Gus Gives Lesson To His Rivals

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31111, 14 July 1966, Page 4

Gus Gives Lesson To His Rivals

(From Our Own Reporter)

The three-year-old Gus gave his older rivals a galloping lesson in the £3OOO Parliamentary Handicap at Trentham yesterday.

Mrs L. Tyree’s Golden Cloud gelding dashed clear from a trailing position in the straight and won by three lengths from Treble, which was unchallenged with a run that earned favouritism for the Winter Hurdles on Saturday.

Gus was an expensive failure in the Whyte Handicap on Saturday, and there was a half-hearted attempt to start a demonstration of illwill yesterday. But it had been explained after the Whyte Handicap that Gus had been frightened by the mud and slush being thrown into his face on a track that was a sodden mess. Gus had to suffer no such discomfort yesterday, and there was no doubt what would win when W. D. Skelton called on the chestnut to go out after the leaders. Elkayel, the each-way favourite, ran a plodding race for third. He was run-ner-up two years ago. Kumai was fourth, in a gap, a placing that confirmed impressions that he has lost some ability since he won his second Parliamentary Handicap two years ago. Gus carried 29,818} tickets (10s unit) in a pool of £155,279 5s on the double. This was Gus’s sixth win in his last seven starts and in his present form it is difficult to see him being beaten in other immediate engagements. Dunraven, a weakening fifth over six furlongs on the first day of the meeting, made an exhibition of the others in the second leg, the Members’ Handicap. He streaked into a wide lead nearly two furlongs out and

won by five lengths from a line of horses which staged a spectacular battle for the minor places. Dunraven’s victory rounded off a double worth £l3l 17s for £l. Regal Ruler Leads Regal Ruler led after a furlong in the " Parliamentary Handicap and Whakamoa, Vigour, Gus, Certain and Treble took up forward positions in a gap ahead of Elkayel. There were few changes going to the half-mile but by then Kumai was making ground alongside the rails to join Elkayel about five positions behind the pacemaking Regal Ruler. Regal Ruler held his lead to the home turn but did not last much longer. Gus responded brilliantly when Skelton asked him for something extra and it was all over at the furlong. Treble and Elkayel improved three or four positions for second and third respectively. Kumai, beaten off fourth, was just ahead of Vigour, and Monty’s Gold. Next were Sue Pal, the 1964. Parliamentary winner Count Filou, Chatty Lady, Regal Ruler and the weakening Certain. Always Well Placed Dunraven followed Garnishee into the last half-mile of the Members’ Handicap, dashed clear near the home turn and sped away to win by five lengths. Shakes, Bijali and That’s It were slow away. Princess Taiaria and Equality were two of the quickest over the first halffurlong, but there were several changes before the half-mile. Dunraven was then following Garnishee and Topsil,

Equality, Wiri, That’s It and Kintyre had also passed Princess Taiaria. Garnishee was beaten before the home turn, leaving Dunraven clear and scuttling away to a big lead. None of the others could get near him, but a magnificent finish developed for the minor places. Le Plus beat the topweight, David Jeff, by a head for second. Wiri was right at hand fourth, and so were Queen’s Poet and Bijali, which could not be separated for fifth. Carnbeg and the South Islander Shakes led the others in.