CASTLEBAR, 6-6, "CLEANS UP" IN R. A. ARMSTRONG MEMORIAL

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 88, 14 April 1945, Page 1 (Supplement)

CASTLEBAR, 6-6, "CLEANS UP" IN R. A. ARMSTRONG MEMORIAL

Third Win In Three Years: Benghazi's "Double": Favourites Give Punters Good Start at the Wellington Trots: Track Was Slow

(Special) TRENTHAM, this day. Castlebar, which paid a sensational dividend when he won the Churchill Handicap at Addington in February, beat a field of competent pacers in the Armstrong Memorial Handicap, principal event at the Wellington trots to-day. He was sixth favourite on both win and place machines. Usually a doubtful starter, he left the mark smoothly in to-day's race and, after being patiently driven for a mile and a quarter, took the lead and fought off all challengers in the race to the post. This marked Castlehar's third win in three years. He was bred at Rakaia by his owner, Mrs. J. L. Connolly, and is raced on lease by H. Williams, of New Brighton. Always a speedy pacer, Castlebar has taken time to develop solidity. He may soon win again. The favourite, Scottish Emperor, made a long-sustained run over the last half-mile to get second, this being his ninth placing this season. Ingle Belmer paced a good race for third. Of the others Larissa and Golden Shadow did best. Benghazi improved an already good record by winning both trots.

Solid Benghazi Benghazi trotted his usual honest race to win the Autumn Handicap by two lengths and a half. Contraband was first away, and led past the half-mil.' post, with Benghazi, Quartermaster, Rerewaka, King Parrish, Suzerain, Plajful, St. Mary and Royal Dale racing in close order. Three furlongs further on Contraband and King Parrish made a break. Benghazi took over the lead and Suzerain moved up to third. Rounding the bend for home Benghazi was going well from Suzerain, Quartermaster and Royal Dale, with King Parrish making up his ground in good style. Halfway down the straight Suzerain, Royal Dale and St. Mary tired. From there to the post Benghazi held off King Parrish and Quartermaster to score well by two lengths and a half from King Parrish, with Quartermaster a neck away, third. Then came Contraband, Playful and St. Mary. David Dryden started fairly well, but broke at the end of seven furlongs. The first mile was covered in 2.28. Benghazi carried £440 and £405 10/, the King Parrish—Playful bracket £145 10/ and £250 10/, and Quartermaster £132 and £224. Jjoyal Chief All tlio "Way Loyal Chief led all the way to the turn in the Eastbourne Handicap by as much as his driver wanted him to. He was closely followed for a mile by County Clare. Bendoo, Golden Imp and Golden Dancer. Racing for the straight, Plunder Bar and Red Setter improved their positions. Once the straight was reached Loyal Chief drew right, away from his opponents to win by two lengths from Red Setter, which finished well to beat Plunder Bar by a length for second. Templar came home well to beat several tiring horses for fourth. Task Force broke at the start. Loyal Chief carried £820 and £567. the Red Setter-Stammel bracket £384 and £494 10/. Plunder Bar £.232 and £323 10/. The first mile was run in 2.18 4-5. Fulwood Scores For B. .larden Fulwood gave B. Jarden his first win since resuming training by leading all the way to win the Featherston Handicap bv a length from Leonin, which came from eighth place, seven furlongs from home, to challenge Fulwood in the straight. Fulwood was followed for ten furlongs by Rose o' Day, Atawhero, Gamble King, Julyssia, Honest Peter, Blazeaway and Leonin. With a Curlong to go Leonin and Atawhero challenged Fulwood, but the latter hung on to win by a length from Leonin, with Atawhero, half a length away, third. Then came Gamble King. Chinook broke badly at the start. Fulwood carried £168 10/ and £353 10/, Leonin £167 10/ and £303, Atawhero £221 and I £353 10/.

A'Hard Finish Castlebar won the Armstrong Memorial by a length and a half after a hard finish with Scottish Emperor and Ingle Belmer over the last furlong. Jervis Bay made the early running from Bonny Axworth, Bromley Boy, Caledonian Girl, Larissa, Castlebar, Ingle Belmer, Golden Shadow, Technique and Scottish Emperor. With nearly five furlongs covered, Caledonian Girl, which started well, took over the lead. Passing the mile post Castlebar raced into second place, with Scottish Emperor, Ingle Belmer, Larissa, and Golden Shadow improving their positions. Half way down the straight Caledonian Girl was beaten, and Castlebar took the lead, only to be immediately challenged by Scottish Emperor and Ingle Belmer. In a good finish Castlebar held Scottish Emperor off to win by a length and a half. Ingle Belmer. Larissa and Golden shadow were next to finish. Castlebar arried £230 and £303: Scottish Emperor, £683 10/ and £735 10/; Ingle Belmer, £113 10/ and £441.

