CANTERBURY PARK CLUB

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25382, 3 January 1948, Page 4

CANTERBURY PARK CLUB

TROTTING

In The Mood Wins Mason Handicap

CHARLES CROSS STAKES TO BELMONT HALL

Thrilling finishes in the Mason Handicap and in the Au R,evoir Sprint, a sterling performance by the promising three-year-old pacer Belmont Hall in the Charles Cross Stakes, and Flying Scott’s all-the-way win m the Hornby Handicap marked the concluding day of the Canterbury Park Trotting Club’s summer meeting at Addington yesterday. The high standard set on the first day of the meeting was maintained, and the racing was full of interest throughout the day.

In the Mood, a game little mare by U. Scott from Princess Napoleon, topped off her list of minor placings this season when she fought on well under pressure to beat Globe Direct in a photo-finish for the Mason Handicap, the main event on the programme. The ovation In the Mood received as she returned to the birdcage was a fitting tribute to a highclass pacer and a capable reinsman in W. J. Doyle, her owner and trainer. Highland Fling lost his chance when he failed to begin correctly, and when the field settled down Imperial Grattan was leading from Globe Direct, Logan Rey, Jack’s Son, Lady Dawn, In the Mood, Bulldozer, Emulous, Knave of Diamonds, and Integrity. Emulous, a good favourite, improved his position to be handy to the leaders with half the journey covered, and his driver, W. K- Tatterson, was content to race in third place to Imperial Grattan and Logan Rey with six furlongs to go.

L. Frost set a fast pace with Imperial Grattan until about two and a half furlongs from home where he was , passed by In the Mood, which he followed into the straight, with Emulous Globe Direct, Bulldozer, Logan Rey, Integrity and Knave of Diamonds close up. Urged on by the roars of her supporters, who had made her a solid second favourite, In the Mood stuck to her work in fine style when challenged by Globe Direct and she just lasted long enough to win by a head. Emulous showed a glimpse Of his best form to finish in third place and, on this display, he should go close to winning the title at the Inter-Domin-ion Championships at the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting in February. Imperial Grattan’s effort to finish fourth after setting the pace was impressive and he should win one of the rich prizes later in the season for P P. Gallagher, who trains him at Washdyke. The Sprint Paraded in the Au Revoir Handicap later in the afternoon, Globe Direct confirmed his good form at the meeting by winning by a nose from another high-class pacer in Grattan Drive in a photo-finish. As in the main race, Imperial Grattan set the pace and with six furlongs to run he was followed by Logan Rey, Globe Direct, Grattan Drive. Golden Shadow, Jack’s Son, and Liberty Bond, with the hot favourite, Maori Home, which lost about 24 yards when he broke at the start, six lengths away. . . M. Holmes took Globe Direct into the lead with two furlongs to go and, with a furlong to rim, Imperial Grattan. Grattan Drive, Logan Rey, and Maori Home fanned across the track as they made their challenges. Grattan Drive finished straight and true under the whip, but Globe Direct was not to be denied and he gained first prize by the ’narrowest of margins. The consistent Logan Rey was close up in third place, just ahead of Imperial Grattan. Then came Maori Home, Jack’s Son, Liberty Bond and Golden Shadow. A Tired Field Flying Scott brought his record to two wins, a second, and a third in his last four starts when he struggled home half a head in front of Golden Amazon in a photo finish for the Hornby Handicap. Flying Scott began quickly and after covering the first half mile in Imin 6 2-ssec he was six lengths clear of Maximum, with Songbird and Strummer (in a break) four lengths away. Another five lengths away Golden Amazon was followed by Excalibur, with a gap of 10 lengths to Endowed. With Flying Scott setting a fast clip, the field was strung out over a furlong and with six furlongs covered in Imin 39sec, Flying Scott was about four lengths clear of Maximum, which was making a bold effort to catch the pacemaker. Maximum broke in the back straight and Songbird and Golden Amazon set out after the leader. Flying Scott was under the whip at the entrance to the straight, but the torrid pace he had set had taken a severe toll of his opponents, and, although he was travelling little faster than a walking pace, he just lasted long enough to win the first prize for Mr N. Matyasevic, who is enjoying a welcome change of luck after a barren period. After covering the last half mile in Imin 12 2-ssec, Flying Scott won in 3min 42 3-ssec, which is only 3-5 of a second slower than he recorded on the first day of the meeting.

