Circumstances helped record win by Sarkhan Sal

Press, 14 April 1979, Page 21

Circumstances helped record win by Sarkhan Sal

By

BOB SCHUMACHER

George Little, of Amberley, was SIOOO richer on Thursday evening after the running of the 1979 New Zealand greyhound cup at Queen Elizabeth II Park. Sarkhan Sal, which he owns and trains, won the big staying race, and he must have been thankful for the delay the club had in holding the race.

The event was meant to have been held on March 22, but persistent rain that week caused the cancellation of the meeting. It also resulted in the withdrawals of several Nonh Island dogs and the Australian representative, Fluent Top. Sarkhan Sal. which only finished fourth in the Canterbury regional heats and appeared jaded after a strenuous North Island campaign, was invited into the field following the many withdrawals from the original acceptors. In the time between the meetings she had freshened considerably and Mr Little had his brindle bitch at her peak for the rich race. Sarkhan Sal, one of an illustrious Sarkhan-Sally Havoc first litter, made a brilliant beginning from the awkward box No. 6 draw and she set a hot pace from the outset. Another Canterbury bitch, Mystic Wave, which started a warm favourite after being the fastest Canterbury' qualifier, kept in close pursuit and the two drew clear as far as 500 m from the finish.

Mystic Wave tried valiantly to satisfy her supporters, but the Long Wave red and fawn bitch was unable to make any real impression on the leader, which went to the line with an advantage of two lengths. Sarkhan Sal scorched over the 840 m in the record time of 51.51 s —0.12 s fasten

than Dive Bomber’s old record set more than two years ago. Only two years old, Sarkhan Sal has been a wonderful chaser from the start of her career. She has won races throughout the country, including the Young Stayers’ championship at Masterton and the Canterbury Futurity Stakes. She was runner-up in the New Zealand Oaks. Mystic Wave was gallant in defeat and she was unfortunate to strike Sarkhan Sal at her brilliant best. None of the other runners could match the sustained speed of the first two. Reefton Rosita, a sound stayer, made it a clean sweep for Canterbury bitches by overhauling Kyles of Bute as thev approached the home bend and taking third from that runner. The Invercargill representative, Kilty Rambler, made a little ground for fifth and the rear group w r as brought up by Top - ~vs, Fawn Sleek (Taranaki) and Signor Caruso. NEAR RECORD Sarkhan Sal’s equally brilliant litter sister, Lisa Havoc, came close to beating her own track record when winning the Canterbury Tavern Stakes over 590 m. Results:— LYTTELTON G.B.A. STAKES $150; C 3; 540 m 6/6 HAWKESMOOR ANNA 13) V. Bean’s r b by The Matador — Hawkesmoor Amelia 1 3/3 HOBBS DECENT (6) trainer: R. W. Anderson 2 4/4 HUNTING RED (8) trainer: K. Wehrmann 3 Also: 5/5 Fawn Finola. 1/1 Ngaitahu, 7/7 Lough Fea, 2/2 Racketeer, 8/8 Doone Spartan. Time: 33.50. Win: Sll.BO. Places: 55.50. 52.35

