Winner Relegated After Protest

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30960, 17 January 1966, Page 4

Winner Relegated After Protest

The odds were stacked against supporters of favourites at Washdyke on Saturday. But the worst blow of all came when Chief Command won and then lost the Tekapo handicap on a protest.

The holders of 106 5s tickets on the popular fancy for the second leg of the oncourse double had to wait with slim hopes for almost an hour while an inquiry proceeded, before being told that they would not participate in a double dividend worth £96 8s 6d for £l. Chief Command, which had caused interference to other runners near the straight entrance, was relegated to third. Either Way, which was promoted to first, was one of the long-shots. He paid £25 5s 6d and £6 16s for a win-and-place and £730 3s for £1 with Waitaki Smoke in the double. Only 14 5s tickets were held on this combination.

Chief Command accelerated quickly from the outside and after about a furlong was making the pace. But near the half-mile he was eased back to a trailing position be hind Star Globe, which had rushed around the field after being checked at the start Star Globe began to tire as they came to the straight but by then Chief Command, which had Winning Song and Laurinda racing beside him in a close-running field, was hopelessly blocked. It was when P. Yeatman made a desperate attempt to get the favourite into the clear that the interference took place. In the run from the furlong. Chief Command had his rivals well covered but his length and a half win from Either Way, which came home well from mid-field, had been all in vain.

Winning Song was two lengths away third and Singing Lad, close up all the way, was half a length away fourth. Compromise, another which appeared to strike

bother near the straight entrance, made a renewed bid for fifth and Angel Lass, which was also in the group behind the leaders throughout, led in the others. Laurinda and Misty Rain were pulled up at the straight entrance. Led For 9f.

Waitaki Smoke led for the last nine furlongs of a slowrun two miles in the Pukaki Handicap. Hie was followed into the straight by Eyreton. Young Lad, the weakening Void, Countess Ada and Royal Melody.

Eyreton ran best of that group in the run home, but was three lengths behind Waitaki Smoke at the end. Young Lad was a battling third, two lengths away. He beat Royal, Melody by a length. Countess Ada led in the others, but was three lengths away. The each-way favourite. Queensway, was tenth. She failed to make a run at any stage of the race, after being one of the tail-enders throughout.

The second fancy. Admire, lost his chance by breaking at the start. He was fourteenth. At Good Odds

Considering Russell was the 2/2 favourite of 15 he won the Rosewill Handicap at good odds. The former stablemate of the hot favourite, Cleome, paid £8 6s and £2 9s for a win-and-place. M Holmes took Russell into the lead with a mile to go and from that point he had the rest of his rivals bothered.

Pussell came to the straight three lengths clear of Tatsy Brigade and Oh Johnny with Glen Dee three lengths further back and Deception next in a similar gap.

In the run home Russell did not have to be driven right out ig win by two lengths. Tetsy Brigade beat Glen Dee bv three lengths for second and Melissa, running on, was fourth in a gap of five lengths. The weakening Oh Johnny led tn the others.

Cleome was pulled ip w*tb fiv? furlongs and a half to go when hopelessly out of it after galloping for most of a furlong at the start. War Scene, Philonian, Mystique and Stormy

Petrel were others to make early mistakes.

Iron Maiden’s driver, F. R. Bebbington, was tipped from the sulky when it struck the running rail with about five fu-longs and a half to go.

Popular Win

Johnny Gee broke the run of winners at lucrative odds when he won the Gleniti Handicap for which he was favourite.

Johnny Gee ran in fourth place for the first mile but with five furlongs left he moved alongside Make Up, which was trailing the pacemaker, Del Reno. Passing the half-mile, Flying Minstrel, Phenoma dnd Phoebe Martial were’abreast in the third line and Milford Nurse and Good Luck were following.

Positions were almost the same round to the straight but once Uiy Mne> fop *tbe buq Johnny Gee quickly put "his rivals behind him. Phenoma, running on well, was second by three-quarters of a length. Phoebe Martial was a length away third, two lengths and a half ahead of the breaking Del Reno. Make Up, in a small gap. led in the others.

Flying Nominee, Bonnivale, Milfora Nurse and Our Debbie all made early mistakes.

Sprint To Falstaff

Falstaff completed a day of minor surprises when he outran hie sprint rivals in the Geraldine Handicap, for which he was the 5/4 favourite R. G. Morris had Mr G. Templeton’s Dignus gelding following Snow Chief and Bass Strait in the straight. He challenged strongly just inside the furlong and won by a length and a half.

Loyal Light, four places back on the inner until the home turn, ran on well for second once in the clear. She beat Adorato by three-quarters of a length Battlefield, which settled down near the front but was forced back on the inner and was near the tail of the fie«d half a mile out, came ' home fast for fourth, but was more than three lengths away. Hr caught Snow Chief fairly close to the end. Third Chief, Ingleburn, Gay Return, Shadydale and Fells all broLe at the start, Alpine l ady My Word and Patter were slow to start