HILDA POTTS SCORES

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 60, 11 March 1944, Page 6

HILDA POTTS SCORES

REID MEMORIAL

BLUESTOCK WINS

CLAUDELANDS TROTS

Backed down to odds on, Hilda Potts easily won the R. T. Reid Memorial at the Waikato, Cambridge and Thames Trotting Clubs' autumn meeting at Claudelands to-day. The Jack Potts mare commenced better than usual, and F. J. Smith had her on a tight rein until the field came into the home stretch. He then gave her a little latitude and he dashed into the lead to win easily from Alcazar.

In the early stages of the race Too True, the second favourite, was in front, but, to the consternation of his supporters, he drifted soon afteryards, and with a round to go Lynn Rey was leading from Flower Potts, Franco, Hilda Potts, Alcazar and Channel Fleet. Hilda Potts moved up at the quarter-mile pole and was close handy to Franco and Flower Potts as they came into the straight slightiv ahead of Lynn Rey, with Alcazar looking for a run on the rails. Smith took Hilda Potts into the lead at the furlong pole and she was on a tight rein passing the judge, one length clear of Alcazar, with Native Man, one head away, third. Channel Fleet was fourth, and then came Franco and Too True.

The weather was fine. The track was in perfect condition and there was a good attendance. Despite the stringent transport restrictions, practically all the visiting horses were able to attend, most of those, which had to travel long distances, walking to the course.

Bracket Scores The start of the Introductory Handicap was all haywire, in so far as many punters were concerned, because Redmond's Pride, Surprise Moko, Modest Maid, Royal Palm and Silver Plane were so loth to go on and earn their oats that they practically took no part in the contest. As for that matter, Jimmy Scott also showed disinclination to get on and do things. Meanwhile, Kaipaki Bill had taken over the running from Little Hero, Golden Journey, Peter Sterling and Otawa Lass, with approximately 70 yards to Jimmy Scott. There was little or nothing between Kaipaki Bill and Little Hero with half a mile to go, Otawa Lass, Golden Journey and Jimmy Scott being close handy. Little Hero moved to the front on the home turn from his stable mate Otawa Lass and although Jimmy Scott joined issue with this pair in the run to the judge, both Little Hero and Otawa Lass comfortably held him off, a halflength in each case separating the three of them. Kaipaki Bill was fourth and the rest nowhere.

Gay Spark Leads Early

Gay Spark attempted to win the first division of the Franklin Handicap from the barrier rise; in fact, the Nelson Parrish mare attempted to make a one-horse race of it, for she was 12 lengths clear of the leader of the opposition (Sumana) at the four furlong pole, and the other members of the field were spread out like "Brown's cows." However, a great change came just before the home stretch was entered, where Sumana and Julyssia had closed on the tiring leader, Sumana going on to win easily by two lengths and a half from Julyssia, which beat Gay Spark by a neck, with a gap to Aranui Jack, Albert Tracey and Noble de Oro.

The hitherto disappointing Gallant Navy—writing of trots, of course— quickly routed the opposition in the second division. The Rey de Oro gelding was' restrained by Stewart behind Nuella for most of the journey, but he was taken to the leader just before they came into the home stretch and had the race well and truly won a furlong from the judge. The back-marker Brass Buttons showed a lot of speed in the early part of the race to take second place, behind Nuella, with a round to go, but the effort told, and he Avas beaten a long way from home. The well-backed Medical Student, which was hampered during the running and did not get clear until the last quarter, finished strongly to take tnird place from the fast-finishing Great Shadow. Nuella, very tired, was next, and after that came Lord Brooklyn and Wahiaroha.

Smooth Performance Bluestock gave a smooth performance to win the Thames Handicap, taking the initiative with about seven furlongs to go and never being afterwards headed. Dave Opal was slow to move and Manonee led out from Kewpie's Pride, Pinocchio, Certify and Bluestock, with Lady Moness Avell back at this tage. With a round to go. Bluestock was making play from Kewpie's Pride, Manonee, Certify, Pinocchio, Our Gail and Lady Moness. There was little alteration as they turned for home, except that Lady Moness had now improved her position to be lying fifth. Bluestock held on in the closing stages to withstand the challenge of Certify and beat hini by two lengths, with Lady Moness a length and a quarter away and Bill Scott the closest of the others. I

Detailed results:— INTRODUCTORY HANDICAP (Trotters) of £175. One mile and five furlongs. Limit 4.5.

