Diarac Leads All The Way At Oamaru

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32130, 28 October 1969, Page 26

Diarac Leads All The Way At Oamaru

“The Press” Special Service OAMARU. Diarac firmed in favour for the New Zealand Cup on November 11 when he led throughout in the Hannon Memorial Handicap at Oamaru yesterday.

The Morano-Concerto gelding won with something in hand by two lengths after sprinting the last half-mile in 60 l-ssec.

Diarac gave the Templeton horseman, D. G. Jones, his third training and driving success in the event. He was successful with Soangetaha in 1952 and with Lochgair in 1966. Diarac is now unbeaten in three starts this season. Meadow Bank tracked Diarac throughout and beat the fhvourite Holy Hal by a nose. Holy Hal was not disgraced as he raced one out without a trail close to the lead. Driver Dragged Meadow Bank’s driver, M. Holmes, had a nasty experience during the preliminary Holmes was out of the sulky adjusting some gear when Meadow Bank bolted. Folmes held the reins and was dragged for about 30 yards. Golden Fleece, Cuddle Doon and Lords, which checked Sir Echo, made mistakes at the start. Diarac was in front after a furlong and with a mile left showed the way from Mea dow Bank, Landlord and Holy Hal, with four lengths to Jac quinot Bay. Glenda Hanover. Torrent and Atanui. The order had not changed a great deal at the half-mile, where Diarac led by a length from Meadow Bank, with three-quarters of a length to Holy Hal, Lords (three wide), landlord, .Jacquinot Bay, Atanui and Torrent, ahead of Spry and Chief Command. Diarac never looked in danger of being headed and strode clear in the run home

to wm by two lengths from Mekdow Bank, which shaded Holy Hal. Chief Command, after covering extra ground did well for fourth, two lengths back, ahead of Torrent, Spry, Atanui and Landlord. T.A.B. Double Trader Horn completed the T.A.B. double with Diarac when he led throughout the Dan Cant Memorial Handicap. Trader Horn set a fairly easy pace and sprinted right

away over the final furlong to win by four- lengths from Siouan, which nosed Raphael out of second.

Raphael enjoyed the run of the race. His bracketed mate. Prosper, broke badly at the start and after moving up three wide from the rear at the half-mile, finished seventh. Strafe was a fair fourth ahead of Bright Frost, which raced three back on the rails. He was followed by Michaeloe and Prosper.