NEW BRIGHTON T.C.

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22268, 6 December 1937, Page 12

NEW BRIGHTON T.C.

PLUTUS WINS HANDICAP DE SOTO. OWNER, AND DRIVER DISQUALIFIED Heavy rain on Saturday morning did not promise well for the success of the New Brighton Trotting Club's meeting; but the day’s racing proved to be thoroughly enjoyable 1o the big crowd present. The track, which had received a thorough soaking, was in capital order, and with the sting out of it. every horse was encouraged to hit out freely. The principal event was not run at the pace expected, but later in the clay exceptionally good times were registered. Big dividends in the two opening events diverted a big sum of money into comparatively few pockets, and this affected subsequent speculation. The investments, however, showed a good Increase cmj the figures at the corresponding meeting last year, £27.267 being invested, compared with £22,08U, an increase of £5187. The sensation of the day was provided after the Mace Memorial Handicap. when C. Johnston (owner) and J. Pringle (driver) of Do Soto were charged with not trying to win. After an exhaustive inquiry it was decided to disqualify owner, driver, and the horse for thrtfo months. A feature of the day’s racing was the success attained by the New Brighton trainer, G. Cameron, who won the first two races on the programme with Billy Sundy and Olive King, each horse paying more than a score on the win machine, while later in the day he finished second with Reward in the Saltaire Handicap, and again returned supporters of the stable a good place dividend. The meeting was capably managed and the president (Mr G. L. Berry) and the honorary stewards are entitled to praise for the punctuality observed in the running of the races. Mr W. H. McDougall and his totalisator staff did good work in handling a big sum of money and balancing the totalisator with the greatest dispatch. The racing was keen and the finishes exciting, and the starting was up to the high standard set by Mr A. J. Hastings. Mr A. J. Dickson had several close contests to decide, and his decisions were given promptly, and satisfied all concerned. Details of the racing are .as follows: —

TRIAL HANDICAP, Of £175; second horse £34, and-third horse £l7 from stake. Unhoppled trotters. 3min 43sec class. One mile and a half. 7. 10—Miss E. Hinds’s b g BILLY SUNDY—by Nelson Bingen—Emil - ius mare aged 36 .. G. Cameron 1 I. I—M. Hayes’s blk g Gay Crusader aged 24 .. .. J. Bryce, jun. 2 3. 3—T. Smith's b m Gaynor aged 12 Owner 3 2.2 Bon Chance scr; 6, 6 Fluke scr; 7. 7 Highrate scr; 9, 7 Moerangi scr; 11, 11 Carl 12. 12, 12 Harvest Dillon 24; 4; 5 Ohinemutu 24: 7. 10 Olson 24 bracketed with winner; 10, 9 Renegade 48; 5. 4 Indolent 72 also started. Won by a neck; half a length between second and third. Indolent was fourth. Times—3min 31 2-ssec, 3min 32 3-ssec, 3min 33 4-ssec. Winner trained by G. Cameron, New Brighton. IMPROVERS’ HANDICAP, Of £200; second horse £4O, and third horse £2O from stake. 3min 34sec class. One mile and a half. 10. 11 — R. Hiddlestone’s ch m OLIVE KING by Native King—Olive Huon aged scr .. G. Cameron. 1 J. f— H. W. Aker’s b g Waitaki Power syrs scr .. .. M. Holmes 2 8. 2 — W. K. Tatterson’s b f Lightning Lady 4yrs scr .. .. Owner 3 8, 7 Ace High scr; 4. 5 Eddie Tolan ■cr; 1, 1 Intrigue scr and Refund 24 brack-