1 1 LITTLE HERO, ch g, syrs, by Quite Bin sen (A. G. Pillinger). •. * limit—Pillinger 1 Pollard). hlmt-Lee ® Bed (W ' 2 4yrs (R. Darrah)*, 3 Sterol: tl "BracS: Tok, Palm and ° tawa Lass ' Golden Journey and Royal 4-? aI 3 58 lensth each way - Times: 3.57 3-5, 3.51 Winner trained by C. G. Lee. Fencourt. FRANK TON HANDICAP of £175. One mile and a quarter. Limit 3.5. First division. 3—3—SUMANA. br m. syrs, by Jewel PointerEdna (A. McKenna). limit—Lee 1 13-11 —JULYSSIA, b m. aged (M. J. Hasler) limit—Owner 2 6—6—GAY SPARK, br m, 6yrs (L. Nicholson), limit —Owner . . 3 Also started: 5-4 Albert Tracey, l-l Aranui Jack. 14-15 Balalaika, 16-14 Bonnie Gaillard, 8-8 Dainty Jewel, 9-10 Red Crest, 18-17 Merry Chimes, 2-2 Ncble de Oro, 12-9 Noble Ken, 7-7 Peter Pointer, limit. Two lengths and a half; neck. Times, 2.52, 2.52 4-5, 2.53. Winner trained by E. Breed, Hamilton East. Second division. 11-12—GALLANT NAVY, b g, syrs, by Rey de Oro —Derry Vale (G. A. Lang), limit— M. Stewart 1 4—5 —MEDICAL STUDENT, b g, 3yrs (E. Keller), limit—McKenzie 2 20-19—GREAT SHADOW, b m, 4yrs (G. Beere), limit 3

Also storied: 5-4 Professional, 1-1 Sir Volo, 15-16 Bill Ova. limit; 16-14 Brass Buttons. 48yds; 10-13 Francis Bell. 9-10 Kallula, 18-17 Lord Brooklyn. 12-3 Tommy True, 17-18 Nuella, 21-21 Staveley's Lad. 19-20 Waliaroka. limit. Brackets: Albert Tracey and Professional; Aranui Jack and Sir Volo; Bonnie Gaillard and Brass Buttons; Kallula and Red Crest; Lord Brooklyn and Merry Chimes; Tommy True and Noble Ken. . „ One length and a half; half a length. Times. 2.52. 2.52 3-5. 2.52 4-5. , _ „ ' Winner trained by A. M. Stewart, Te Rapa.

THAMES HANDICAP of £225. One mile, and five furlong's. Limit 3.57. 2—2—BLUESTOCK, br m. syrs, by Jack Potts— Cushla d'Or (V. A. Barker), limit—F. J. Smith 1 7—7—CERTIFY, b g. 6yrs (W. Hegarty), limit—Kennerly • 2 I—3—LADY MONESS, b m, syrs (J. R. Herring), 12yds 3 Also started: 6-6 Dave Opal. 8-10 ICewpie's Pride. 5-5 Manonee, 10-9 Pinocchio. 3-4 Rita Grattan, limit: 4-1 Our Gail. 11-11 Kintr Country. 9-8 Paul Parrish. 24yds; 4-1 Bill Scott*, 36yds; 3-4 Magic Task, 48yds. Brackets: Rita Grattan and Magic Task; Our Gail and Bill Scott. Two lencths; one length and a quarter. Times, 3.41, 3.40 2-5, 3.41 1-5. Winner trained by F. J. Smith. Takanini. R. T. REID MEMORIAL HANDICAP of £325. Two milos. Limit 4.42. I—I—HILDA POTTS, b m, 4yrs, by Jack Fotts—Lady Gertrude (M. G. Pezaro and E. G. Bridgens), 48yds—F. J. Smith 1 3—3 —ALCAZAR, br p, aged (A. E. Davis), 12yds—Cockbill 2 4—6—NATIVE MAN. blk c. need (J. R. Henderson), limit —McGregor 3 Also started: 9-9 Franco, 2-2 Too True, 8-8 Lynn Rey. 4-4 Flower Potts, 12yds; 7-7 Channel Fleet. 48yds; 6-5 Oregan. 60yds; 6-5 Neutrality, 72yds.

Length: head. Times, 4.31. 4.34 2-5, 4.35 3-5, Winner trained by F. J. Smith, Takanini.