TIMARU CLUB

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25389, 12 January 1948, Page 4

TIMARU CLUB

SILVERLIGHT -'WINS MAIN RACE BELLISIMA IN FORM Paraded in splendid condition and confidently driven by R. H. Butterick, who trains him at Rakaia, Silverlight justified his position as favourite when he outstayed his field in the John Hole Memorial Handicap, the main event at the Timaru Trotting Club’s meeting on Satifrday. Delwyn, Carisbrook, Sypland, and Gold Strike all lost ground when they failed to leave the mark correctly. Lady Spray began smartly to lead at the end of a furlong from Expensive, with a gap of three lengths to Silverlight. Breaking, Delwyn appeared to hamper Sypland, which, in turn, stopped the well-backed Miranda Scott. Lady Spray set a fast pace, and at the end of half a mile she was two lengths clear of Expensive, with a gap of eight lengths to Lucky Meg and another three lengths to Silverlight and Carisbrook. Another five lengths away, Queen Jewel was followed by Play Safe, Moneymate, Notus, and Bonny Clare. Butterick gradually moved Silverlight up to be handy to Lady Spray, Expensive, and Lucky Meg with half a mile to go. After racing in that position until the straight was reached, he let Silverlight stretch out and the result was not in doubt over the last furlong. A consistent son of Quite Sure and Honour Bound, Silverlight has had four wins and 11 minor placings since he began racing as a four-year-old in the 1945-46 season. A hardy type, Silverlight stays on well and, on Saturday’s display, he should not be troubled to win his way to much better company.

Notus, which finished a length and a half behind Silverlight, appeared to be the unlucky runner. After being a long way back in ninth place with half a mile covered, Notus was unable to get a clear run until the race was all but over and. in the circumstances, his second was full of merit.

An aged son of Dillon Hall and Charming Child, Notus’s record of three seconds in his five starts this season indicates that he should soon win a race for Mr C. E. Dillon, for whom he is trained by T. H. Gunning at Temuka. Usually a good beginner, Carisbrook did not hit out smartly and he loat about 24 yards before he settled down. G. Withers had Carisbrook hahdy to the leaders at the entrance to*the straight and he finished on well to earn the third prize of £75 for Mr A. H. V. Berry. "Carisbrook has shown promising form in his recent races and he appeals as an early winner.

Won Two Races Bellisima brought her record to three wins in three starts since being bought at auction recently for 850 guineas by Mr W. E. Stickings, when she won the Kingsdown Handicap and the Waimate Handicap. Sent out a hot favourite on the win machine, Bellisima never gave her supporters an anxious moment after taking the lead at the start of the Kingsdown Handicap. Bellisima was followed in the early stages by Adventurer, Swanee River, Buncrana, Merry Man, and Rakautika. Swanee River, Merry Man, Adventurer, and Rakautika all made mistakes in the running, and Bellisima did not appear to be extended as she trotted home a length and a half clear of Buncrana. Once he settled down, Swanee River showed some ability to finish in third place. Paraded in the Waimate Handicap later in the afternoon, Bellisima put in a skip at the start but she struck her gait quickly, and at the end of the first furlong she was leading from Metropole, Buncrana, Logan Max, Probable (in a break), - Loyal Toast, Port Bowen, Bardia, Sure Note, and Heir Apparent Tin a break). Metropole broke in the back straight, and with half a mile to go, Bellisima was followed* by Logan Max. Buncrana. Loyal Toast, Bardia, Port Bowen, and Sure Note.

Bellisima was always going easily over the concluding stages, and her margin of two -lengths over Buncrana at the finish could have been much more if her driver, C. R. Berkett, had desired.

’Bellisima has already won £635 for Mr Stickings, and she should add to her record before the season closes. A cleangaited mare with a splendid racing temperament, Bellisima appears destined to race in the best classes.

