Prodigal after richer prize in Adams Handicap

Press, 10 April 1979, Page 15

Prodigal after richer prize in Adams Handicap

Racing and trotting

By

J. J. BOYLE

The Otago owner, Mr Cecil Wallis, and his trainer, Jim Pankhurst, will put two last-start winners into the $20,000 George Adams Handicap at Riccarton next Monday.

Prodigal clinched a start in the Riccarton race by winning the Rangiora Handicap, first leg of the North Canterbury Racing Club’s T.A.B. double at Rangiora yesterday. But he will probably be regarded only as second string to Candyboy, which won the George Adams at Riccarton last year, and trotted up in the feature race at Beaumont last Saturday. Prodigal’s win yesterday was his second from his last three starts. In between those victories was a close second to Lord Hymac at Oamaru, and he moved up the list of possibilities when Lord Hymac was withdrawn from yesterday’s race. Jim Pankhurst rode his five-year-old Mellay gelding from behind the middle of the field yesterday. He brought him forward on a well-timed challenge

for a length victory over ’ Midknight, which had mas- ■ tered the pacemaking Or--1 gella a second or two earl--1 ler, 1 Midknight just managed to save second from the “fly- ! ing” Sir James, which got 1 into the clear when the 1 race was all but over. t Sir James was just ahead I of Prodigal about 800 m out, s but was closer to the inside ■ and in cramped quarters. Fleetwood Mac got up tor ' fifth with a dogged finishing : run. Polly Porter’s halfi brother settled a long way 1 from the pace, and his purt poseful run held out encour--1 agement for his Easter pro--1 gramme at Riccarton. 1 The Tuahiwi trainer, Ray Harris, could have had no ! excuses for not landing the ; quinella off the Kaiapoi ’ Handicap, feature race for sprinters yesterday. He prepares and is part- ) owner of Brutus, which was

runner-up to Colfix, the mount of Harris’s apprentice, Gary Blair. Brutus finished gamely in the hands of Karen Coleman, but never looked likely to reach Colfix, which beat the favourite by a length and three-quarters. Colfix was the second winner on yesterday’s programme from only a handful of runners for the deceased Irish-bred stallion, Keekerok.

Keekerok’s other winner was Peligro. Besides, Gretna Green was a close second in the Inglewood Stakes and Lyndon Royal, another of the tribe of Keekerok, was runner-up in the second Ashley Maiden. The veteran Southland sprinter Panagor failed at Beaumont on Saturday but showed much of his old dash in lasting safely for third yesterday after helping to force a strong pace to the straight.

Spy Force, the second favourite, was a so-so fifth after being given every chance in the running. Salvaro was sixth, unable to make any headway in the last 600 m.