Nelson Cup it was Willie Duggan. He was buried well back in the field and the race was as good as over when he burst into the open. He finished boldly and looked desperately unlucky not to return a dividend. He should be one of the top chances today. Lord Kevello lost a handy position inside the last 800 m and he came strongly for third on Saturday. He, too, should appreciate the shorter distance in this race and must be considered again.

Deborah Dundee and Stevie Cee could be as good as any of the others to have contested the Nelson Cup. but they will be all out to beat the three-year-old, Ruthless, which has drawn rather awkwardly. Ruthless won the Cable Price Toyota Three-Year-Old Classic in style on Saturday, returning the splendid time of 2min 53.7 s for the 2200 m. He was handy enough, but was forced wide near the 600 m. He took the lead early in the run home and maintained the pressure on his rivals to the line where he was more than a length to the good from Kotare Tyrone, the coleader some 1400 m out before taking control at the 900 m. Ruthless, which has the big classics in the autumn as his main missions, is a dyed-in-the-wool stayer. He is becoming a little sharper with racing and his current trip should improve him. The Nelson Cup winner, Delark, will contest today’s

race, but she is facing a stiff task from 20m. However, she won impressively on Saturday, with lan Cameron just sitting quietly and not having to ask her for a serious effort. Delark settled well off the pace, but improved sharply to lead for the final 1400 m. “She was just jogging all the way and had plenty left at the finish,” said Cameron, who prepares the five-year-old for Messrs Bill Bates. John and Pat Henderson, of Hokitika, and Keith Phelan, of Balclutha. The partners hold her on lease from Mr Dave Skinner, of Oamaru. with a right-of-purchase at $6OOO. Delark’s 4min 19.1 s for the 3200 m is the second fastest ever in the race, the best being 4min 16.1 s by Roydon Albatross in 1981. The old firm of Ted Lowe and his reinsman, Paul Young, had success with Titian Gold and Moody To-

paz, while Peter Jones won with Tobell and Soxygen, and Michael de Filippi with True Secret and Troppo. The Richmond trainer, Blair Mills, went within half a length of a double success on Saturday. Red Peter, driven by Noel Berkett, made short work of his rivals in the Redwood Caterers’ Handicap, overcoming a handicap of 50m and winning with plenty in hand by five lengths. Mills is a part-owner of Red Peter, which has had five trainers, and he also shares the ownership of Bluey’s Hope, which made a spirited late challenge for second to Soxygen in the Talbot Interiors Handicap. Soxygen and Donagam gave "Blenheim stables two wins at the meeting, Soxygen’s success qualifying him for the Marlborough Cup. which will be run on the second dav of the meeting at Blenheim next Monday.