AUCKLAND CLUB

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25129, 10 March 1947, Page 8

AUCKLAND CLUB

TROTTING

HELIOPOLIS WINS TWO RACES (P.A.) AUCKLAND, March 9. The Auckland Trotting Club’s autumn meeting was held yesterday in fine weather. There was a good attendance, and the track was hard and fast. The totalise tor handled £112,263, against £133,026 last year. J. McLennan, the driver of Sprayman in the Fergusson Handicap, was fined £lO for crossing too closely in front of Jewel’s Eyre, and F. J. Smith was fined £5 for improper conduct to an official. Results:— INNOVATION HANDICAP, Of £6OO. Trotters. 3min 38sec class. One mile and a half. 3. 3—KEEN BLADE 60 D. McKendfy 1 2. 2—Noble Queen scr .. M. Stewart 2 6. 6—King Arthur 12 G. T. Mitchell 3 4, 5 Don Parrish; 8, 8 Oval’s Pride bracketed Worthy Worker; 5, 4 Tell Us; 9, 10 Belworth; 1, 1 Eaton, bracketed Maxee; 6, 6 Mine Host bracketed King Arthur; 11, 1£ High Pressure; 10, 9 Soldier Sam; 7. W Swordsman’s Triumph; 12, 12 Nero also started. Head; eight lengths. Soldier Sam was fourth. Times—3min 25 2-ssec, 3min 28 3-ssec, 3min 30 l-ssec. DEVONPORT HANDICAP, Of £6OO. 4min 44sec class. Two miles. 8. 10—GUNG-HO scr A. W. Broughton 1 2. 2—Lady Averil 24 .. A. Holmes 2 7. 7—Balalaika 24 .. R. A. McMillan 3 15. 14 Cam Derby; 2,2 Direct Heir bracketed Lady Averil; 3, 3 Fillmore bracketed Gold Strand; 4, 5 Implacable; 13, 13 Indian Quest; 1, 1 Jack Irvine; 9, 9 Mourne Spring bracketed Rita Grattan; 11, 11 Indian Lad; 10, 8 Paper Man; 5, 4 Parrish Jewel; 18, 16 Professional; 14, 15 Robin’s Pride; 12, 12 Sir Archie; 6, 6 Vera Lynn; 17, 18 Auto Era; 16, 16 Hey Dey also started.

Length; two lengths and a half. Jack Irvine was fourth. Times—4min 26 3-ssec, 4min 25sec, 4min 26sec.

FRANKLIN HANDICAP, Of £BOO. 4min 40sec class. Two miles. 7. B—RED ACE scr A. W. Broughton 1 1. 2—Symetra 24 A. Holmes 2 9. 6—Certify 24 W. S. Boyd 3 13, 14 Cold Steel: 6, 9 Herald; 14, 13 Rangi’s Star; 7, 8 Baby Grand, bracketed Red Ace; 12, 11 Daphne Grattan; 4, 4 Jackie Boy; 5, 7 Lady Spray; 10, 10 Larissa; 2, 1 Noble de Oro; 3, 3 Delwyn; 8, 5 Whanako; 11, 12 Master Lawn also started.

Half length; same. Noble de Oro was fourth. Times—4min 26sec, 4min 24 l-ssec, 4min 24 2-ssec. ’

FERGUSSON HANDICAP, Of £l5OO. 4min 30sec class. Two miles. 4. 4—HELIOPOLIS 48 .. V. L. Mackie 1 1. 4—Docter Ted 24 .. F. J. Smith 2 2. 2—Sprayman scr .. J. McLennan 3 7, 7 Diamond Trust; 5, 5 Jewel’s Eyre; 6, 6 Characteristic; 3, 3 Portadown; 1, 1 Bonnie Jack and Bexley’s Pride bracketed Doctor Ted also started.

Length and a half; neck. Bonnie Jack was fourth. Times—4min 21sec, 4min 23 3-ssec, 4min 25 4-ssec. WHITFORD HANDICAP, Of £9OO. Trotters. 4min 46sec class.

