HILDA POTTS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 251, 23 October 1944, Page 6

HILDA POTTS

WINS CHIEF EVENT

TROTTING AT EPSOM

Emphasising her clasa. over any distance, Hilda Potts, winner of the sprint on the opening day of the Auckland Trotting Club's meeting at Alexandra Park on Saturday had no difficulty at all this afternoon in easily defeating the opposition in the Labour Day Handicap run over two miles. Punters apparently never had any doubt as to the likely result, as they backed the Jack Potts mare down to odds-on and, what is more, they never had any worries, F. J. Smith always having Hilda Potts in a good position, ultimately to take the lead three furlongs from the judge and : win as she liked. • Parshall was slow away, while Karangi, ' Stuart Lee, Hilda Potts and April Direct . -were the first to become prominent. They : covered the first half In 1.10, and there •was not much change in the pace until ' they reached the last half mile, where I Karangi and Stuart Lee were racing on terms in the lead two lengths clear ofHilda Potts, which was under a strong pull, the next horses being. Safety Pin, (going well), Douglas McElwyn, Dianus ■and True Guide. Smith took Hilda Potts 'to -the lead .at the. two, and although Safety Pin attempted to join issue, the • South Island, pacer had no chance, the favourite nevei* really being off the bit. : Stuart Lee tired badly in the last 50 "yards, and Black Label was able to get third place by a neck, Douglas McElwyn being fifth, and then True Guide and. Loyal King.

Improved by his run on the first day, Casablanca,- a little, more than an v ev.en money favourite, 'finished *on solidly, to win the Green Lane Handicap. He ftad fceen m/the lead early in the race, but surrendered his position to Sure Lady, which came remind the turn in front arid a likely winner, but failed to withstand a strong run by the winner. Paiahua, which was hampered in the running on two occasions, "was a fair third. Casabianca was actually, a - bit slow to get going, and Rara Avis, Fighting Friend, Sure Lady and Lord Axworthy made play early, but with a round to go Castigate was in front from Casablanca, Sure.Lady, Fighting Friend, Lord Axworthy and_ Paiahua. With three furlongs to go Casabianca was slightly in front of Castigate, tout Sure Lady then went through on the rails to take a three-lengths lead, while J T. Paul had pulled Paiahua'to the outside. Sure Lady was first into the straight Wt could not hold off Casabianca. Castigate was fourth, Stirling Maid, next *and the rest down the straight. '■;■;-—:—-•.

Solid. piacV Dividend .' F. J. Smith continued h*s' winning runwhen he brought Bluestock alpng in the straight to win'the "Junction Handicap comfortably -from fCommunique, < while ,a rank outsider, MiragV filled third place to return his. supporters "a;, dividend of over £40. Diampad. ..Trust, Gwen Grattan and Charles Rex .went away smartly, but the win favourite; Warfarin,- failed to strike , her hopples and; was., the. best part of a furlong-behind, the.: leaders before she got under six-fur-longs to go, Gwen Grattah arid Diamond Trust, were just In : front of Trtkkala, while Mirage and Mighty .were!also handy. As the field swung through -> the -:, top stretch; Bluestock made up ground and Albert Tracey went fast five sulkies out, feo that at the turn the leaders were strung across the course, Mighty, Diamond Trust, Bluestock, Mirage and Albert Tracey forming the bunch. Half-way down the running, Bluestock forged to the front in the middle of the track, Communique, coming along .wider out and Mirage was still, battling-on on the fence. Bluestock had half a length in her favour as they. went over the line, Communique beating Mirage by a similar distance. Albert Tracey was close up fourth, jUst clear of Play Safe, .with Trikkala next. ■■ ...- .'..'■. ■ :'""-■•

