Signor Gabrielli noses out Wedgewood in Stakes

Press, 26 May 1984, Page 26

Signor Gabrielli noses out Wedgewood in Stakes

By

JEFF SCOTT

Signor Gabrielli, which appeared exceptionally talented in early season parades, got up in the last stride to beat the favourite, Wedgewood, in the $5OOO New Zealand Two-year-old Trotting Stakes at the Canterbury Park Trotting Club’s meeting at Addington Raceway last evening.

The speedy son of Game Pride and the fine broodmare, Three Tens, led out from a handy draw and dropped in to trail Wedgewood from the 1500 m. Turning for home Signor Gabrielli was travelling easily in the trail but was unable to work clear with Avalon Bachelor, keeping him shut in on the inside. However, 150 m from the finish, the prayers of Signor Gabrielli’s driver, Kerry O’Reilly, were answered as Avalon Bachelor broke under pressure enabling Signor Gabrielli a crack at Wedgewood. Senior Gabrielli swept up to Wedgewood short of the post and got in the deciding stride. Signor Gabrielli is the first horse raced by Mr Gabriel Maghzal, a foot specialist of Christchurch. Mr Maghzal, who came to New Zealand from Lebanon 14 years ago, obtained Sig-

nor Gabrielli when he was given the mare, Three Tens, to breed with for a season by his father-in-law, Mr Bob Day. Three Tens’s first nine foals to race have all been winners including Ashley Downs (2min o.6s\ Batal, Mark Ten, Taipa.i Prince, Four Leaf, Memphis, Daytann Pitcher and now Signor Gabrielli. Wedgewood was gallant in defeat, a nose back, with two and three-quarter lengths to Linda Ellen, which ran on strongly. Fire Fighter, which settled four back on the inner, was one of the rear runners turning for home and ran on late along the inner for fourth. The Pukekohe-trained Nato was lost for early speed, settling back. He made ground wide in to the straight and battled on for fifth. Kathy’s Pride, the third favourite, broke after 200 m

and after putting in a big run to be handy on the outer on the home turn, broke again, finishing ninth. The ultra-consistent Weedons-trained pacer, King Aurea, easily won last night’s Canterbury Park Winter Cup. At the finish he had four lengths over the top trotter, Sir Castleton, with nine lengths back to Richina at the head of a well-beaten remainder. As a spectacle, the race only came alive over the last 800 m. Brase, which had taken up the running at the 2600 m, began to drift out under pressure enabling the early leader, Richina, through to take the lead at the 600 m. King Aurea was hard on Richina’s back turning for home and immediately after straightening up, the second favourite quickly came out and dashed clear, running away for an impressive win.

A five-year-old gelded son of H. T. Luca, which has sired two of New Zealand’s fastest-bred pacers in Hastie Luca (Imin 54.65) and Charles Luca (Imin 55.45), King Aurea was having his 20th start for trainer-driver, Jack Smolensk!, who has now produced the horse to win four times and be 13 times placed since winning a mile at Addington, first-up from the stable, last October. King Aurea paced the 3200 m last evening on an easy track in 4min 19.85, the leaders running their last 400 m in 295. Sir Castleton trotted a fine race for second, trotting his last mile in 2min 5.45, and his closing 800 m in 595. He settled second last and was caught wide into the straight. He was never going to win over the closing stages but was far from disgraced. Ansett, the win favourite, was a big disappointment.

She settled fourth and was making a challenge into the straight but was soon struggling, finishing a distant sixth. Adios Trick entered calculations for the New Zealand Sapling Stakes ;st Ashburton next Saturday with a stylish win in the Stan Andrews Stakes for two-year-olds. Also trained at Weedons by Jack Smolensk!, the Aus-tralian-bred daughter of Overtrick and Sue Adios received a good run behind the leaders. Once in the clear in the straight, she powered home to win with some authority by two lengths. The hot favourite, Samson, after making a brilliant beginning from 10m, broke when nearing the lead after the race was only 100 m old. He recovered to dash up to the pacemaker, Silence, at the 700 m, however, was retreating on the home turn, to finish eighth.