A MUDLARK

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24867, 6 May 1946, Page 6

A MUDLARK

DOONHOLME’S DECISIVE WIN Doonholme, which was driven by her, owner-trainer, J. R. McMurray, in the Beach Handicap on the dpening day of the Forbury Park Trotting Club’s meeting, was driven by M. Holmes when she won iKe Pacific Handicap on Saturday. The change of drivers was because McMurray was suffering from sciatica on Saturday. He produced a doctor’s, certificate to the stipendiary stewards to this effect, and they sanctioned the change. After following Hargood’s Pride and Tom Gundy out when the barriers were released, Holmes quickly took the lead with Doonholme. After being six lengths clear of these two with five furlongs to go, she increased hej lead approaching the straight ’to run home an easy winner by eight lengths from Notus, .with Convincer another 15 lengths away, and about another 20 lengths to Paddy Potts. The latter was the winner of the Beach Handicap, a similar class race, on the first day of the meeting in 4min 29 2-ssec, but he could not handle the heavy going on Saturday, and was a long way back in the early stages. The heavy state of the track is shown by the fact that it took Doonholme, which revelled in the going, smin 9sec to cover - the two miles. A six-year-old mare by Rey de Oro from Raclaim, she has proved capable under all conditions to win four races this season, and she appears capable of further improvement. ‘ Bred by W. H. Norton and F. Holmes, Raclaim, her dam, was a smart trotter, taking a record of 3min 20 2-ssec some years ago. Her parents, Wrack and Tnx Pointer, were both imported to New Zealand. Trix Pointer, a fast pacer herself, has transmitted her speed to her progeny and her family of winners includes some well-known performers in Wrackler, Arethusa, Ochiltree, Stamboul, Aidershot, and Festivity. Jottings Ahikiwi was confidently supported in the Tahuna Handicap at the Forbury meeting, but she broke up early and was never likely afterwards. Sanova, which finished third m the first division of the Nightcaps Trot at the Wairio meeting, has only been in work a short time. One of Casanova’s progeny, this pacer has shown some ability on the training track. , A Valola was not suited by the track at Forbury, and she was a long way back at the finish of the Southland Handicap. Probable was suited by the dead track at the Waikato meeting, where she stayed on well to win the Te Kawa Handicap from Ihi Ihi. x , . Nellie Fraser went away too slowly to have any chance in the Pacific Handicap at Forbury. Objection Dismissed After the running of the Hoy al Handicap at the Forbury Park Trotting Clubs meeting, an objection was lodged to third place being awarded to Honest Peter on the grounds of interference. After hearing the evidence, the stipendiary stewards decided to dismiss the objection, but to caution J. McDonald, the driver of Honest Peter. #

Rehandicaps The following rehandicaps have been declared for the Oamaru Trotting Club s meeting:—lnnovation Handicap, Lucgy Bill 24; Enfield Handicap, Minmi Boy 48, President’s Handicap, Doonholme 48; Waikaura Handicap, Kerrwood Bingen 96; Papakaio Handicap, Limerick Pride 06, Electric Handicap, Doonholme 48. Lochdornie (scr). Trial Handicap and Minmi Boy (scr) President’s Handicap, were omitted from the handicaps previously telegraphed. Brothers Dead Heat

The brothers, R W. and D. Townley, sons of the well-known Tinwald trainer, R. Townley, staged a battle royal over the last furlong in the Tahuna Handicap to dead heat for the first prize, with the trotters Christmas-Queen and Lucky BUI. Christmas Queen, an aged daughter of Grattan Loyal and Marvin Lee, was the early leader in the Bayfield Handicap on the first day of the meeting but she broke up and lost her chance with about five furlongs to go. In that race she was one of the outsiders, being 9-10 in the betting, but attractive track work at Forbury last week brought her into £ a ™ u J. fo t r Tahuna Handicap and when the totalisator had closed she had firmfed to 3-5 in order of favouritism. She was carefully handled by R. W. Townley when the barriers were released, and when the field settled down she was lying handy to the leader Tolerate, with Lucky Bill also close up Once into the straight for the run home she quickly had Tolerate’s measure and appeared to be the winner with half a furlong to go, but Lucky Bill was being vigorously driven by D. Townley, and he got up in time to divide the major prize. D. Townley was seen to advantage later in. the afternoon when he won me ✓Peninsula Handicap with .Minmi Boy. Since the retirement of his fathei, he has been doing the driving of the Tinwald trained team, and he promises to develop into a first-class driver. Good Three-year-old Nelsonova lost a lot of ground when he went to a break in the Southland Handicap, and with five furlongs to go his chance appeared hopeless. .However, R W. Townley patiently waited until about two furlongs from home before calling on him for an extra effort, and he responded in fine style to beat all but Darrington Hall. Only a three-year-old, the Casanova gelding is now racing solidly and he should not be long in his present class. Sure Voyage Sold Mr J. Maconnell recently sold Sure Voyage to S. Webster, Tinwald. An aged mare by Quite Sure, she is from Weary Voyage, which won races as a pacer. Weary Voyage was l bred by Mr S. J. Moore, Winton, and is by Happy Voyage from Young Weary, by Sir Hector from Weary, by Brookholm from a Young Irvington mare. Driven by her owner. Sure Voyage showed’ her best form last season to win the Montgomery Hamess Trot at the Southland Racing Club’s meeting in February by a head from Loyal , Nelson with Grattan Bells In third place.

Won Well With Checkmate missing from the Southland _ Handicap field,, investors elected Darrington Hall favourite, and the consistent son of Dillon Hall justified the confidence shown in him by finishing strongly after being handy throughout, to win by half a length from Nelsonova Darrington Hall has recorded two firsts, five second placings, a third placing, and two fourth placings in his 11 starts this season, and he should carry on successfully 'when brought to Canterbury to race.