RACING FLAGON’S DECISIVE WIN

Press, Volume C, Issue 29501, 1 May 1961, Page 4

RACING FLAGON’S DECISIVE WIN

Roman Maid Easily In Second Leg

Flagon signalled his first appearance in open company with an eftsy win in the President’s Handicap at the North Canterbury Racing Club’s meeting at Riccarton on Saturday. Flagon was not a certain starter in the race until after he exercised on Saturday morning. He had some filling in a leg on Friday and his connexions waited until they saw how he was after exercising on Saturday morning before they decided to run him.

•That bit of ram overnight won the race for Flagon," aaid hii trainer, A. S. Ellis, on Saturday "I doubt if we would hove Started him if it hadn't reined," he eaid. Flagon will now be rested to give his troublesome leg time to recover.

In winning Immediately alter graduating from hacks. Flagon waa following the lead of Navarro, which won the Great Autumn Handicap at his first start after a successful campaign against the hacks at Trentham.

Flagon was placed behind Navarro at Trentham. won two distance hack races at Riccarton at Easter, and did not raee again until Saturday. Flagon is seven, but did no early racing. He is owned by Messrs J. M. Clarke and J. Wilson, of Christchurch, and was ridden by N. Eastwood, who was also associated with Navarro in his first open-class win.

Valaris and Fire Bar. the only two Otago stayers In the field, were next best to Flagon, but could not put the Riocarton seven-year-old to the test

Flagon carried £O9OB 15s of a doubles pool of £38,490 10s. Roman Maid rounded off the double with an effortlessly easy win in the Ronald Macdona’d Handicap. She gave weight all round but won coasting by five lengths from Persuasive. which shaded Rhythm Rein. This was Roman Maid’s first win since the autumn of last year when she won the Great Easter Handicap, but after a good third in that race this year she was one of the strong form prospects. Roman Maid is a four-year-old Summertime mare owned by Mr R. D. Molyneux, of Belfast, and trained at Riccarton by J- U Barr. She was ridden by R. J- Skelton. Holders of 3964 5s tickets on th* Flagon-Roman Maid

combination received £l3 9s for £l.

Win favourites won five races on Saturday, and there were no real surprises. In the main Easter form proved pretty valuable. The meeting was held in fine weather, and the club profited handsomely from an enforced switch to Riccarton because of the reconstruction of ita Rangioru track. Op-course the tote lisa tor handled £50,076. an increase of £32463 on the turnover for the winter meeting at Rangiora last year. Off-course investments increased from £17.711 5a to £58.555, giving an overall increase for the meeting of £73.126 15s.

Came From Middle Flagon and Valaris. the first two home in the President’s Handicap, were running together in the middle of the field when the race was half over. Omaha and Gay Tommy had short turns in the lead early before Kastanea took over the pacemaking going to the mile.

Kastanea led Into the last seven furlongs by a length and a half from Gay Tommy. Omaha and Kelp were in the next line, and then there was a bunch formed by Phil’s Choice. Fire Bar, Whiohau, Valaris, and Flagon. Thumper tailed off three lengths behind Navarone and Shoal.

Kelp improved one place to second at the half-mile, but did not go on with his run. Gay Tommy was closest to Kastanea on the home turn, but eould not muster enough speed to get to the front. Omaha made a bid fof th* lead, with a run along the rails, but Flagon settled her chance and the chances of the others in a few stride* when N. Eastwood found ’ a gap for him well outside the furlong.

Flagon led at the furtong, and waa in no bother holding to hit lead, Valaris, though running on resolutely under top-weight, was safely held a length arid a half back. Fire Bar saved third by half a r.eck from Shoal, the last but one at the halfmile. Omaha was three-quarters of a length back fifth. Then there were heads to Kastanea and Gay Tommy. Thumper started to gallop when the race wag all but over, coining from last for eighth. He was followed in by Coral Ring, Whiohau, Navarone. Phil's Choice, and Olympic Flame. Won Coasting Roman Maid came to the straight with a lead of two lengths in the Ronald Macdonald Handicap and she widened that to five lengths at the end. though she was little more than coasting inside the last furlong. She was one of the best beginners and ran past Le Cheval into the lead early in the race. Starting the last half-mile she led by a length from Le ChevaL Then there was another length to Min glow. Matauwhl, end John Jameson, and another small gap to Blonde Sprite and Hopeful.

Irrepreaeible, which had been slow to accelerate, was still back with the tailenders. Rhythm Rein made a run oh the home turn and Persuasive also made ground on the outride behind John Jameson. But neither could keep Roman Maid within challenging ranrfe. Persuasive took second place by half a neck from Rhythm Rein, Then there war-a neck to John Jameson gnd a head to Matauwhl. Blonde Sprite was sixth and was followed in by Irrepressible, MTnglow, Stradbroke. Honeful, Le Cheval, and Her Ex.