Cuspidor upsets in Pahiatua Cup

Press, 9 January 1986, Page 17

Cuspidor upsets in Pahiatua Cup

Special correspondent Wellington Noel Pollard, of Awapuni, certainly has the little bird on his shoulder.

At the Pahiatua Racing Club’s meeting at Woodville yesterday Pollard saddled Cuspidor for a narrow win in the Belle View Stud Pahiatua Cup, but it was a narrow thing, by just a nose over the mare, Bess, with Infantry a long neck back third.

For Pollard and the rider, Grant Elliot, the wait was a little longer than usual, before the final outcome could be determined.

The judge, Mr Dick Hunt, had to wait almost five minutes for a print. A bulb blew in the developer and the photo finish technician had to duck away to a car for a replacement. Hunt did have the benefit of a negative, but the margin looked so close on that one, that he decided to make sure with a print.

A dead-heat for third in the previous race ho doubt influenced his decision.

It was, for Cuspidor, the second narrow win in three starts. At Awapuni on the last day of the Christmas meeting he just beat Mussella to win the Rheineck Cup. Since then Cuspidor had missed in one outing, at Hastings on New Year’s Day. A five-year-old gelded son

of Coin of Gold out of Dentaire, Cuspidor is just one of two horses prepared by Pollard, the other is a two-year-old half-brother to good galloper Caucus, by Chinkara.

Pollard farms with his father, Dave, and, as well they stand Chinkara, the stallion which raced with success from the Rose Durrant stable at Hastings. Given the presence of Kiwi And Company in the field, Cuspidor was at odds of 47-to-one.

He was capably ridden by Grant Elliot, who two days earlier had been riding, and winning, at Southland. Elliot was at his very best, for with the mare, Bess, it was a real head-to-head finish.

As it happens neither Bess nor Cuspidor is in the -• Wellington Cup. But both ”'' are nominated for the lesser ~ events at Trentham. Cuspi- J. dor may even run in the 7 Martin Cup. Later 10-year-old Mac’s Gamble showed his class by - winning the Pinel Handicap ? and giving his rider, David Walsh, a treble for the day. Trained by owner Mac Phillips, Mac’s Gamble is en route to Trentham for a second attempt on the Wrightson Handicap. He, has included the race before among his 15 wins. His stakes earnings are now over $125,000. He has taken the York at Avondale twice and has picked up New Zealand sprint records along the way.