Westburn Vue does best in close finish

Press, 7 April 1979, Page 20

Westburn Vue does best in close finish

By

G. K. YULE

VV estburn Vue gained her first win since the Standardbred Breeders’ Stakes in record time in February when she held off the backmarker, Majestic Charger, by half a head in a keen finish to the Lion Lager Handicap at Addington Raceway last evening.

The finish was one of the, keenest in recent weeks, with little more than a|' length covering the first I, eight. I Westburn Vue, raced by li Mr and Mrs Barney Breen, 11 of Prebbleton, and trained at!< Templeton by Reg Curtin, i will contest the 520,000 Lion j I Brown Easter Cup next Sat-11 urday. John Noble improved | < Westburn Vue to second on i the outside with about * 1200 m left, at which stage' Uncle Andrew moved to the i I lead from Waralene.

Majestic Charger, about a (dozen lengths from Uncle Andrew starting the last 11200 m, began to improve (three wide from the 800 m. I He was third or fourth turnling for home and gradually 'moved up to Uncle Andrew land Westburn Vue. Westburn Vue fought on (best to win by half a head I from Majestic Charger, which did remarkably well considering it was only his second start since the (spring. I Uncle Andrew held on fori (third a neck back, with nar-l I row margins to Waralene.

Idolmite, Master Regal, Worthy Lord and Aurum Bay. The favourite, Bronze Queen, lost her chance at the start. The only satisfying feature of the Stewards Handicap, the second leg of the T.A.B. double was the fact that the 1 winner. Even Speed, was the I favourite. In an eventful contest three runners failed to complete the course. Scotch ; Tar, after breaking at the end of 200 m, and again ■jnear the 1900 m, was pulled ■ up near the 1700 m after goI ing over Robert Cameron,

-(who had lost his seat when (Sharmbro put a foot into the »1 back of lisa Voss’s sulky. I t First Prize made the pace from Even Speed, but broke j » near the 200 m. Even Speed had been pulled out before that and he came on to win e by 2 lengths. - Pointer Hanover, which t broke near the 2000 m, came . on well, a head in front of t Waitaki Gamble, with an--5 other head to Waipounamu 1 and half a head to Santoza,! . which was followed by About i. Now.