Early Riser too good after slow beginning

Press, 29 January 1986, Page 40

Early Riser too good after slow beginning

Early Riser lifted her stake winnings to beyond $lO,OOO when she gained an eye-catching victory in the Oasis Industries Pace at Addington Raceway last evening.

The daughter of Plat Du Jour and La Romola was slow away and was spotting the leaders a lengthy start with 900 m to run. lan Cameron sent her round the field soon after and this enabled her to miss the skirmish caused by Ceredel Lady stopping quickly and Koobecar, Frangelico, Kiss and Coo and others meeting serious checks near the straight entrance.

Early Riser soon had the measure of Free’s Best. Without being tested she won by almost two lengths. Raced by Messrs Bill Archdall and Charlie

Hooper, she looks capable of rapid promotion through the slower classes. She has now had three wins and three placings from her 12 starts from Leicester Tatterson’s Rangiora stables. Omanu, a long-shot winner last Wednesday, came from well back for second, shading Sunset Panorama, Penta, Prestwick and Free’s Best, which was wide for more than half the race, after which she raced in the open. Omanu and Early Riser combined for a quinella dividend of $93.10 last Wednesday. Last night the combination paid $66.90. David Butt’s patience was a major contributing factor in the success of the favourite, Adioo Omahae, in the Sunfresh Pace. He kept the

five-year-old back in the field, challenged early in the run home and soon had the result in safe keeping. Saryan, driven by David’s cousin, Anthony, was another to wait until late before challenging. She came on well for a clear second, ahead of Main Point and Woodsey.

Anthony Butt still retains his lead in the Maurice Holmes Trophy, for junior horseman, having an advantage of two points over David Butt, with a drop of nine points back to their nearest rivals.

Boford earned a rehandicap of 20m in the T.N.L. Freighting Handicap at Nelson on Saturday when he held out a late challenge from Jacee by two lengths in the Huttons Sizzlers Trot. Gerard

O’Reilly had Boford handily placed throughout and he was much too strong in the run home. He should add to his record at Nelson.

Jacee held second quite comfortably from the outsider, Miss Tennessee, with the favourite, Barabbas, a fair fourth after an early lapse. Wishful showed ability a little above average when she held out a strong finish by the favourite, Imperial Time, which hung badly early in the run home, by a short neck in the Peter Clarkson Sign Studio Pace. Wishful was confidently driven by Tony Robb and looks capable of further success.

Nardin’s Belle was a fair third, well clear of a very tired remainder. Herve, having his first start since being trained at Rangiora by Colin McDonald, got up in the last stride to shade the favourite, Front Up, by a nose in the Le Papillon Handicap. Jack Carmichael had Herve handily placed throughout, but Front Up looked the likely winner when he raced clear 700 m out. Herve came on boldly over the last few metres and just got up. Springfield Command, which had every chance, was three lengths back, third, ahead of Special Poplar and Signor Gabrielli, which made up a few lengths in the run home. Coma Berenices on top Coma Berenices made no race of the Peter Noble-Adams Iseki Pace, for two-year-old fillies. Her northern campaign, in which her five starts result in three wins and a second, had her in much more seasoned condition than most of her rivals. Ron Dalziel, who trained her at Yaldhurst and races her in partnership with Dr Bruce Todd, sent her round the field with 1400 m left and she took control 200 m later. Coma Berenices opened up an advantage of three lengths with about 200 m left and she was never in danger of being caught even though her advantage had been reduced to one length at the post. Coma Berenices, by Smooth Fella from Winsome Tricks, has now won $17,685. Catarina, another by Smooth Fella, came from a handy position for second, with the favourite, Bionic Chance, far from disgraced when third. She was 12 lengths off the pace at the 800 m and four wide as she improved from the 700 m. Going Smooth made up ground for fourth, ahead of Gunship and Winifred Mathilda. A