Two miles. 6. 6—PARDON ME 72 .. M. Stewart 1 1. I—Vindictive Lady scr J. T. Paul 2 3. .2 —Nero 24 L. J. Mahoney 3 2, 5 Keen Blade; 4, 3 Little Hero; 9, 9 Mamanuas; 8, 7 Silver Plane; 7, 8 Cossack; 5, 4 Benghazi also started. Length; neck. Keen Blade was fourth. Times—-4min 27sec, 4min 33 2-ssec, 4min 34 3-ssec. MARCH HANDICAP, Of £lOOO. 3min 32sec class. One mile and a half. 4. 4—TE TAONGANUI scr J. McLennan 1 5. s—Black Machine scr W. H. Andrews 2 3. 3—Dyrham Lea scr .. Jbf. Stewart 3 1,2 Caledonian Gold; 10, 11 Castlebar; 3, 3 Flying Chips bracketed Dyrham Lea; 7, 8 Lord Brooklyn; 6, 6 Master Lawn; 8, 9 Peter’s Find; 2, 1 Captain Gaillard; 11, 12 Kewpie’s Crown; 7, 7 Sir Victor; 9. 10 Diamond Trust also started. Three-quarters of a length; half a length. Sir Victor was fourth. Times—3min 16 3-ssec, 3min 16 4-ssec, 3min 17sec.

HENDERSON HANDICAP, Of £BOO. 2min 50sec class. One mile and a quarter. 9. 7—DURATO scr .. W. E. Cockbill 1 4. 6—Herald scr .. D. McKendry 2 1. I—Symetra scr .. A. Holmes 3 6, 8 Baby Grand bracketed Red Ace; 8, 6 Certify; 14, 14 Fashion Club; 5, 7 Contender; 11, 11 Daphne Grattan; 16, 16 Great Waitaki; 10, 10 Lady Spray: 13, 13 Larissa; 2, 3 Lone Raider; 3,2 Noble de Oro; 12, 12 Our Gail; 7, 4 Whanako; 15, 14 Sentiment also started.

Half a length; neck. Noble de Oro was fourth. Times—2min 43 2-ssec, 2min 43 3-ssec, 2min 43 4-ssec.

PAPATOETOE HANDICAP, Of £lOO. 2min 43sec class. One mile and a quarter. 1. ' 3—HELIOPOLIS scr V. L. Mackie 1 2. I—Sprayman scr .. J. McLennan 2 3. 2—Catalpa scr .. M. Stewart 3 4, 4 Bexley’s Pride, bracketed Bonnie Jack; 7, 7 Prince Grattan, bracketed Double Peter; 5, 5 War Guard; 6, 6 Characteristic; 8, 8 Davey Day also started. Half a length; two lengths. Wqr Guard was fourth. Times—2min 40sec, 2min 40 l-ssec. 2min 41sec.

MINORU DOUBLE WINNER AT WASHDYKE

Minoru followed up his second placing to Hal Derby in the Randwick Handicap at the Wellington Trotting Club's meeting on March 1 with two wins at the Timaru Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday. Driven by his owner-trainer, L. F. Berkett, Minoru began well, to follow Magnificent with a furlong covered in the Salisbury Handicap, but he soon took over the lead, and carried on for an easy win over Captain Sandy and Magnificent The last-named began much better than usual, and he had the run of the race after being steadied in behind Minoru. Gallagher moved out. from the rails approaching the entrance to the straight, and he appeared to be slightly hampered before he was able to get a clear run with about a furlong to go. Paraded in the Washdyke Handicap later in the afternoon, Minoru justified his position as favourite when, after leading over the last half mile, he hung on gamely under pressure to beat Volo Lad by half a head, after a hard fight over the last furlong. Bred by Mr P. O’Connell Methven, Minoru is by Quite Sure from Princess Mauritius, a speedy Australian-bred mare, which is by Direct Mauritius from Belle Patch, by Dan Patch from Honest Meg, by Honesty from Von Moltke, jun. Minoru was acquired by Berkett in the early part - of the season and for him he h-as paid his way with two wins, a second placing, ahd a third placing in seven starts. Jottings

Josiana, a three-year-old filly by Josedale Dictator from Colleen Wrack, lost her chance when she broke at the start of the first division of the Claremont Handicap at Washdyke on Saturday. Red Ace, the winner of the Franklin Handicap at the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday, is a six-year-old gelding by Red Shadow from Katute, which won several races as a trotter. A Nelson Bingen mare, Katute is the dam of other winners in Muraahi and Mah Jong. Sent out second favourite for the Claremont Handicap at the Timaru Trotting Club’s meeting, Wincopipe dropped out of the contest, after breaking in the first furlong. ' Grattan Lee, the winner of the Bannockburn Trot at the Cromwell Jockey Club’s meeting on Saturday, is a mare by Grattan Loyal from Otapiri Lee. Checkmate gave a fair display in the Salisbury Handicap at the Timaru Trotting Club’s meeting, and he may soon win a race for Mr H. Steel. Finished Fast

Gay Note .registered one of the best performances of the day at the Timaru Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday, when he won the first division of the Seadown Handicap from West Point. Driven by P. Stewart, Gay Note began slowly and when the field settled down he had seven horses in front of him, Stewart was content to remain at the rear of the bunch until approaching the entrance to the straight. Once into the straight, Gajr Note finished with a rare burst of speed, and in an interesting finish he got up to wirt by half a length. A four-year-old gelding by Nelson Eddy from Rainstorm, he appeals as one of the best prospects in his class, and he should soon win more races for Mr C., Smith, for whom he is trained at Tinwald by C. M. Laing, who also'trains Bancor for the same owner.

