Melvander upsets trotting rivals

Press, 13 November 1985, Page 56

Melvander upsets trotting rivals

Melvander, given the run of the race in the trail by Richard Brosnan, caused an upset win in the Quinns Fashions Handicap Trot over 2000 m. The son of the recently deceased stallion, Great Evander, swept past Simon Katz at the 150 m and came clear to win by two lengths in 2min 35.75, the leaders trotting their last 800 m in 59.55. The win was Melvander’s fifth from 22 starts for his West Melton part-owner and trainer, Peter Robertson. Tussle, which had her usual brilliant beginning dimmed by being held up by breaking runners, improved

three wide round the field to be in the open briefly at the IOOOm, then received cover as Wedgewood trotted round to be in the open. Lost for speed at the 600 m, this year’s Rowe Cup winner looked on target for next week’s $70,000 Taubman’s Dominion Handicap when she wound up in the straight to shade Simon Katz for second trotting her last 800 m in 58.95, with Jenner also providing a useful Dominion trial by running on late for fourth. Wedgewood, needing one more win for a start in the Dominion, fought on for fifth, with his driver, Colin

de Filippi, of the opinion he would be better suited over more ground. Wychingham Al and Uncle Jasper earned themselves a start in Friday’s $125,000 Fay, Richwhite New Zealand Sires’ Stakes Final by providing the quinella in the final heat yesterday. Capably driven by Colin de Filippi, Wychingham Al moved up from the back at the 700 m and was three wide in the leading line from the 500 m. He kept up a gutsy run to win by a length and a quarter in 2min flat, the winner being

timed over his last half-mile in 575. Owned and trained at Christchurch by Denis Thompson, the close relative of the 1975 New Zealand Cup winner, Lunar Chance, won three races in New South Wales last season and has continued to improve with each outing this term.

Uncle Jasper, held up for a time across the top turn, ran on well for second, a length ahead of Lord Morano, which led early, then trailed. Borderline, in the open early, tried to lead over the last 1200 m, but was cut back to fourth, threequarters of a length away. The richly-bred Tuapeka Wreka gained his fourth win for the season in tradesmanlike fashion in the Lion Brown Mobile Pace.

Eased back early, his trainer-driver Ross Payne moved Tuapeka Wreka round the field to take command with 1200 m to run when the pace was at its slowest. The Noodlum-Sa-

kuntala entire sprinted home from the 400 m in 28.3 s to win by a length and a quarter from Nat, three back on the inner to the turn, and the favourite, Rotary Motor, which tried for the lead twice in the first 800 m, but was denied, and was left parked for the entire race. The winner recorded a smart 3min 21.7 s for the mobile 2600 m.

Tuapeka Wreka’s win was a timely wedding present for Payne, who was married on Saturday. Keystone Surprise justified his warm favouritism in the Argyle Fabrics Pace for three-year-olds, leading throughout to win with a good deal in hand by a length and a half.

The promising son of Keystone Provider and Filano ran his last 800 m in 58.7 s to beat Koobecar, handy throughout, and Imperial Time, in the open from the 600 m, with Consolation running on late next.