Flying Scott’s condition is a credit to his trainer. W. Baker, who has a good record with difficult horses. Now a solid trotter. Flying Scott should continue to pay his way this season. Charles Cross Stakes Belmont Hall, the winner of the New Zealand Champion Stakes at the Ashburton Trotting Club’s meeting on Boxing Day, outclassed his field in the Charles Cross Stakes. Backed down to just over even money on the win totalisator, Bel; inont Hall never gave his supporters an anxious moment. After standing quietly at the barrier he accelerated quickly when the tapes were released, to take the lead, with Hilda Scott, Beckleigh, Gay Piper. Marcia, Wayfarer, Gay Note, Antrim Hall, Sahara Queen, and Victory Globe following. Gay Piper and Wayfarer both lost their chances when they broke in the early stages, and with half the journey covered Belmont Hall was a clear leader from Beckleigh, Marcia, Hilda Scett, Gay Note, and Antrim Hall. Belmont Hall was always under a strong hold over the first mile, and once R. Donald let him do his best he soon opened up a big gap, eventually winning with the greatest of ease by 10 lengths from Hilda Scott, with Antrim Hall another three lengths away in third place. A nicely-moulded son of Dillon Hall end Belle Grattan, Belmont Hall is one of the best three-year-olds in commission, and he should extend Congo Song, which won three races at the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s Cup meeting in November, when next they meet. A Comfortable Win Monagh Leagh. the runner-Up to Final Count in the Irwell Handicap on the first day of the meeting, was not troubled to win the Prebbleton Handicap from Right Royal. The hot favourite. Stirling Castle, began well but he was steadied by M. Holmes, who allowed Positive to take over the lead At the end of half a mile. Positive was closely followed by Stirling Castle, Caudray, Mountmellick. Monagh Leagh. Lady Vi, Indigo, Right Royal, and Tam o’ Shanter. Implacable, which began slowly, was several lengths away. Pringle was content to hold his position , with Monagh Leagh until the back straight was reached, where he soon took liim to the front. Monagh Leagh always appeared to be going easily over the concluding stages, and he carried on to win by three lengths from Right Royal, which stayed on well to beat Mountmellick by half a length for second place. An aged gelding by Quite Sure from an Adioo Guy mare, Monagh. Leagh has improved considerably ’ since joining L. A. Williams’s team at New Brighton recently and. on this display, he should soon win The track was fast and the crowd, although not as big as on the first day. invested £107,764, compared with £106,284 10s on the corresponding day last year. The total for the meeting was £221,966, against £225,308 10s last year. Results:— PROGRESSIVE HANDICAP, Of £5OO. Trotters. 4min 49sec class. Two miles. 3. 3—S. Easton’s HEIR APPARENT by Quite Sure—Mountain Queen aged scr .. Owner 1 2. 2—F. W. Cresswell’s Suzerain aged 12 .. . - R. Young 2 6. 5—S. C. Griggs’s Loyal Flier aged 24 Owner 3 7, 7 Buncrana; 13, 12 Contraband: 8, 8 Lord Grattan; 11. 11 Metropole; 10. 10 Voco Power; 4. 4 Bardia; 12, 13 El Peta; 5, 6 Julie: 9, 9 Not Quite; 1, 1 Sure Money also started. Length; nose. Buncrana fourth. Times—4min 34 4-ssec, 4mm 34 l-ssec, 4min 33 2-5 Winner trained by owner, Oamaru. CHARLES CROSS STAKES. Of £B5O. For three and four-year-olds Special conditions. One mile and five furlongs. 1 I—J. Richardson’s BELMONT HALL by Dillon Hall—Belle Grattan 3yrs scr .. .. R. Donald 1 6. 7— T Lee's Hilda Scott 3yrs scr • S. A. Edwards 2 *. B—W. O. Smith’s Antrim Hall 4yrs 24 H. J. Smith 3 3. 4 Beckleigh and His Excellency brack--1; 5,2 Esperanto, Pierre, and Victory