A Smart Pacer Gay Piper, the favourite for the Fairlie Handicap, gave an outstanding performance to wiq in 4min 29 2-ssec from a 4min 50sec mark. Driven by his owner-trainer, G. McKendry, Gay Piper started smartly from the 36 yards mark and at the end of half a mile he had worked his way through the large field to follow Worthydale, Aries, West Point, Gloxania, Tekau, Rhonda Grattan, and Aqua Lady. West Point took the lead with half a mile to go and he led into the straight from Tekau, Gay Piper, Rhonda Grattan, and Aries. West Point broke when challenged by Gay Piper, which carried on to win with the greatest of ease by four lengths from Aries. A handsome four-year-old horse. Gay Piper bears the stamp of quality, and he should eventually win good races for McKendry. The weather was fine, the track was fast, and a large crowd invested £55,853 10s, an increase of £17,064 10s on the £38,789 invested on the corresponding day last year, when wet weather made conditions unpleasant. Results:—

KINGSDOWN HANDICAP, of £225; trotters: 3min 58sec class; one,mile and five furlongs.—l. 1 W. E. Stickings's BELLISIMA by Certissimus —Moerewa syrs 12 C. R. Berkett 1; 3, 4 Buncrana 36 W. C. Barron 2; 4, 3 Swanee River 24 M. J. Argyle 3.

6, 6 Adventurer; 2,2 Merry Man; 5, 5 Rakautika also started.

Length; length and a half. Merry Man fourth. Times—3min 42sec, 3min 40 l-ssec, 3min 43 2-ssec. Winner trained by C. R. Berkett, Templeton. FAIRLIE HANDICAP, of £225: 4min 53sec class; two miles. —1, 1 G. McKendry’s GAY PIPER by U. Scott—Festival 4yrs 36 owner 1; 11, 10 Aries scr D. Townley 2; 10, 8 Special Match scr W. C. Barron 3. 9, 12 Admiral Peterson; 19, 18 Aqua Lady; 21, 21 Cavalier; 7, 5 Friendly Scott and Inherit bracketed; 5, 6 Eileen Scott and Tekau bracketed; 6, 7 Gloxania; 12, 13 John Halifax; 13, 11 Medbury; 17, 16 Milford Lad; 18, 18 Pilot Queen; 2,2 Rhonda Grattan: 14, 14 Sure Nut; 15, 17 Trusty Dale; 22. 22 Vain Lass; 3, 4 West Point; 20, 20 Worthydale; 4, 3 Max Grattan; 15, 15 Gallant Ruth; 8, 9 Moongold also started.

Four lengths; length. Tekau fourth. Times—4min 29 2-ssec, 4min 33sec, 4min 33 l-ssec. Winner trained by owner, Methven.

LEVELS HANDICAP, of £275; 3min 52sec class; one mile and five furlongs.— 8, 9 T. Fairbairn’s KING COBRA by Raider—Huon Lu syrs scr A. Fairbairn 1; 5, 5 Ipso Facto scr N. L. Berkett 2; 1,2 Gay Note scr C. M. Laing 3. 3, 1 Antrim Hall; 4, 4 Awadale and Worthy Dick bracketed; ' 6, 6 Crimson Trail; 9, 8 Marcia; 10, 10 Our Babe; 12, 12 Pampero; 2, 3 Risingholme; 11, 11 Sandy’s Comet; 7, 7 Sure Jinks also started. Two lengths; head. Risingholme was fourth. Times—3min 36sec, 3min 37sec, 3min 37 l-ssec. Winner trained by A. Fairbairn. Hornby. JOHN HOLE MEMORIAL HANDICAP, of £750; 4min 38sec class; two miles.—l, 1 R. H. Butterick’s SILVERLIGHT by Quite Sure—Honour Bound 6yrs scr owner 1; 2,2 Notus 24 T. H. Gunning 2; 11, 8 Carisbrook scr G. Withers 3.