MAXI REVS STAKES $150; C2; 540 m 1/1 ALPINE PARTNER (1) G T. Reesby and A. D. Paynes w f d by Noble Ben—Stirling Moss (trainer: Reesby) 1 8/8 TWINUI (3) trainer: M. J. Davidson 2 4/3 CUDDLY PRINCESS (2) trainer: W. A. Werner 3 Also: 7/6 Spry Lass, 5/7 Nighborn, 6/5 Little Devil, 3/2 Rawhlti Girl. 2/4 Silver Huntress. Time: 33.75. Win: $2.30. Places: $1.75. $10.15. Quinella: $21.60. SHACKELS BUTCHERIES $150; CO; 540 m 2/4 SOLARCAINE (7) G. K. Barron, L. D. Frankish’s f d by Classy Benjamin —Mosstigo Fire 1 8/8 WAYWARD FELLA <8) trainer: W. J. Morris 2 3/2 TINOPAI LAD (5) trainer: M. J. Davidson 3 Also: 6/6 Jumping Jim. 1/1 Pacific Legend. 7/7 Hasty Career. 5/3 Mighty Buffer, 4/5 Tip Top Gomer. Time: 33.45. Win: $4.85. Places: $3.85, $5.35. Quinella; $42.70. Treble (3, 1. 7): $175.10. FERRYMEAD MAIDEN STAKES "8500; CO; 550 m l/l WORRIED GYPSY (3) M. J.. B. R. and S. C. Burry’s hd b by Silent Wonder — Solitaire (trainers: M. and B. Durry) 1 2/2 PHIL THE FLUTER (1) trainer: Mrs D. E. Pinnell 2 5/5 DALES IRISH (6) trainer: L. R Joel 3 Also: 4/4 Radiola, 3/3 Topsy McGrath, 7/6 Dismal, 6/7 Doug’s Pal. 8/8 Just A Moon. Time: 33.45. Win: $2.35. Places: $1.55, $155. ENDEAVOUR STAKES $150; C 4; 590 m 8/8 WARA-NUI (8) C. Moir’s f b by Moon Boy —Wakanui Lass 1 3/2 MOSS CIRCLE (2) trainer: R. Adcock 2 1/1 REEFTON AMBER (1) trainer: W. A, Werner 3 Also: 2/3 Mr Forester, 5/6 Rocky Baron. 4/4 Kittybegs, 6/7 Marshall Hobbs, 7/5 Keytoe Trudi. Time: 36.21. Win: $32. Places: $13.70, $2.10. Quinella: $74.20. Double (3 and 8): $43.30. NEW ZEALAND CUP $.1500; invitation; 840 m 2/2 SARKHAN SAL (6) G. Little’s bd b by Sarkhan — Sally Havoc 1 1/1 MYSTIC WAVE (2)

trainers: L. and R. Plusa 2l 5/5 REEFTON ROSITA (1) ! trainer: S. T. Taylor 3' Also: 6/6 Kyles of Bute. 8/8 Top Reus, 7/7 Kilty Rambler, 3/3 Signor Caruso, 4/4 Fawn Sleek. Time: 51.51. Win: $4.85. Places: $2.40. SI.BO. CANTERBURY TAVERN STAKES $200; C 8 and 9; 590 m 1/2 LISA HAVOC (2) J. Walsh’s f b by Sarkhan —Sally Havoc 1 4/4 AR IKI SUE (4) trainer: G. Little 2 3/3 FALCON ARROW (8) trainer: G. Little 3 Also: 7/8 Apache Squaw, 6/6 Shaun Boy, 5/5 Man-O-War, 2/1 Arithmetic. 8/7 Anna’s Retreat. Time: 35.29. Win: $2.05. Places: $1.90, $2.90. Quinella: $10.20. Double (6 and 2): $11.55. B. J. McSHERRY STAKES $150; C 5; 590 m 5/6 LIVELY JIM (8) K. and T. Joil’s bd d by Lively Band — Roaming Rosita 1 3/2 SLITRIG DANCER (7) trainers: G. and R. Wright 2 2/5 ROSS RUAL (5) trainer: C. Chaney 3 Also: 8/8 Aqua Craze, 6/5 Del Pandora, 7/7 Baron David, 1/1 All Okay. 4/3 My World. No time. Win: $9.85. Places: $4.90, $2.40. ALL AGLOW STAKES $200; C 7; 590 m VI KEYTOE BEN (5) C. A. Martin’s blk d by Conquistador — Moss-Key-Toe 1 2/2 CRACKER STARLET (7) trainers: K. and T. Joli 2 4/4 PIONEER SAM (4) trainer: S. T. Taylor 3 Also: 6/6 Whitey Review 7 , 5/5 Space Bluebell, 3/3 General Titan, 7/7 Roaming Gazelle, 8/8 Always Roaming. Time: 35.75. Win: $2.85. Places; $2, $2.30. Quinella: $7.40. KATY DID STAKES $150; C 5 and 6; 590 m 1/1 APRIL FLYER (1) G. F. and G. K. Palmer and D. D. Carroll’s rf wh b by Sarkhan — Sally Havoc (trainer: Mrs G. Palmer) 1 3/4 MONEY LENDER (8) trainer: E. O'Shea 2 5/5 DAZZLING ACE (1) trainer: S. T. Taylor 3 Also: 6/6 Highstead Lass, 2/2 Ring Round Me. 8/8 Bright Burglar, 4/3 Deadly Dame, 7/7 Saucy Dish. Time; 36.32. Win: $2.05. Places; $1.35, $3.65. Quinella: $21.95. Treble (8, 5. 1); $136.80.