Gatcombe’s Pride scores impressive win at Foxton

Press, 25 August 1986, Page 29

Gatcombe’s Pride scores impressive win at Foxton

Special correspondent Wellington

Gatcombe’s Pride showed he wouldn’t be out of place against such talented rivals as Bonecrusher and Catering King at Wanganui in a fortnight’s time with a most impressive win at the Foxton Racing Club’s meeting at Foxton on Saturday. Tackling open company for the first time, Gatcombe’s Pride came from well back in the running to score most convincingly, three-quar-ters of a length over Nitty Gritty. It was the Vice Regal gelding’s sixth win from seven starts. His only defeat came at Hawera on July 23 when he was beaten half a head by the talented Barusha.

Surprisingly, Saturday’s success was his first at 1200 metres. His shortest

trip previously was 1360 metres. ... . The fact that he could win at 1200 metres was another pointer to his outstanding ability. He is from a family of prolific winners but most were stayers and few have shown form as sprinters. Trainer, Don Grubb, also had considerable success with Amazing Grace, the dam of Gatcombe’s Pride, and Gatcombe before’ he was sent to Australia. Another big winner in the family was the fine jumper, Lord So and So. They are all from the Tauloch mare, Aurora’s Pride, which won 10 races. She was purchased as a three-year-old by the late Len Wall and raced in partnership with his daughter, Olga Fraser. Mrs Fraser has kept the breed going. She races Gatcombe’s Pride in partnership with a son, Tom.

Amazing Grace has also produced a Telereign colt, now two and just being broken in, while she is currently in foal to Siege Perilous. Gatcombe’s Pride is likely to race at Wanganui next week-end in the Melva Walker Handicap (1320 m as his final leadup to the Tim Rogers Stakes.

He is likely to be ridden in those races by apprentice Paul Taylor, who has been aboard in five of his six wins to date.

It was a notable day for Taylor on Saturday as he had also combined with Kamazam for a first-up win earlier in the day. His double has taken his career tally to 22 wins, with his best being a Parliamentary aboard Greek Meer. He allowed Gatcombe’s Pride to settle well back in the field on Saturday.

But the rider never panicked and allowed him to make up ground steadily by taking him along the winner. He quickly went up to the leaders on the turn but Nitty Gritty fought strongly before Gatcombe’s Pride took the initiative close to home.

His time for the 1200 metres was a slow 1:15.56, indicating the soft track. There is something of a question mark over his ability to handle firmer going with his family being noted winter gallopers. Gatcombe’s Pride, himself, has yet to race on footing better than soft. Nitty Gritty, having his first start for over a month, produced an encouraging effort for second with a gap of five lengths back to thirdplaced Jade Maria, which turned in a fine effort in her swansong