eted; 9, 9 Lottie Guy scr; 16. 16 Major Guy scr; 6. 8 Oversight scr; 18, 17 Percentage scr; 19, 19 Pola Negri scr; 13, 15 Replica scr; 12. 13 Casino scr; 14, 12 Hidden Charm 12; 7, 4 Horse Power 12 and Dundee 24 bracketed; 5, 6 Gay Peterson 12; 11, 10 Moana Tama 12; 15. 14 Ace Pot 24; 16, 16 Slippery Sam 24 also started. Won by a length; same distance between second and third. Moana Tama was fourth. Times—3min 24 3-ssec, 3min 24 4-ssec, 3min 25sec. Winner trained by G. Cameron. New Brighton. MACE MEMORIAL HANDICAP, Of £400; second horse £BO, and third horse £4O froth stake. '4mm 31 see class. Two miles. 1. I—W. J. Gudscll’s blk hj PLUTUS by. Nelson Derby—Fanny Logan Cyrs 12 inc. 12 pen. . . C, S. Donald 1 3. 3—Estate F. Fine’s blk in Renown’s Best syrs scr .. M. Holmes 2 2.2 G. Stanley’s ch g Blair Athol syrs scr .. .. S. A. Edwards 3 5, (i Double Groat scr; 8. 8 Young Frank scr; 0, 5 Isohcl Derby 12; 7, 7 Evicus 72; 4, 4 Do Roto 64 also started. Won by a length and a half; neck between second and third. Double Great was fourth. Times —4min ;i4sec. Amin 35 2-, r isec, 4min 35 3-ssee. Winner trained by C. S. Donald, Belfast. WATNONI HANDICAP, Of £275; second horse £54. and third horse £27 from stake. 4min 37sec class. Two miles, 4. 4—E. R. Smith’s hj g WAIKATO PRINCE by Florix.el—Finwater mare aged scr .. .. J. Bryce, jun. 1 5. 5—E. E. Buchanan’s hj g Golden Cross aged 24 .. G. Mourilz 2 1. I—J. Richardson’s br li Toorak 4yrs 24 . E, C. McDermott 3 2. 3 Giro scr and Casanova 48 bracketed; 6, 6 Golden Direct scr; 7, 7 Treasure Bond scr; 3, 2 Eighteen Carat 36 also started. Won by two lengths; half a length between second and third. Eighteen Carat was fourth. Times—4min 37see, 4miu 35 2-sscc. 4rnin 35 3-3 sec. Winner trained by J. Bryce, Hornby.

BOWHILL HANDICAP. Of £250; second lior.se £SO, and third horse £25 from slake. 2mm 46scc class. One mile and a quarter. 5. 6—E. Sanders’s b g BIG AUTHOR by Author Dillon—Dot Robbins aged scr O. E. Hooper 1 2. I—J. E. and H. L. August’s) ch m Frisco Lady syrs scr J. Bryce, jun. 2 4. 4—G. Aitcheson’s b m Southern Smile aged scr .. F, G. Holmes 3 3. 3 Elvo scr; 1. 2 Parisienne scr; 7, 5 Agile 12; 8 8 ,Gunfire 12; 6, 7 Raydus 12 also started. <' Won by a length and a half: length between second and third. Gunfire was fourth. Times —2min 46sec, 2min 46 1-5 sec. 2min 46 2-ssec. Winner trained by O. E. Hooper, Lauriston.

