Soxygen’s fifth win for season

Press, 7 May 1984, Page 36

Soxygen’s fifth win for season

Soxygen gained his fifth win for the season when he finished boldly from a good way back to shade the favourite, Freightman, by a length in the J. K. Davidson Stakes at Addington Raceway on Saturday. Trained at Blenheim by Allen McKerrow, Soxygen is a four-year-old gelding by El Patron from Light Eve. He has always shown much ability, but has taken time to develop and strengthen. He is highly rated by Peter Jones, who has been associated with him in much of his racing. “He’s just kept right on improving in the last few months. He’s still got a bit to learn, but looks as though he could win a few more yet,” said Jones.

Freightman was never far away and he fought on well for his placing in what was his first start since he

was involved in the Derby crash last month. Rapid Lustre put interest into the finish by dashing up for third, clear of Premiership, which made a late appearance from near the tail of the Held. Bobanish had his chance, but fifth was the best he could manage. He was followed by Ruthless, which slowed the field down dramatically in the middle part and found nothing extra for the sprint home. Naval Officer gained one of the easiest wins seen at Addington for years when he had a 15-length margin to spare over Rapid Fella in the Free Holmes Stakes. After being awkwardly placed on the rails early, Naval Officer sprinted up from the 800 m to have charge 600 m out. He quickly opened up a lead on his rivals and, without being pushed, increased it to 15 lengths at the line after

2600 m in a smart 3min 19.65. Naval Officer originally returned to Southland for a spell after his Derby win, but within eight days plans had been changed and he was back in Michael de Filippi’s team. He should be untroubled to extend his record in the next few weeks. Rosin was fortunate to hold third place, a nose from Rapid Fella. He broke and cannoned into Rapid Fella and King Turk with about 200 m to run. King Turk, the second favourite finished fifth after being brought almost to a standstill at a stage when he was showing signs of stopping. His driver, Colin de Filippi, told the stewards he did not think the interference affected his chances greatly and they decided to allow the placings to stand, a decision which is certain

to arouse controversy. The filly, Impetuous Donna, a member of Ross Neal’s Blenheim team, made a successful race debut when she came from a trailing position to beat the pacemaker, Maddie, in the third heat of the Standardbred Breeders Sires’ Produce Stakes. Her time of 2min 38.2 s was the fastest of the three heats and has earned her a place in the field for the $24,000 final on Wednesday. Maddie, second narrowly over a strong finisher in Cherry Top, showed gameness for her placing. The first three to finish will almost certainly be included in the field for the final.

Samson led throughout his heat, winning stylishly from Malaz and Nardinski, with Silence showing great ability to hold on for a distant fourth, followed by Kitland’s Kin.

Loveridge made no race of the second heat, leading throughout and racing away to beat Motu Jodi by five lengths, with a similar distance back to Phar Lord, which shaded Sir Arden and Master Mood. The lastnamed lost his chance at the start. One of the more impressive wins in the supporting events was that of Bedlum in the D. F. Glanville Stakes. More prominently placed than she has been in her other races this season, she nudged Chancey Jack out of the way 200 m out and stormed home to win as she liked by three lengths from Gateau and another fast finisher in Toris. Bedlum is one of the more exciting slow-class Eacing prospects in Canterury and only bad luck is likely to stop her winning several races before her winter lay-off.