Corduroy Improves On Solid Record

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

Corduroy Improves On Solid Record

Corduroy showed he was something of a highweight specialist when he wen the North Canterbury High-weight Hack Handicap at Riccarton on Saturday. This was bis third highweight win in two months; also his third win in his last four starts for his Dunedin owner, Mr E. H. Young. Trained at Riccarton by C. G. Humphries, he has been ridden by B. T. Jones in hit three high-weight victories. Jones rode Corduroy confidently on Saturday, allowing him to settle down towards the tail of the field. He was second to last at the half-mile, where Galina and Rising Flame led from Gaza, Hesus. Balrannach, and Breaker. Night Sock made a fun around the field near the home turn, and Corduroy followed him. ‘Corduroy had the race won at the furlong, where he was going past Night Sock into the lead. He pulled out to win by a length and a half from the little-fancied Washdyke horse. Paclcwood. the place favourite, was half a length back third. He improved three or four places from the home turn and beat Balrannach by half a length. Breaker tired to fifth after making a likely run going to the furlong. Tight Finish Ben McLeod. Talkative, Flying Lancer, and Harewood were the principals In a spectacular &ca? Any one of a dozen horses had a winning chanee very close to home, and at the end Ben McLeod got there only by half a head from Talkative, which just missed bringing off a major surprise. Flying Lancer finished close to the outside fence only a nose behind Talkative and only a McLeod, a I King s Command gelding from K. P. Corboy’s Wasndyke stable, was each-way favourite and at short odds in a big field. N. Eastwood had him back In the middle of the field at the half-mile, but steadily brought him into a challenging Position in the middle of the Talkative finished powerfully for his second —a performance that stamped him as an early winner for Mr R. L. McCormack. He was disappointing when trained in Sydnev for Mr McCormack, and rejoined W, N S. Barr's Riccarton stable in March. Fljing Lancer made his run widest of all He was back in the mladle of the .field at the half-mile, and It was late when he started to pick up ground. Harewood started from the outride of the field of 19. but ran up to Riboflavin in the lead before they Went tar. hfygrid took the lead away from him early in the run borne, but he battled his way past her again close to home. Mygrid was fifth. Favourite Beaten Golden Aureole mastered the top weight and favourite Paua close to home to win the Oxford Apprentice Hack Handls cap. ’ This was Golden Aureole's second win tor her Riccarton owner. Mrs W. R. Carston. for whom she is trained by J f L. Eseh ttme she has been riddwsjfr the Stable apprentice. G. GoMen Aureole, always « part oF*two n &gfts t and C a haw at the start, , Paua was to front almost from the start, and her rider, M. J. Wildermoth. appeared to be

anxious to be anywhere but in front. The result was a slack pace, with most of the runners under strong holds for the first three furlongs. Paua had also pulled hard, but she gamely met challenges from Surrend and Donna Maria early In the run home. Golden Aureole had the last run at Paua, and sustained it gamely to win narrowly but decisively by a neck. Donna Maria was a length back third, and then there was another length to Surrend. Tremble was an undistintlnguished sixth, followed by Rondar and Air View. Not Tested Timna outclassed his 19 rivals undef top weight of 8-12 in the Ashley Malden Handicap No. 2. He started from the outside of the field, but was in front inside a furlong and won at his leisure by two lengths. Timna is a three-year-old Sabaean gelding owned by Mr A. N. Smith and trained at Riccarton by J. C. Tomkineon. He was the beaten favourite in his two starts at Riccarton at Easter, but did not get a good run in one of those races. Timna showed high speed to be in front soon after the start on Saturday, and was not bothered by challenges from any of his rivals In the straight. He opened up a wide lead going to the furlong and won at his leisure by two lengths from The Drifter, which shaded Brydone and Ejay In a tight finish. The Drifter finished strongly tor hts second but Brydone waa always in close touch with the leading bunch. Ejay was followed in by the win favourite Windvale Lad, which did not get a good run El Toro led the others in. Riccarton Specialist Safe Harbour justified her favouritism tor the Inglewood Hack Handicap with a decisive win over Gabbler, her most solidly-hacked rival. Safe Harbour has now won three races, and they have all been at Riccarton. At her previous start rite won the Gimcraek Handicap on the final day ot the Canterbury Jockey Club's autumn meeting. Safe Harbour, a etabiemate of the President's Handicap winner Flagon, was close to the lead on Hie home hire to the Inglewood Handicap. She pasted Payout to reach the lead going to the furlong, and coped With a. challenge from Gabbler without any great bother Gabbler ran one of bis usual solid races In this bis first start (or Messrs B. J. and J G Kirk, of Ashburton. He finished a . length clear of the Wlngatui-tralned Gay Fox. which led for a moment early, and then ran to behind th* leading bunch, Payout tired a little and finished fourth a neck back. He shaded Corowa and Ruffle Ignite was next in a gap of a length and a half. He lost a chance of running Into a place When a gap closed on him down on the inside early to the run home. Archway, the third favourite, was never to a contending portion and finished tenth. Otego Hack Wins Mighty Smart led from outside the fuiteng to win the Okufcu Hack Handicap for his Otago owner-breeder, Mr J. A. Mighty smart. Otago’s onsy representative, survived a determined late challenge from the long shot Topa to thia, his ‘second win. His success was well earned, for he ran solid races at Riccarton at Easter. ' R. N. Marsh took him forward steadily between the six furlongs and the home turn, and he made a sharp run to go part King Lear into the lead soon after straightening up A furlong out Mighty Smart looked as if he would win at bis Itieureu but Tops restored Interest it to* finish with a fast lata run from toe back.

Topa ran the Wtogatui grey to half a length. His placing was meritorious, as he was second to last early. Herbs, the tail-ender along toe -back straight, was a good third a length behind Topa. He attempted to change bis ground when making a ruri on the outside in the straight. Slatey was only a neck back fourth, and finished the race very dose to the outride fence. Golden Howe was fifth, failing to quicken after running In the third line just ahead of Mighty Smart for a good way William David was an expensive and disappointing favourite. Ha was tenth to finish.