GALLANT MAID

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 59, 10 March 1945, Page 6

GALLANT MAID

HAMILTON VICTORY

TROT TO SONGBIRD

Having her first run in the province and starting at double-figure odds, Ann Scott scored a stylish victory in the Kopu Handicap after leading all the way at the combined trotting clubs* meeting at Claudelands to-day. She was well handled by A. W. Broughton, who drove a nice waiting race in front, and although taken on for the lead t>y two or three different horses in the last quarter he always had her pacing smoothly, and she had no real difficulty in beating Cam Derby by three-quarters of a length, with a head to Red Ace. These two minor place-getters went solid-races, ana were beaten on their merits. In the early stages Ann Scott was followed by Red Ace, Crossroads, Cam Derby, Kewpie's Pride. Waharoha Portadown and Brass Buttons, and they were racing in close formation as they went past the stand. The only material change commencing the last round was that Sir Archie had made a fast move to take fifth place with Sypland, the field still being bunched, with Bexley s Pride, which had lost a fair amount of ground at the start, moving up from last position. Entering the home stretch, Red Ace was almost on terms with Ann Scott, with halt a length to Cam Derby and Kewpie s Pride, and Crossroads still close handy, and Auto Bell, very wide out, making up leeway. In the run down the straight Red Ace held off Kewpie's Pride for third, and Brass Buttons was next, with two lengths to Auto Bell.

Popular Win Speculators were well on the mark in the first race, the Ngaruawahia Handicap, their win elect, Songbird, leading all the way to win rather easily from Little Hero and Anna Wrack, the last-named 2—l in the betting. Songbird, which showed some promise when trained at Epsom, has gone on improving since she entered Stewart's stable and there appears to be a good future in store for her as she never looked likely to put a foot wrong. When the barriers were released Gala Maid, Legionaire, Worthy Lining, Kaipaki Bill, and Tubeck climbed in the air and were quickly out of the race while Noble Crest was nearly as bad. Meanwhile Songbird had taken up the running from Noble Star, this pair drawing out half a dozen lengths from Peter Stirling, while Anna Wrack had moved up smartly to be handy. With a round to go Songbird was trotting comfortably just in front of Noble Star with Anna Wrack and Little Hero close handy, while Dolly Scott was not so far away. Entering the last quarter only lengths separated Songbird, Little Hero and Anna Wrack with the rest hopelessly out of it and Songbird continued on to win as Stewart liked. Anna Wrack was a fair third with a big gap to High Pressure.

Division Winners William, which galloped off the mark but was soon brought to pacing, outclassed the opposition over the concluding stages of the first division of the Horotiu Handicap. With a round to go he was ten lengths behind the leader, Tommy True, which was closely followed by Petermox and Peter Pointer, Kallula being handy ahead of Great Joy and Nancy Lynn. Crossing the top Tommy True was just clear of Black Jewel, which had moved up very smartly but broke when expected to run into the lead. William was hard on their heels and he took charge entering the straight to win as he liked from Tommy True, which was followed by Staveley's Lad, Black Jewel and Kallula. Any one of the place-getters in the second division could have won the first heat, judged on time, for they went seven seconds faster than the dividend payers in the earlier run. The very hot favourite Great Belwin led all the way and looked like winning anyhow, but Typical came from the clouds and was only a neck behind as they went past the judge. Jovce Direct, Popular Girl, Bula and Great Shadow followed the leader the first half, but Professional then went fast into second place ahead of Joyce Direct, with a gap of eight lengths to Bula and Nuella. The favourite had the race won turning for home and Professional hung on to be third just ahead of Joyce Direct and Nuella. NGARUAWAHIA HANDICAP (Trotters) nf £175. One mile and five furlongs. Limit, 4.9. I—2—SONGBIRD, br m. syrs, by SwordsmanLinnet the Great (McKendrick Bros.). limit—M. Stewart 1 s—4— LITTLE HERO, ch g, 6yrs (A. G. PUlenger). 60yds—Lee 2 2—I—ANNA WRACK, b m, aged (Mrs. L. A. Stormont), 36yds—I. Morrison 3 Also started: 3-5 Dolly Scott, 16-16 Gala Maid, 12-13 Golden Surprise, 14-15 Jack Daly, 13-10 Kaipaki Bill. 4-3 Legionnaire. 10-12 Noble Crest, 6-8 Noble Star, 8-9 Peter Stirling, 15-15 Sabre. 17-17 Tubeck, limit; 11-11 Worthy Lining, 12yds: 7-6 High Pressure, 36yds; 9-7 Bridget Mac, 14-14 Redmond's Pride, 48yds. Four lengths: three lengths. Times: 3.56 2-5. 3.52 4-5, 3.55 3-5. Winner trained by A. M. Stewart, Te Rapa. HOROTIU HANDICAP of £360. First Division: B—B—WILLIAM, b g. aged, by Ne.lson Derby— Happy Rosa (J. Elliott), limit—N. Paul 1 9— 9—TOMMY TRUE, b g. syrs (J. Cutts), limit—G.Cutts ' 2 17-18—STAVELEY'S LAD. br g. 4yrs (R. J. Laird), limit—Laird 3 Three lengths; four lengths. Times: 3.51, 3.52 1-5. 3.54. , „ Winner trained by J. T. Paul. Mangere. Second Division: I—I—GREAT BELWIN, b m, 4yrs, by Worthy Belwin—Agnes Blngen (N. H. Norton), limit—F, J. Smith 1 10—9—TYPICAL, b e. aged (H. Robert and F. C. Rowse). limits-Robert 2 2—2 —PROFESSIONAL, b m. aced (J. K. Amesbury), limit—N. R. McKenzie 3 Scratched: Awamutu, Matoha, Belle Potts. Susy Lee. Great Chance. Headline News, La Diamond, Noble Nellie, Belhall. Neck; four lengths. Times: 3.44, 3.44 1-5, 3.45 4-5. Winner trained by F. J. Smith, Takanlnl. KOPU HANDICAP of £225. One mile and five furlongs. Limit 3.58. 7.IO—ANN SCOTT, b m. syrs, by U. Ann Parrish (J. R. Henderson), limit— Broughton 1 15-15—CAM DERBY, b g, 6yrs (C. M. Young), limit—Lee 2 B—B—RED ACE. rn g, Syrs (C. S. Over), limit—A. Bryco 3 Also started: 5-9 Auto Bell. 1-1 Crossroads, 12-12 Portadown, 11-11 Red Horizon, 3-5 Sypland, 16-16 Wallaroha, limit; 12-13 Kewple's Pride, 9-6 Noble de Oro. 4-3 Sir Archie, 10-7 Silver Plane, 12yds: 10-7 Free Machine, 2-2 Bexley's Pride, 6-4 Brass Buttons, 14-14 Sonny Jewel, 24yds; 17-17 Gwen Grattan, 18-18 Levity. 60yds. Three-quarters of a length; head. Times, 3.41 2-5, 3.41 4-5, 3.42. Winner trained by W. Natzke, Kaipaki, HANNON MEMORIAL of £400. Two miles. Limit 4.42. 3—3—GALLANT MAID, b m, aged, by Gallant Knight—Rustic Maid (P. Reid), 12yds . 1 4—4—DUNKIRK, 48yds 2 2— I—NGAIRE'S PAL, limit 3 All started.