SALTAIRE HANDICAP, Of - £250; second horse £SO, and third horse £25 from stake. Unhoppled trotters. 3min 34sec class. One mile and a half. 3. 3—W. Anderson’s b , m SISTEH MARY by Guy Parrish—Sister Maud . aged scr .. R, B. Berry 1 11. 11— J. Rogers’s b g Reward aged scr .. .. G. Cameron 2 6. 5—J. W. Borrell’s b g Indolent aged scr .. S. C. Wright 3 7, 7 Debutante scr; 12, 12 Great Wood scr; 8, 8 Gyrate scr; 4, 6 Pageant d’Or scr; 5. 4 Princess Hai*tfester scr; 2, 2 Lady Sonoma 12; 1, 1 Lament 24; 10, 9 Fifa 48; 13, 13 Franz Derby 60; 9, 10 Golden Eagle 72 also started. Won by a length; neck between second and third. Lament was fourth. Times — 3min 28sec. 3min 28 2-ssec, 3min 28 3-ssec. Winner trained by R. B. Berry, Yaldhurst. NEW BRIGHTON HANDICAP, Of £250; second horse £SO, and third horse £25 from stake. 3min 30sec class. One mile and a half. 1. I—J. Richardson’s br g COLONEL GRATTAN by Grattan Loyal— Erin’s Pointer 4yrs 12 inc. 12 pen. E. C. McDermott 1 3. 2—O. Clark’s ch m Red Pigeon 6yrs scr .. .. D. C. Watts 2 5. s—B. Croft’s ch g Ginger Jack syrs 36 .. .. T. H. McKenzie • 3 6, 6 Alpine Prince scr and Dundee scr bracketed; 2, 3 Donald Dhu scr; 11. 11 Eastern Prince scr; 9, 7 Ivy Peterson scr: 4. 4 Reylena scr; 12, 12 Reno scr; 8, 7 Starwyn scr; 13, 13 Full Hand 12; 10, 10 Silver Guy 24; 7, 9 Belle Grattan 36 also started. Won by a length and a half; neck between second and third. Reylena was fourth' Times—3min 18 3-ssec. 3min 19 4-ssec, 3min 17sec. Winner trained by V. Leeming, Templeton.

ELECTRIC HANDICAP, In saddle. Of £200; second horse £4O, and third horse £2O from stake. 2min 16sec class. One mile. 1. I—W. McDonald’s blk g WAIPAHI by Prince Pointer—Olga Russell 6yr& scr .. .. D. C. Watts 1 3. 3—R. S. Wood’s b m Esplendor aged scr .. .. H. Smith 2 7. 7—W. Crozier's b g Repeal Gyrs"scr J. Siebel 3 4. 4 Celebrity scr; 9, 11 Harold Wrack scr: 8, 8 Lone Derby scr; 2, 2 Racketeer scr; 5, 5 Red Ranger scr; 6, 6 Aircraft 12; 10, 9 Giro 12; 10, 10 Treasure Bond 12 also started. Won by a length; same distance between second and third. Harold Wrack was fourth. Times—2min 12 l-ssec, 2min 12 2-ssec, 2min 12 4-ssec. Winner trained by A. Henderson, Oamaru.

NOTES ON THE RACING Backers’ Bad Start The opening event provided an exciting finish with three horses, and in a fine race over the last two furlongs Billy Sundy outstayed Gay Crusader, who had very little to spare from Gaynor. Bon Chance, Highrate, Fluke, Gaynor, and Moerangi was the order shortly after the start, but Moerangi broke, and at the end of half a mile Bon Chance and Gaynor were several lengths ahead of Highrate, while Cay Crusader was next and Renegade had run into fifth place, followed by Billy Sundy, Moerangi, and Indolent. in the back-stretch Bon Chance and Gaynor increased their lead, but at the half mile the field closed up, and approaching the straight Gay Crusader was handy to Gaynor and Bon Chance, while Billy Sundy was picking up ground. Bon Chance tired and Billy Sundy and Gay Crusader tackled Gaynor. In a close finish Billy Sunday hung on just long enough to beat Gay Crusader, while Gaynor was half a length away third, followed by Indolent and Bon Chance.

Billy Sundy, now trained at Now Brighton by Gr Cameron, did not win out of his turn, but he has done comparatively little racing in the last 12 months. He had little in reserve at the finish, and his driver had to handle him very carefully. Gay Crusader did not begin as quickly as usual, and he found the task of making up ground in the concluding stages just too much for. him. Gaynor did not make a mistake. but was failing at the finish, and Indolent was trotting on solidly towards the end. Bon Chance did not stay, and Renegade became tired early in the proceedings. G. Cameron’s Double G. Cameron, who had trained and driven Billy Sundy. the winner of the first race, repeated the performance in the Improvers’ Handicap with