Globe bracketed: 6, 7 Sahara Queen • bracketed Hilda Scott; 7, 6 Gay Note; 2, 3 : Gay Piper; 9, 9 Marcia; 10, 10 Milford Lad. 4, 5 Wayfarer also started. Ten lengths; three lengths. Beckleigh fourth. Times—3min 35 3-ssec, 3min 37 3-ssec. 3min 36sec. Winner trained by owner, Dunedin. , MIDDLETON HANDICAP, Of £550. 3min 44sec class. One mile and five furlongs. 4. 4—A. F. C. Rushton’s BONNY SCOTT by U. Scott—Ohinemutu 6yrs 12 . .. .. Owner 1 6. 6—G. H. Lucas and E. Hood's King’s Messenger aged scr G. S. Smith 2 2. 2—A. E. Laing and J. E. Bisman’s wedding Ring 4yrs scr r g 1, 1 Cultivator; 7, 7 Gantree and Lady Spray bracketed; 3, 3 Theabelle; 5, 5 Understudy; 11, 11 Volo’s Victory; 14, 13 Appreciate; 8, 8 Carisbrook; 9, 9 Dandy Grattan; 12, 12 Quite Evident; 10, 10 Sypland; 13. 14 Volo Audubon also started. Four lengths; half length. Theabelle fourth. Times—3min 33sec, 3min 34 4-5 sec, 3min 35sec. Winner trained by owner. Spreydon. MASON HANDICAP, Of £2250. 3min 33sec class. One mile and five furlongs. 2. 2—W. J. Doyle’s IN THE MOOD by U. Scott—Princess Napoleon aged 24 .. Owner I 3. 3—H. R. Brien’s Globe Direct syrs 12 .. M. Holmes 2 1. I—Mrs M. A. Haslett’s Emulous aged 48 , W. K. Tatterson 3 6, 7 Imperial Grattan; 4, 4 Logan Rey; 7, 6 Jack’s Son; 11. 11 Lady Dawn; 10, 10 Bulldozer; 8, 8 Knave of Diamonds; 5, 5 Highland Fling; 9, 9 Integrity also starred. . , « Head; length. Imperial Grattan was fourth. Times—3min 29sec, 3min 30 l-ssec, 3min 27 2-ssec. Winner trained by owner, Lees ton. HORNBY HANDICAP, Of £825. Trotters. 3min 48sec class. One mile and five furlongs. 1. I—N. Matyasevic’s FLYING SCOTT by U Scott—Escapade aged scr C. C Devine 1 7; 7—C. Patemans’ Golden Amazon aged scr .. .. F. G. Holmes 2 9. 9—D. G. Fraser and J. Shelly’s Strummer aged scr D. Bennett 3 6. 6 David Dryden; 8, 8 Maximum; 3,2 Song Bird; 2, 3 Excalibur; 4. 4 Endowed; 11, 10 Nationalist; 10, 11 Bancor; 5, 5 Great Venture; 12. 12 Bomber also started. Half head; length. Song Bird was fourth. Times—3min 42 3-ssec, 3min 42 4-ssec, 3min 43 l-ssec. Winner trained by W. Baker, Tai Tapu. SELWYN HANDICAP, Of £lOOO. 3min 36sec class. One mile and five furlongs. 1. I—H. C. Steel’s CHECKMATE by Jack Potts—Laurene Wood Gyrs scr C. S. Donald 1 4. 4—J. Owens's Follow Me aged 24 F. G. Holmes 2 2. 3—H. R. Brien’s Johnnie Lawn 6yrs 12 . M. Holmes 3 5, 6 Certainty; 1. 1 Limerick Pride bracketed winner; 7, 7 Copper Trail; 6, 5 Direct Medium; 8. 8 Golden Shadow; 3,2 Safari also started. Length and a half; Half length. Direct Medium was fourth. Times—3min 34sec, 3min 32 2-ssec, 3min 33 3-ssec. Winner trained by C. S. Donald. Belfast. PREBBLETON HANDICAP, Of £7OO. 4min 34sec class. Twp miles. 3. 3—C. G. Cullen’s MONAGH LEAGH by Quite SUre^—Adioo Guy mare aged scr J. B. Pringle 1 2. 2—W- A. Newton’s Right Royal : syrs 24 .. S. A. Edwards 2 6. 7—J. Fowler’s Mountmellick aged

scr .. G. S. Smith 3 9, 10 Implacable; 4, 5 Indigo; 8, 8 Positive; 1, 1 Stirling Castle; 5. 4 Caudray; 7, 6 Lady Vi; 10. 9 Tam o’ Shanter also started. Three lengths; half a length. Lady Vi was fourth. Times—4min 30 4-ssec, 4min 29 2-ssec, 4min 31 3-ssec. Winner trained by L. A. Williams. New Brighton. AU REVOIR SPRINT, Of £lOOO. Free-for-All conditions. 2min 45sec class. One mile and a quarter. 3. 3—H. R. Brien’s GLOBE DIRECT by Springfield Globe—Molly Direct syrs .. .. M. Holmes 1 2. 2—R. Wylie’s Grattan Drive aged G. S. Smith 2 2. 2—Noone Bros.’ Logan Rey aged R. Young 3 7, 7 Golden Shadow; 5. 5 Jack’s Son; 6. 6 Liberty Bond; 4, 4 Imperial Grattan; 1, 1 Maori Home also started. Nose; two lengths. Imperial Grattan was fourth. Times—2min 41sec, 2min 41 l-ssec, 2min 41 2-ssec. Winner trained by M. Holmes, Upper Riccarton.