Greg Patron finishes best in Ashburton Cup

Press, 27 December 1985, Page 20

Greg Patron finishes best in Ashburton Cup

By G. K. YULE

After appearing ,to be hopelessly placed racing to the final 200 m, Greg Patron eventually worked clear and dashed to the leading group in the shadows of the post to gain victory in the D.B. Ashburton Cup at the Ashburton Trotting Club’s meeting yesterday. Richard Brosnan, who had won with Sir Alba two races earlier, gained the drive behind Greg Patron when his usual reinsman, Jim Curtain, had to fulfil engagements at Westport. Greg Patron received a splendid run until 600 m out at which point the pacemaker, Winning Note, began to drop out. Greg Patron was pushed back several places and had a wall of horses in front of him early in the run home. It was late when Brosnan got him into the open and he surged home wide out to win going away by half a length. The pace was muddling early, but it quickened appreciably when Michael de Filippi looped the field with Freightman to join Winning Note in front near the 1600 m. The leaders paced the last 1600 m in 2min o.Bs, with the final 800 m in 595. Trained at Templeton by Reg Curtain for Mr Dick and Mrs Dell Constable, of Christchurch, Greg Patron has now had eight wins and nine placings from 32 starts and he has won $41,680 in stakes.

The four-year-old by El Patron from Mother McKay has the Wellington Cup on January 15 as his main mission in the next month, but he may also compete at the Canterbury Park meeting next week. Skipper Dale looked the

likely winner when he shot through on the inside about 100 m out, but he could not withstand the winner’s final challenge. He held second by a long neck from Lady El, which provided one of the features of the race after breaking for a few strides with about 1700 m to run. Coastal Trader was only half a neck away, fourth, shading Freightman, which was left in the open for the last 1600 m and in front racing to the straight. He was far from disgraced. Mighty Me appeared to have his chance and went satisfactorily for sixth, ahead of the early breaker, Montrose. The Gun broke twice during the race and was pulled up.

Keen finish Simon Katz capped off a list of eight placings from nine earlier starts this season when he held Worthy Adios out by a neck in a keen finish to the 100 Pipers Handicap. It was a grand trial for the B.P. Banks Peninsula Cup on Saturday, a race in which he will now start from 30m.

Raced by Mr Stan Francis, of Christchurch, and Mr Peter Rae, of Oamaru, he is trained at Chertsey by Dick Prendergast. He has now won eight races and some $43,500.

Worthy Adios, having his first start since being trained by Doody Townley, made a forward showing to finish second, ahead of the fast-finishing Ranger Globe, Lord Seaton, Globe Tour, which trotted much better than he has for some time, and Wedgewood. A skilled display of frontrunning driving by Richard

Brosnan played a major part in Sir Alba’s winning the National Mutual Finance Champion Stakes. Brosnan sprinted hard early with Sir Alba, slowed the field down in the middle stages, and then sprinted hard from the home turn before lasting to win by a length and a quarter from the odds-on favourite, Keystone Surprise. Here Comes Duke battled into third, a length back, ahead of French Lord and Dream Lustre. Sir Alba recorded 3min 6.4 s for the 2400 m, with the last 800 m in 58.55.

Raced in partnership by his trainer, Ray Teahen, and his son, Dennis, of Temuka, Sir Alba has now had seven wins and seven placings from his 16 starts and he has won slightly more than $130,000 in stakes. He will compete at the Canterbury Park meeting next week when Keystone Surprise will again be among his rivals. Then he will compete at Washdyke later in January before being prepared for the derbys in the autumn. Keystone Surprise raced on the outer with cover and received a splendid run. He gave the winner a start of five lengths from the 800 m and battled away gamely. He did well to finish so close with the leader sprinting his final 400 m in about 28s.

The trotters provided a thrilling finish in the W. Patching Handicap. Firm Offer got up in the last few strides to beat Linda Ellen by half a head, with a neck back to Signor Gabrielli, a head to Globe Pride, and narrow margins to Joe Junior and a bold finisher in Borrowed Time.