Gay Mood Not Put To Test In Hurdles

Press, Volume C, Issue 29515, 17 May 1961, Page 4

Gay Mood Not Put To Test In Hurdles

Gay Mood carried the top weight of 10-10 to an easy win in the Wichmore Hurdles at Ashburton yesterday. The Wingatui owned and trained Maniototo gelding was confidently ridden by B. N. Blair, running along easily at the tail of the small field for the first mile or so. Then he made a sharp run up to Coinalot in the lead, and went ahead at his leisure closer to home.

This was Gay Mood's first win for the season, but it was generally anticipated after a third and a fourth in stronger fields at Riccarton at Easter. Gay Mood is owned and trained by W. J. Hewitt and was ridden by B. N. Blair. Arctic Sun outstayed Coinalot for second, but finished three lengths and a half behind the winner. Arctic Sun probably owed his place to a weak jump by the tiring Coinalot at the last hurdle. Coinalot jumped to a three-length lead at the seven furlongs and increased that to six lengths at the half-mile. This was his firs* race for several weeks, and pointed to an early win. Arctic Sun was shaded for speed but his safe jumping and stamina gave him his second. Plassowa was the only other to finish without a mistake, and he was well beaten. Gaza fell at the six furlongs, and was remounted to finish the course. Skyrain bumped his rider to the ground at the first flight.

Family, Affair Aroair proved Riverton form the best form by winning the Trial Stakes in the colours of his Wingatui trainer, J. Didham. Aroair ran Begorrah close in the maiden race on the second day of the Riverton meeting, and did not race again until yesterday, when she beat the fast-finishing Cranston by three-quarters of a length. Aroair’s win was a family affair. The Panair mare was ridden by E. J. Didham. a brother of the owner-trainer. Young Didham had Aroair close to the lead from the start. They followed The Drifter and Riboflavin Into the straight and kept up a solid run to reach the front inside the furlong. Cranston ran the last furlong brilliantly, passing several rivals, but was too late to nut Aroair to the test. Tui Hill was Riccarton’s best. He came from a close contending position for third three-quarters of a length behind Cranston and just beat the Ellerslie horse By Arrangement which was ridden at 101 b over-weight. By Arrangement came into the picture quickly on the outside near the home turn Riboflavin was a fair fifth, but Talkative was a much stronger finisher for his sixth. Talkative. the second favourite, drifted to the tail of the field at the start and was a long way from the lead until near the end. The Drifter tired to seventh. W. D. Skelton tried to steal the race on him near the home turn, but he was. caught going to the furlong. Hullabaloo led the others in.

Won At First Start Waverley broke a run of successes by Wingatui horses by winning the Lauriston Two-year-old Handicap in style. A more impressive winning debut could not have been wished. This Riccartontrained Isaac of York gelding was last early, but brilliantly looped the field coming to the straight and won untested by two lengths from Hi a way. Waverley was each-way favourite, and was in no danger of defeat from the moment he strode easily to the the front in the straight. He shapes as if he could develop high-class form for Mrs J. W. Woodhouse, for whom he is trained at Riccarton by I McClure. Hiaway beat the fasterfinishing Shalom by half a length for second. Hiaway had her chance, running in a trailing position on the home turn. Shalom had to come from further back. and was brought wide on the turn to start her run. After pacemaking Donna Gola tired to fourth three

parts of a length back. Dilane, the next home, also had a chance, being in the front bunch on the home turn. Great Glee and Naval Recruit were slow away and unlike Waverley they could not make up ground lost. Star Maiden drifted quickly soon after the start. Gay Fox shaded Pitch, Silver Wood and Safe Harbour in the finish to the Apprentices’ ,Hack Handicap to swell the formidable Otago list of successes. This was Gay Fox’s third win for his Ranfurly ownerbreeder, Mr H. G. McLeod, and it followed a third at the North Canterbury meeting at Riccarton 17 days earlier. The stable apprentice. R. N. Marsh, had Gay Fox close to the lead from the start. Candida led into thq last half mile from Safe Harbour. Air View, Gabbler. Gay Fox, Silver Wood, and Pitch. Safe Harbour passed Candida and ran to a handy lead on the home turn, but she was strongly challenged going to the furlong. Gay Fox came fast on the outside and Silver Wood made a run on the inner. Pitch also joined in to put fresh interest into a tight finish. Gay Fox got there by a head from Pitch. Silver Wood was only a nose back third and then there was a head to Safe Harbour. Balrannach improved a few places from the ruck for fifth a length back. Then there was another length to Gabbler, a head to the favourite. Relation, and a neck to Yearly. Golden Aureole lost at least three lengths at the start and Rondar and Sigurd were slow clearing their stalls. £5O Dividend

Drake’s Treasure, a winner in maiden class at Amberley 10 days earlier, returned a win dividend of £5O 9s when she won the Barford Hack Handicap for Mr and Mrs G. B. Trolove. She was ridden by the Wingatui apprentice, E. J Didham. who was able to claim a full allowance so she carried 7-0 and less weight than any of the others. Drake’s Treasure had six of her rivals ahead of her when the field settled after two furlongs and she made ground to follow Royal Regent, Munster King and English Prince around the home turn. Coming to the front soon after she ran the distance out resolutely and won by a length from Night Sock, which was close to the tail of the field at the half mile. Night Sock narrowly beat the Wingatui hacks, Strategy and Mighty Smart, for second. Strategy and Mighty Smart made their runs on the inside of the track, and neither had overmuch galloping room in the straight. They came from towards the middle of the field and gave the leaders a good start into the last half mile. Munster King tired to fifth in a gap of two lengths behind Mighty Smart, and Tremble. English Prince and Slatey led the others in. Corowa. a surprise favourite. was thirteenth to finish, and was never any closer to the lead. He finished one position ahead of the second favourite, Herbs.