AT ASHBURTON

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25181, 12 May 1947, Page 4

AT ASHBURTON

RACING

LEXIA WINS TINWALD HANDICAP INDIFFERENT DISPLAY BY JUMPERS The Ashburton County Racing Club concluded its autumn meeting at Ashburton on Saturday under ideal conditions. There was a good attendance and the totalisator handled £29,987 10s, making a total of £60.947 10s for the meeting. With a field of five and the going almost perfect, few of the spectators expected the Alford Hack Steeplechase to Erovide an almost similar spectacle to the •romore Hack Steeplechase, held at June meeting last year. As on that occasion. at one stage of the race every runner was eliminated and only two horses, the stablemates Lunaria and Commemorate, completed the course, the former winning by eight lengths. After two fences Lunaria and Commemorate were the only runners left in the race. However, at the next fence, the first of the stand double, Lunaria ran off and Commemorate did likewise. Taken back, the pair cleared the double and the next fence, the post and rails, but both had trouble at the brush fence past the mile post. Both horses broke away and were eventually caught with the assistance of the clerk of the course. They then comEleted the course in good style, with unaria finishing an easy winner. It was particularly noticeable that after these two horses were remounted their jumping improved as their pace increased. Lexia ran right up to the form she displayed earlier in the season, and showed her class with a stylish win in the Tinwald Handicap. Although she drew No. 3 position at the barrier, with the other horses drawn on the inside, she obtained none the best of the start, owing to the outside horses moving off with a good half-length advantage through pressing forward on the single strand barrier as the horses were lined up. The result was that the outside horses, which included two very quick beginners in Wantwood and Whitley, obtained such an advantage that several of the inside horses were in a rear position within half a furlong. Over the first three furlongs Lexia’s rider, H. W. Hibberd, was content to remain in a rear position to keep out of trouble, but he moved her up round the home turn to follow the leaders. Wantwood. Finalist, and Chellow Dene, into the straight. Lexia was forced to make her run on the outside of these three, but she had no difficulty in drawing up to them, and reached the front with half a furlong to run, finishing on strongly to win by a length from Finalist, which made a forward showing, and Wantwood which weakened short of the post. JoyRosa was slow to move. Wantwood being the first to show out from Chellow Dene. Deep Harmony. Whitley, and Double Cross. At the end of two furlongs. Finalist moved up to join Wantwood, and at the five furlongs led Chellow Dene, Gulf Stream, and Double Cross, with Wild Ribbon heading the others. Round the top turn Wantwood and Finalist were four lengths clear of Chellow Dene and Double Cross, with Wild Ribbon and Gulf Stream next, and Lexia starting to close on the leaders. Wantwood, Finalist, and Chellow Dene were the leaders into the straight, with Lexia and Double Cross next, and Wild Ribbon dropping back. Wantwood and Finalist were just leading CheUow Dene at the distance, with Lexia challenging on the outer and Double Cross on the inner. Lexia finished too strongly for the others, and had no difficulty in holding off Finalist, which was two lengths clear of Wantwood, with' Chellow Dene only half a head back in fourth place. There was a gap of three lengths to Whitley and Double Cross, then came the favourite. Grill, with Gulf Stream the last to finish. WINCHMORE HURDLE HANDICAP. Of £275. One mile and three-quarters. 2. 2—L. N. Hodgson’s BATTLE CHIEF by Battle Song—Chiefava syrs 10-13 .. K. Thomson 1 1. I—A. E. McMullan’s Big Top aged 9-8 .. .. W. Kitto 2 4. 4—J. S. Trowbridge’s Dinky Di aged 9-2 .. G. F. Lowe 3 5, 5 Grand Forest; 6. 