Rehandicaps The following rehandicaps have been declared for the Cheviot Trotting Club’s meeting, which will be held at Rangiora on Saturday :—Trial Handicap: Gay Note, 36. Mina Handicap: Minoru, 72; Becky Loyal, 36. Spotswood Handicap: Gay Note, 48; Worthy Ace, 48. Parnassus Handicap: Becky Loyal. 24; Minoru. 60. Exciting Finish The Wai-iti Handicap provided one of most exciting finishes of the day at the Timaru Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday. Cue set the pace in the early stages from Huntingdon Lass, Blaze Away, Nelsonova, Final Count, Jervis Bay, Appreciate, Limerick Pride, Bobbv Burns, and Carisbrook. Nelsonova took the lead approaching the half-mile post and he led to the straight from Cumnock. Final Count, Blaze Away, Carisbrook. and Limerick Pride. Blaze Away looked the winner as he took the lead with a furlong to go, but in a thrilling finish Limerick Pride wore him down, to win by a head. A gelding by Logan Fraser from Satin Queen. Limerick Pride has raced well since being purchased by Mr W. Parkinson from Mr D. Green, in September, to register two wins and five minor placmgs, and, on Saturday’s display, he should soon win again. Began Quickly Driven by A H Gourlay. who trains him at Addington, Billy McElwyn began smartly from the 72 yards mark In the second division of the Claremont Handicap at Washdyke on Saturday, and

with six furlongs to go he was lying handy to Buncrana and Beethoven. Once Into the back straight Billy McElwyn soon worked his way into the lead, and he never appeared in danger of defeat over the last half-mile. A six-year-old gelding by David McElwyn from Canda Bell, Billy McElwyn has done w£ll this season to record four wins and four minor placings. Early Start With provision for divisions having to be made in all but three races, 16 events will be decided at the Cheviot Trotting Club’s meeting, which will be held at Rangiora next Saturday. In order to complete the programme at a reasonable hour, the Cheviot Club has received permission to start the meeting at 10.30 a.m. Easy Win Making his second appearance in a race. Worthy Ace indicated that he is a useful pacer by an easy win in the second division of the Seadown Handicap at the Timaru Trotting Club’s meeting. Worthy Ace was the smartest to begin, but M. Holmes, who trains him for Mr H. C. Stafford, steadied him in behind Seven Bar in the early stages. With seven furlongs to go. Holmes took Worthy Ace to the front, and from then onwards the race was only a procession. A well-bred five-year-old gelding, Worthy Ace is by Jack Potts from Rose Worthy, by Frank Worthy from Rose Warton _>the dam of Jimmy Warton), by First Fashion from Theda Bara, which is a daughter of Notice. Led All the Way Calumella topped off her list of minor placings with a fine performance at Washdyke on Saturday. She led all the way and won the Temuka Handicap without being extended by four lengths from Betty Maxegin. Owned by Mr J. Cocks and trained at Overdale by J. Wilson, Calumella is an aged mare by Calumet Axworth from a good trotter in First Wrack, which took a record of 3min 21 l-ssec. Bred by Mr H. F. Nicoll, First Wrack is by Wrack from Pearlchild, by Rothschild from Verity, by Vancleve from the Australian-bred mare. Bar. Costly Mistakes The trotter. Believe Me, made his task hard in the Timaru Trotting Cup at Washdyke on Saturday when he broke at the start. Once he settled down to do his best work, Believe Me showed some speed to race up io be handy to the leaders, but another break with six furlongs to go effectively extinguished his chance. Stayed on Well Sure Jinks, which was bracketed with Bellisima and Stray Shot in the Claremont Handicap at the Timaru Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday, began smartly to follow Mack Sure ana Olympus for over a mile and three furlongs, and once the straight was reached he stayed on in fine style to win the first division by half a length from Mack Sure. Bellisima looked well, but she was never a gossibility after breaking at the start, tray Shot, a filly by Desmond’s Pride from Random, paced in the early stages of the second division, and she was well back at the finish. Ashburton Classic Entries Entries of present yearlings for the New Zealand Sapling Stakes, 1948, New Zealand Champion Stakes, 1948, and the New Zealand Futurity Stakes, 1949, will close with the secretary, Ashburton Trotting Club, To-morrow (Tuesday), March 11. at 5 p.m. Advt.