Taiaha wins fourth successive race

Press, 26 February 1987, Page 38

Taiaha wins fourth successive race

PA Auckland Taiaha won her fourth successive race in capturing the feature event and second leg of the T.A.B. double at the Auckland Racing Club’s meeting at Ellerslie yesterday. Ridden by Debbie Healey, Taiaha won the Timbercorp Handicap by a head from Tristabelle, which had done her previous racing from Colin Hayes’ stable in Australia. Third, a further head back, was Toronaga, which made the early pace. Though the field was

small Taiaha could not get a clear run until late in the run home. Healey, who had not previously ridden Taiaha, described her as “a gutsy little thing”. Taiaha is trained at Takanini by Trevor and Stephen McKee for Roberts Holdings Ltd. Record times have been the order at Ellerslie this year, but it was only after a painfully slow 2200 metres that Top Plate won the first leg of the T.A.B. double, the Neil Holdings Handicap. Top Plate posted 2:21.53

in scoring by half a head from Mont Blanc, which had the same margin to spare from The Waffler. The course record is 2:14.02. Because of the slow early pace, Gary Grylls decided to send Top Plate from mid-field to the lead at the 1300 m. “He’s a one-pacer,” said Grylls. “He might as well be in front going at that speed.” Top. Plate has now won four races and recorded 10 minor placings for owners Terry and Vai Finlay and Cambridge trainer Roger Lang.