Philco doubles her earnings

Press, 1 April 1985, Page 34

Philco doubles her earnings

Special correspondent Auckland

As useful as she had been through her 37 previous starts, Philco just about doubled her earnings when successful in the Thorougbred Stakes at Te Aroha on Saturday. Philco’s share of the 140,000 stake for the success was $25,000. In addition she secured for her owner, Mr Bob Tait, as the breeder of the horse, an award of $5OO from the New Zealand Throroughbred Breeders’ Association. The association also came up with a commemorative sash, that went with the first prize, and Wrightson Bloodstock with a further trophy. The family of the late Mr Gordon Wyborn, a president of the Te Aroha Jockey Club, was another contributor to the handsome stake which makes the race

so worth while. Now five years old, Philco had six wins before this and some valuable minor placings for $28,815. Nearly half that amount came with her win in a class two 1600 m race at the 520,000 meeting |

last November. In the meantime Philco

was a minor placegetter on

Derby Day at Ellerslie, in a class one 1600 m event behind Ruvain and Ringtrue. From four attempts between then and Saturday she managed a second placing, a fourth and a fifth. So she was at rather false odds for Te Aroha, paying $37.65 and $9.70, especially on the soft ground for which she has a decided preference.

It must be said, too, that Philco paraded looking as well and as ready as any in

the race, a credit to her owner, a Whangarei businessman in real estate, who trains her himself. It was a lucky day for Mr Tait, some 20 years ago, when he attended a dispersal sale at Alfriston Lodge, ner Takanini, because it was there, for next to nothing, he secured a 17-year-old

mare named Exile. Exile cost Mr Tait 75 guineas after there had been only one other bid, of 50 guines. The first foal her new owner bred from her was Chateau Gay, which paid her way when racing then produced at stud Vin-

dora, Stroller and Reggae, all winners, before Philco, her seventh foal, by the Northland—based sire, Staff Sergeant. ■ From a wide barrier position Philco covered a fair amount of extra ground in the Breeders’ Stakes. After being out three or four at the 800 m she was taken even wider by her rider, David Johnson, on the home turn, making ground nevertheless on the leaders, Wyndham and Madam Fox. Wyndham fell back once into the last 400 m. Madam Fox held on better but was then overtaken by Ibidem which, for a few moments looked likely to score her hat-trick.

However, Philco, continuing a great run, gathered Ibidem in when they had round about 200 m to go then drew away, the most decisive of winners, by two lengths. Kosha, coming on determinedly, ran Ibidem to a nose for second place and Ikon, making ground also, was, with Madam Fox, close to being in line with those two.

The two best-backed of the 16-horse field, Ebony

Belle and Eva Grace, were failures back, almost together, eighth and ninth. Eva Grace was prominent, a couple of lengths from the pacemakers, until the home turn; Ebony Belle raced about midfield all through. William of Orange bettered another Pukekhoe runner, Bahtrade, close to home for his win in the second leg of the double, the Sleepy Fox Handicap. Bahtrade made a game attempt to lead all the way. For much of the 1200 m he was out in front by a couple of lengths and it was only with 100 m left that William of Orange took his measure. With Bahtrade then fading, William of Orange went on to score clearly, by a length. Norfolk Boy, in his second race after a spell, gave promise of better form to come when edging into third from Anyway and Blazing Path. William of Orange was also having his second race after being let up through the summer. He won twice from just four starts during last spring and is certainly a four-year-old of considerable ability. J