Double Completed Penalised 72 yards for his win earlier in the day Benghazi won the Palmer Handicap in line style after a set-to with the favourite, David Dryden, which started well and had every chance. With a mile and a half covered, David Dryden. was racing just clear of Rerewaka, with Benghazi, King Parrish and Playful doing best of the others. Rounding the bend to the straight Rerewaka broke and Benghazi and King Parrish moved up to tackle David Dryden. About 100 yards from home Benghazi had David Drydeil's measure and King Parrish was under a hard drive. From there to the post Benghazi had the issue in safe keeping and David Dryden beat the tiring King Parrish for third. Playful was fourth. Frank Scott was one of the leaders for a little more than a mile, where he broke badly. / Golden Dancer in Front Golden Dancer and Opaque fought out a hard finish for the Hutt Handicap, with Golden Dancer in the ascendancy at the finish. Golden Dancer was always well placed, but Opaque came from a long way back over the last halfmile to tackle Golden Dancer over the last furlong. The favourite, Red Setter, was fourth, when the field had settled down, and raced in that position to the straight, but could not beat Golden Dancer and Opaque. Stammel went a good race for fourth. The early leaders. Beau Bingen and Little Trevor tired over the last two furlongs. Maleesh was third to the straight, but fell a furlong farther on. Chinook Romps Home Chinook romped home in the Carterton Handicap. Atawhero, Plunder Bar, Julyssia, Chinook, Rose O'Day. Noble Rela and Blazeaway comprised the leading division until the straight was reached, where Chinook dashed to the front and won easily from Blazeaway, with Plunder Bar a similar distance away third. Mine Host got knocked back to last, with nearly a mile to go, and then finished sixth. Leonin went a good race for fourth. C.-imeroniiin Outclasses Field Cameronian outclassed his opponents over the last furlong of the Ferry Handicap. Dinghy and Dillondale alternated in the lead for a mile and seven furlongs, where Dinghy took charge, but could not withstand the stiff challenge from Cameronian. Dillondale was third, and Lord Brooklyn, which went a good race, was fourth. Results:— AUTUMN HANDICAP of £275. One mile and a half. Limit 3.49. I—I—BENGHAZI, limit—W. R. Butt 1 S—S—KING PARRISH, 48yds—F. Haslcr . 2 6—7—QUARTERMASTER, 36yds—C. M. Laing 3 Playful coupled with Kins: Parrish. Scratched: Frank Scott. British Victory. Two lengths and a hall; neck. Times. 3.34 4-0, 3.31, 3.32 1-5. EASTBOURNE HANDICAP of £275. One mile and a half. Limit 3.43. I—I—LOYAL CHIEF, limit—R. Donald 1 2—2—RED SETTER, limit—B. P. Broughan 3 3—3—PLUNDER EAR, 24yds—M. C. McTiKUO 3 Scratched: Scottish Lord. Petermox, Snndiford. Three lengths; neck. Times, 3.24, 3.25, 3.24. FEATHERSTON HANDICAP or £350. One mile and three furlongs. Limit 3.1. S—7—FULWOOD. limit—B. Jarden 1 6—S—LEONIN, limit—G. F. Robinson 2 4—4—ATAWHERO, limit—L. Donald 3 Scratched: Margaret Hall, Mine Host. Length; half a length. Times: 3.5. 3.5 1-5, 3.5 2-5. »» B. A. ARMSTRONG MEMORIAL HANDICAP of £550. One mile and a ball". Limit 3.31. 6—6—CASTLEBAR, limit—H. Williams .... 1 I—I—SCOTTISH EMPEROR, 24yds—G. B. Noble 2 D—9—INGLE BELMER, limit—J. Bryce, jun. 3 All started. Two lengths; three. Times: 3.20, 3.18 2-5, 3.21

PALMER HANDICAP of £275. Two miles. Limit 5.7. 2—3—BENGHAZI, limit (rehandicap, 72yds), W. R. Butt 1 I—I—DAVID DRYDEN, 48yds—J. McLennan.. 2 3—2—PLAYFUL, 24yds—F. T. Hasler 3 Scratched: St. Mary. Length and a quarter; four lengths. Times, 4.43 3-5, 4.46. 4.49. HUTT HANDICAP of £275. One mile and three furlongs. Limit 3.5. S—S—GOLDEN DANCER, limit—M. Holmes . 1 4—4—LUCKY SCOTT, limit—N. Beckett .... 2 I—I—RED SETTER, limit—W. R. Butt 3 Scratched: Ben Doo, County Clare, Calumet Queen, Indian Quest, Scottish Lord, Templar, Loyal Chief, Mine Host. Neck; two lengths. Times: 3.7, 3.7 1-5, 3.7 3-5. CARTERTON HANDICAP of £350. One mile and a half. Limit 3-38. B—9—BLAZE AWAY, 12yds—L. J. Fahey .... 2 B—9—BLAZE AWAY, 12yds—L. J. Fahey .. 2 4—4—PLUNDER BAR, limit—M. C. McTigue 3 Scratched: Margaret Hall, Fulwood, Gamble King. Two lengths; two lengths. Times, 3.23, 3.23 1-5, 3.24 2-5.

FERRY HANDICAP of £400. Two miles; limit 4.49. 4—4—CAMERONIAN, 24yds—L. O. Thomas .. 3 I—l— DINGHY, McClennan . 2 2—3—DILLONDALE, limit—S. A. Edwards .... 3 Scratched: Margaret Hall, Frances Easton, Ingle Belmer.

Two lengths; length. Times, 4.30, 4.32 2-5, 4.32 3-5.