Beck critical of Marlborough club

Press, 27 June 1989, Page 30

Beck critical of Marlborough club

By

JEFF SCOTT

In spite of winning the major prize on the second day of the Marlborough Harness Racing Club’s winter meeting yesterday with Harmonise, the Winton trainer Allan Beck says he is unlikely to support the meeting again.

Beck was at odds with the club after failing to get a start with the nonpreference maiden, Star Bar. The same horse had earlier failed to earn a start on both days of the Nelson meeting. “It is a bit poor when I’ve brought a horse 600 miles and can’t get a run with her,” said Beck. “I would have thought she might have got a start the last day ahead of other maidens which had run down the track in two starts at Nelson and the first day at Blenheim.”

Beck has trekked north with two horses for the Nelson-Blenheim winter

ton stock agent, lan Wilson, and his aunt, Robena. “I had thought about

Lord Waratah too good

circuit for the last three years and has yet to go home empty-handed from each meeting.

selling her but I’ve decided to keep her after today,” said Mr Wilson. Harmonise is the first

Lord ’ Waratah, which trailed to the straight, ran clear for a comfortable win in the second leg of

“Even though we have won races here for the last three years, you don’t make much on the trip after costs. But it does suit four or five-year-olds to keep them going for a few more races otherwise it takes three or four months to get them up and running again,” said Beck. Harmonise, which tangled at the start on Saturday, was again slow away yesterday but soon settled at the rear of the field. Beck improved the tough Patron Score mare three wide from the 1200 m and she was camped outside the leaders over the last 700 m.

foal from the unraced Out To Win mare, Dixie Melody, a close relative of Black Print, a good winner for Beck last year before becoming a big Australian winner. Mr Wilson sent Dixie Melody to the El Patron stallion Patron Score (now standing in Australia) to get Harmonise. “Derek Dynes told us he (Patron Score) was as good a horse as he’d had,” said Mr Wilson. Harmonise, which could race next at the Addington July meetings, ran the 2300 m from a stand in a respectable 3:2.7 yesterday, on a drying track. She was timed over her last 800 m in 58.1 seconds.

the T.A.B. double, the C2 Melbourne Hotel (Westport) Mobile Pace. Levon Helm, back on the outer to the turn, ran on gamely for second, with Spanish Armada, which tracked the winner to the straight, a neck back third. Tramp ran on late from the rear for fourth. Robin's Fella upsets Robin’s Fella, which failed badly in the slushy conditions on the first day, came with a sustained finish to win the other C2 mobile pace yesterday. The Smooth Fella gelding, part-owned and

This would seem a fair comment. However, the Marlborough secretary, Mike O’Brien, said his club’s policy was quite simple.

“We do not give nonpreference horses a start over preference horses, and a horse that has failed to make the ballot the first day is not included the second day ahead of those which were balloted the first day. The connections of these balloted horses would all anticipate getting a start on the second day,” he said. Unfortunately for Beck the club was inundated with preference horses for the meeting.

The pacemaker, Hogan, and Harmonise (outer) engaged in a dour struggle early in the run home, but the latter always had the upper hand over the last 100 m, winning by half a length. This was the fourth win from 17 starts for Harmonise, raced by a Win-

Hogan held second a neck from Tania’s Boy, which trailed, with Silver Beam, which tracked the winner over the last 800 m, a head away fourth. Dalgety’s Gift did well after an early gallop to run fifth, ahead of Mascara, which had a chequered run in the straight.

trained by a life member of the Marlborough Club, Pat O’Brien, wore down The Optimist, in the last stride. Lord Greg, which tried to lead throughout, was cut back to third, a neck away, with Zola Bay, handy throughout, closeup next.