Olive King, who was first out of the barriers and led all the way. Olive King, Waitaki Power, Major Guy, Replica, Intrigue, and Pola Negri led early, and this was the order into the back stretch, where Ivy Peterson and Lightning Lady commenced to pick up ground. As the field rounded the top turn and running into the straight most prominent were the colours of Olive King, Waitaki Power, Replica, Lightning Lady, Intrigue, Hidden -Charm, and Moana Tama. Olive King held her own in the run to tlie post, and had a clear advantage from' Waitaki Power, while Lightning Lady, who only got clear in the last 100 yards, finished all too solidly for Moana Tama, Replica, Hidden Charm, and Intrigue. The victory marked the second success of Olive King since joining G. Cameron’s stable, and on this form she will soon again be on the winning list. She never appeared in serious danger of defeat. Waitaki Power was always with the leaders, and fought on gamely, but Lightning Lady, shut in on the rails in the straight, put in a brilliant burs/ once she got clear. With better luck she would probably have won. Intrigue had every chance, but found several too good. Refund and Horse Power lost ground at the start. Act High, too, began slowly, while Percentage was pulled up halfway ’through the race. Moana Tama showed a return to form by running fourth, and Hidden Charm also improved on some previous displays. . A Consistent Pacer Plutus scored his fifth victory for the season when in brilliant style he won the Mace Memorial Handicap with something in reserve from Renown’s Best and Blair Athol. He was a short-priced favourite. Young Frank, followed by Double Great, Blair At Viol. Plutus. and Isabel Derby, led out of the straight, and for a mite the field raced in this order, with Evicus and De Soto bringing up the roar. At the end of a round Evicus slipped up on the rails, and De Soto also joined the field. Ronojvn’s Best then went on in front, and led down the back stretch and to the half-mile post, closely attended by Plutus, Young Frank, who commenced to tire. Double Great. Evicus, * Blair Athol, De Soto, and Isabel Derby. In the straight Plutus ranged alongside Renown’s Best, and after a short, sharp tussle he went on to win nicely, while Blair Athol, with a great burst over the last 100 yards, just failed to reach Re.nown’s Best. Double Great was fourth. . .... Plutus proved once again that he is a splendid pacer, and he was well handled by C. J3. Donald. The black pacer looks like going on to do big things during the rest of the season. His next engagement will probably be in the Ashburton Cup on Boxing Day. Renown’s Best also went very solidly, but found the task of pace-making just too much for her. while Blair Athol, who drifted in the early stages, put in a finish that drew attention to future prospects. Double Great found the journey too far, but De Soto went a capital race until the last three furlongs, and the outing would do mm good. In bridging the big gap to his field in the last round he showed all his old dash.

A fine exhibition by the unhoppled trotter. Waikato Prince, in the Wainoni Handicap ended in a clear-cut victory, but the judgment in driving by several reinsmen was open to question. Golden Direct went away at a tangle, but soon settled down, and with Ciro he carried on the running at a leisurely pace until the half-mile post was reached, when Waikato Prince raced to the front, and led at the end of a round from Ciro, Golden Direct. Eighteen Carat, Golden Cross. Treasure Bond, and Toorak, with Casanova some distance away. The order was practically the same for the next half mile, and as the field swung into the straight Waikato Prince Ted from Eighteen Carat, Ciro, Treasure Bond, Golden Cross, and Toorak. Stern challenges were issued in the run home, but Waikato Prince was never seriously troubled, and he came home with a good deal in hand from Golden Cross, while Toorak, with a belated run. gained third money ahead of Eighteen Carat and Treasure Bond The win was well received, for the unhoppled trotter is always popular with the horse-loving public. It was a splendid exhibition, and no small part in the success was played by J. Bryce, jun., who drove with consummate judgment. Golden Cross, also well handled, came at the right time, but it appeared that Toorak was kept too far out of the running until too late. Casanova showed speed in patches, but was not consistent. Ciro, Golden Direct, and Treasure Bond were outclassed.