Characteristic Wins Well Characteristic was well backed' to -win the Insulation as the result of his. good form after a slow beginning on the opening day. On this occasion he was within striking distance of the leaders commencing the final half mile; was a close second at the two, and in front once- in-line for the judge. The margin irr his favour at the. finish was only a length, but Behrns was sitting pretty well short of the post. It'was a nice performance on the part of Characteristic, and he should have no difficulty in winning again ere long. Auto Lad was a bit dilatory in the early stages, and Flashlight set out to make the running from Repose, and. they led past the stand from Desert Lad and Kewpie's Prided with a . gap .to Brass. Buttons and Characteristic. There was considerable" change',by the time they came round again, when Bonny Volo and Cyone Maid. were. in front,, from Desert i Lad, Flashlight, Repose and Kewpie s Pride. Once in the back straight, .Toushay ■went very fast on the outside and was close handy to Cyone Maid and Characteristic as they left to enter the top stretcn. Bonny Volo meanwhile had dropped out. Characteristic was hard on Cyone Maid's heels entering the straight with • Toushay, Desert Lad and Honest Peter right up, but nothing had a. chance with Characteristic over the final-furlong. AdmiratiSh ran on well to be fourth, with. Toushay next, and then Brass Buttons, Athlone Direct and Heydey. ~ ' %'P ■ GREEN LANE HANDICAP (Trotters) of £400. nro miles. Limit 4.56. ••_• ■ •*-2— STOE LADY. b'mV'eyrs (R.. Young). a—3—PAIAHUA. ch jr. "eyrs (6. P. Jones), • 60yds— J. T. .Paul. ....;-\.. ■* Also started: 12-12; Etta Girt. 6-5 Friend. 13-15 .Hiehrate.- 11-10 Otawa Lass 6-6 invar's Pride. 10-11 "Rara'Avte. 15-13 .Win Thru,liiftit: 9-9 Lord Axworthy. 12yds: 7-8 Silver Plane 8-7 Stirling Maid. 24yds: 6-6 Mae Wynne. 4-4 Castigate. 48yds: 14-14 Silver Countess. -84yds. .. Half length; four. Times: 4.53 1-5, "4.52-'2-5, 4.51 3-5. • ■ . Winner trained by A. Hendrtekson. Yaldhurst. JUNCTION HANDICAP of £450. One mile and a. quarter. Limit 2.57. f—S—BLUESTOCK, b m, 6yrs. by Jack Potts—, Cushla d'Or (V. A. Barker), 12yds— P. J. Smith * «—I—COMMUNIQUE, br g. 6yrs (W. MCDonald), 12yds—Gallagher ■ • 2 19-18—MIRAGE, b g. aged (S. M. Holmes), _ • limit—S.- M. Holmes '■■•■ 3 Also started: 12-12 Awntoster, 2-4 Charles Rex. 18-19 Contender, 16-17 David Derby, 15-16 Ply Across. 11-11 Free Bond, 11-11 Trlkkala, 7-9 Gwen Grattan, 1-3 Warfonn, limit; 2-4 Albert Tracey, 8-8 Counter Attack, 9-6 Diamond I Trust, 13-14 Gallant Maid... 10-10 Kewpie's Crown. 14-13 Mighty. 2-2\Play. Safe. 17-16 Sonja Henie. 20-20 Stylish Boy, 12yds: 6-7 Lady Moness, 48yds. Half length:-each way.' Times: 2.56 3-5, 2.57, 2.58 1-5.;;-- -i' ■• .■; Winner.; trained by P. 3. Smith, Takanini. INSULATION HANDICAP of £400. One mile and a half. Limit 3.38. 3—2—CHARACTERISTIC b m, syrs, by Jack Potts—Logan: Pointer (J. R. Henderson), . 12yds—Beinrpg- •-.. .......... 1 7—7—HONEST PETER, b g, 6yrs (J. McDonald . and D. Pattulo.); limit—Messenry .: 2 6—6—DESERT LAD,.bg, aged (0.. Moran). limit-rOwner ..';■ —....... 3 Also started:. , 5-5 Hpnny Volo. . 4-4 Athlone Direct. 4-4 Auto Lad, 15-15 BiU Ova, 11-11 Flashlight, 2-1 Heyday. 16-17 Julyssla, 14-14 Kewpie's Pride. 18-18 Noble de Oro. 21-21 Press Gang, 20-19 Repose, 18-20 Sumana, 10-8 True Jewel, limit: 5-5 Cyone Maid. 8-10 Admiration. 9-9 Brass Buttons, 23-23 Cllve Brook, 17-22 Free Machine, 20-16 Mihini Tere, 13-13 Our Gall, 1-3 Toushay, 12yds: 12-U Bita Grattan, 48yds; Length; half a length.' Times. 3.35 2-5, 3.38 4-5, 3.37. "Winner trained by C. S. Donald, Belfast.; LABOUR DAY HANDICAP ot £1000. Two miles. Limit 4.34. I—I—HILDA POTTS, b m, syrs,- by Jack . - Potts"-Lady. Gertrude (M. G. Pezaro and Estate late E. G. Bridgens), limit p- j snijth '.-, ...:.-.......-. ;.. 1 3— PIN, b.ra; 6yrs. (C.L. Rhodes), . ' j . G. ifplmes : ,j.<: v i-. ; v;.V. 2 6— XABELv blfc , g, aged (J; B. . Henderson), 4gyds—Broughton ........ 3 Also started: 9-9 ,£AprU Direct, 2-2 Douglas McElwyir -<T),, 2-2 ;.Karangl, *5-7 ■ Stuart.: Lee. limit:-4-4 Dianus. 8-8 True Guide, limltr? 4-4 Loyal Khig.-24yds; 2-2 JBuUdozcr, 7-6 Golden Elver,-36yds; 1-1 Parshall.'B4ydE. '■ ■•- Bracket: Hilda-Potts and Parshall. Length; four . lengths. Times. - 4.43/ 4.42 2-5, 4.41. .-■-.• . '■■ ■ Winner trained by P. J. Smith, Takanini.