6 Roman Son; 3, 3 The Crofter also started. Three lengths: six lengths. The Crofter was fourth. Time, 3min 11 2-ssec. Winner trained by G. S. Barr, Riccarton. LAGMHOR STAKES, Of £2OO. For two and three-year-olds. Non-winners. Special weights. Six furlongs. 2. I—F. A. Roberts's CITRIL by Defaulter—Citoyenne 2yrs 7-7 car. 7-12 J .CT. Wilson 1 1. 2—Mrs J. W. Woodhouse’s Banshee 2yrs 7-7 A. T. Stokes 2 3. 3—P. D. Hall and B. G. Rutherford’s Ballochbuie 2yrs 7-7 car. 7-11 .. R. W. Shaw 3 10. 9 Cobbler’s Song; 12, 12 Jolyon; 7, 7 Lakhnau; 8. 8 Renege 4, 4 Sorry; 6. 5 Wild Knock; 3. 3 Saigon bracketed Ballochbuie; 9, 11 Gold Medallion; 11, 10 Lodestar; 5, 6 Ned Kelly also started. Three lengths; four lengths. Sorry was fourth. Time, Imin 12 4-ssec. Winner trained by owner, Riccarton. LAURISTON TROT HANDICAP, Of £230. 4min 53sec class. Two miles. 4. 3—A. J. Archibald’s GLEN DEVON by Logan Fraser—Trilby Wrack aged scr .. L Behms 1 3. 4—J. R. McKenzie’s Commander Scott 6vrs 60 G. B. Noble 2 12. 13—W. E. Taylor’s Loriot aged scr A. T. Fairbairn 3 15. 14 Blue Print; 7. 8 Fontaine; 8, 7 French Gold; 11, 11 Ikaroa; 13, 14 Loyal Velvet; 2,2 New Venture; 6. 6 Sure Catch; 9. 9 Seacraft; 14, 12 Scottish Girl; 1, 1 Wayfarer; 5, 5 Grattan Gold; 10, 10 Worthy Jkck also started. Head; half length. Grattan Gold was fourth. Times—4min 31 l-ssec, 4min 26 2-ssec, 4min 31 3-ssec. Winner trained by J. Behrns, Chertsey. * TINWALD HANDICAP, Of £5OO. One mile. 3. 2—J. M. Samson’s LEXIA by Solicitor General—Girouette 4yrs 8-12 .. .. H. W. Hibberd 1 9. 9—F. W. White’s Finalist 4yrs 7-0 M. G. Ridgway 2 2. 3—W. D. McLeod’s Wantwood 4yrs 9-4 .. B. S. Wilson 3 11. 10 Gulf Stream; 8, 8 Whitley; 4, 4 Double Cross; 6, 7 Joy Rosa; 1. 1 GnU; 7, 6 Chellow Dene; 5; 5 Deep Harmony; 10. 11 Wild Ribbon also started. Length; two lengths. Chellow Dene was fourth. Time. Imin 39sec. Winner trained by L. Cavalier, Riccarton. CHATMOS HACK HANDICAP Of £3OO. One mile and a quarter. 1. I—F. Bates’s PANDEMONIUM by Gay Circle—Bourse 4yrs 9-0 C. McDonald 1 8. 7—J. Benjes and H. J. Gumbley’s Responsive 3yrs 7-0 N. Davison 2 3. 3—A. P. and T. M. Hansby’s Early Night aged 8-2 .. D. J. Thistoll 3 2,2 Lady Welbeck; 4, 4 Gallimaufry; 8, 8 Hansel; 9. 9 Turf Topic; 10, 11 Liquidate; 13, 13 Mercia’s Mystery; 7, 6 Stabilisation; 11, 10 Little Billy; 5. 5 Wandering Minstrel; 12, 12 Old Faithful also started. Thee lengths; head. Stabilisation fourth. Time, 2min 7 l-ssec. Winner trained by C. Davey, Halswell. ALFORD HACK STEEPLECHASE Of £3O0 H About two miles. 1. I—Mrs K. M. Moorhouse’s LUNARIA by Myosotis—Bourse aged 11-3 .. .. K. Thomson 1 4. 3—A. Grogan, J. Guy, and J. W. Rothwell’s Commemorate aged 10-3 .. A. J. Murray 2 2.2 Apeasement; 3, 4 Gold Nugget; 5, 5 Trisune also started. Eight lengths. The only horses to finish. Time, Bmin 12 2-ssec. Winner trained by G. S. Barr, Riccarton. FAIRFIELD HACK HANDICAP Of £250. Seven furlongs. 3. 3—Miss J. Kilpatrick and L. Clemens’s NIGHT BLUSH by Nightly —Miss Parnassus 3yrs 7-7 A. J. Stokes 1 4. 4—N. H. Barlow and W. B. Owen’s Eudora 4yrs 8-8 B. Langford 2 8. B—F. Holmes's Royal Flash aged 8-4 .. O. Ferrall 3 1, 1 Peculate; 2,2 Mestiza; 7. 6 Great Chum; 10. 10 Penetrate; 11, 11 Lalla Meer; 5, 5 Prana; 6, 7 Sword Dancer; 12, 12 Lady Coolbane; 7, 9 Vulnerable also started. Length; neck. Great Chum fourth. Time, Imin 26 2-ssec. Winner trained by V. A. Lee, Riccarton. MELROSE TROT HANDICAP Of £3OO. 3min 33sec class. One mile and a quarter. 13. 12—J. McDonald’s WORTHY JACK by Jack Potts—Gold worthy aged scr .. .. .. Owner 1 5. 5—J. Grice’s Garforth aged scr G. McKendry 2 4. 4—A. J. and I. F. Harris’s Grattan Gold syrs scr .. L. C. Frost 3 2, 1 Active Service; 15. 15 Cleeve Hill; 8. 8 Colin Waters; 1,2 Gantree; 3, 3 Incredible; 6, 7 Lucky Potts; 12, 13 Queen Jewel: 11, 10 Guy Whispers; 10, 11 Tunis Victory; 14, 14 Francis Logan; 9, 9 Mischief; 7, 6 Razzle also started. Half head; head. Queen Jewel .fourth. Times.—3min 22 2-ssec. 3min 22 3-ssec, 3min 22 4-ssec. Winner trained by owner, St. Albans.