Big Author Shows Speed Although Big Author lost ground at the start of the Bowhill Handicap, he began better than usual, and in the straight he showed too much speed for the remainder, although Frisco Lady might have won had she been kept closer to the leaders in the middle stages. Elvo was actually the quickest to begin, and she led over the first halfmile from Gunfire, Big Author, Frisco Lady, Raydus, and Southern Smile. The order was little changed until the straight was reached, at which stage the order was Elvo. Big Author, Gunfire, Raydus, and Frisco Lady. Big Author at once raced to the front, and soon disposed of Gunfire, Raydus, and Southern Smile, while Frisco Lady, with a late run, fairly buried the opposition for speed, although she failed to reach the leader. Considering his good form at Forbury Park, Big Author paid a really good dividend. He has speed above the average, and only his bad habits at the barrier have prevented him from entering the best class. Frisco Lady may have been unlucky to be beaten, but she did not enjoy the ideal run in a race of this class. Southern Smile just failed to stand the strain, and Elvo faded in the concluding stages. Unsteady Trotters The Saltaire Handicap was not a good race for too many mistakes were made in the early stages, but the race was won decisively by Sister Mary, and a most exciting contest for second place in favour of Reward. Great Wood began smartly, and at once led from Indolent, Reward, Gyrate, Debutante, and Sister Mary, and these horses formed the leading division for the first mile. With half a mile to go Great Wood was leading from Reward. Gyrate. Indolent, Sister Mary, Debutante, and Lament. At the straight entrance Great Wood and Reward were in command, but immedi-

ately Sister Mary issued a challenge, and Great Wood retired beaten. Trotting in faultless style. Sister Mary held her advantage to the post, and she won decisively, while a great tussle for second place saw Reward just defeat Indolent and Lament.

Sister Mary’s performance was the best .she had given. Of late, she has been in the care of B. Berry, who drove with confidence. Reward also showed improvement, and Indolent did not make a mistake. Pageant d’Or and Prince Harvester gave inglorious displays, and perhaps the most, instructive feature of the race was a capital showing by Golden Eagle. Colonel Grattan Colonel Grattan gave a sterling performance in the New Brighton Handicap, for though he did not. begin very quickly, he raced to the front inside half a mile, and stayed there. With half a’ mile covered, Eastern Prince was leading, but then Colonel Grattan, with a brilliant burst of speed, took the lead, followed by Alpine Prince. Donald Dhu, Rod Pigeon, and Ivy Peterson, who broke. Half a mile from home Colonel Grattan was sailing along in front from Donald Dhu, Alpine Prince, Reylcna, and Rod Pigeon. In the run home Colonel Grattan was never troubled. He won with ridiculous ease. Red Pigeon paced solidly, and beat Ginger Jack, who, however, finished with great speed. Reylena failed towards the end, and Starwyn made no showing, being well back all through the race. Ivy Peterson broke during the race. Donald Dhu and Eastern Prince faded, Reno broke up at the start, and Silver Guy also lost ground early in the race.

With the Weight Up

Waipahi was made a good favourite for tl\e Electric Handicap, and once the distance post was passed he 2avo his supporters IiVUo cause lor anxiety. He gave a good clean display of pacing with tlie weight up. Celebrity broke soon after the start, and the running was taken up by Rod Ranger, Esplendor, and Repeal. Handily placed were Waipahi. Harold Wrack, and Rackateor. • With half a mile covered, tied Hanger and Harold Wrack were the leaders, and Ibey were followed by Rackateor Waipahi, Lone Derby, and Esplendor. Waipahi raced to the front a furlong from home, and was not seriously troubled to defeat Esplendor, who finished very last, and defeated Repeal, Harold Wrack, Red Ranger, and Rackateor, who finished in that order. Waipahi had previously shown excellent form in saddle at the Oamaru meeting in October, and he raced up to form, but a big disappointment was Rackateor, who, well handled, had every chance, but showed no dash at the finish. Esplcndor’s finishing effort was an impressive one. and he should win a race before long. The remainder were very tired at the end of the race.