10, 11 Delwyn; 4, 5 Expensive; 6. 4 Gold Strike: 12, 12 Lady Spray; 13, 13 Lucky Meg; 9, 9 Sypland; 14, 14 Moneymate: 7, 7 Bonny Clare; 15, 15 Play Safe; 5, 6 Queen Jewel; 8, 10 Doonholme; 3, 3 Miranda Scott also started. Length and a half; two lengths. Lucky Meg fourth. Times—4min 28sec, 4min 26 2-ssec, 4min 28 4-ssec. Winner trained by owner, Rakaia.

WAIMATE HANDICAP, of £375; trotters; 3min 54sec class; one mile and five furlongs.—l, 1 W. E. Sticktngs’s BELLISIMA by Certissimus—Moerewa syrs scr C. R. Berkett 1; 5, 4 Buncrana scr W. C. Barron 2; 4, 5 Loyal Toast scr C. M. Laing 3. 7, 8 Metropole; 9, 10 Probable; 6, 6 Bardia; 2,2 Logan Max 3, 3 Heir Apparent; 10, 9 Port Bowen; 8, 7 Sure Note also started.

Two lengths: head. Logan Max fourth. Times.—3min 43 3-ssec, 3min 44 l-ssec; 3min 44 2-ssec. Winner trained by C. R. Berkett, Templeton.

KERRYTOWN HANDICAP, of £325; 3min 48sec class; one mile and five furlongs.— 5, 5 O. T. and O. G. Evans’s HIS EXCELLENCY by Jack Potts—Judith 4yrs scr D. C. Watts 1; 4, 4 Hydro Belle scr R. J. Cleeve 2; 7, 7 Gantree 24 R. Young 3. 4. 4 Gallant Thorpe bracketed Hydro Belle; 8, 8 Rural Lady; 9, 9 Worthy Jack; 6, 6 Ace of Diamonds; 3, 3 Captain SJandy; 1, 1 Peter's Pal; 11, 11 Pony Express; 2,2 Proprietor and Sunny Nelson bracketed; 10, 10 Wee Logan also started. Two lengths; length. Captain Sandy fourth. Times.—3min 38sec, 3min 38 2-5 sec, 3min 37sec. Winner trained by F. E. Upton, Templeton.

PAREORA HANDICAP, of £275; 2min 56sec class; one mile and a quarter.—-11, 10 G. Aitchison’s CALANDO by Dillon Hall —Fay Grattan 4yrs 12 G. Holmes 1; 4, 3 Gay Note scr C. M. Laing 2; 7, 11 Great Wonder scr C. C. Devine 3. 5, 5 Antrim Hall; 13, 13 Awadale; 10, 9 Crimson. Trail; 9, 7 Crown Plate; 17, 18 Double Deck; 12, 12 Gallant Ruth; 1,2 Gay Piper; 2, 1 Ipso Facto; 15, 14 Marcia; 8, 8 Noble Jack ;18, 15 Our Babe; 19, 19 Pampero; 14, 16 Red Flight; 3, 4 Risingholme; 16, 17 Prince Dale; 6, 6 Systematic also started.

Length; length. Marcia fourth. Times.— 2min 45sec, 2min 46sec, 2min 46 2-ssec. Winner trained by F. G. Holmes, Spreydon.

TAIKO HANDICAP, of £450 ; 2min 50 sec class; one mile and a quarter.—s, 5 J. Ainger’s LADY SPRAY by GambleKrina 6yrs scr S. A. Edwards 1; 2,2 Bonny Clare 12 F. G. Holmes 2; 8, 8 Queen Jewel 12 P. C. Williams 3.

6, 6 Appreciate; 4, 3 Carisbrook: 11, 11 Delwyn; 3, 4 Expensive; 1, 1 Fair Play; 10, Honest Peter; 7, 7 Lucky Meg: 9, 9 Quite Evident; 13, 14 Sypland; 14, 13 Money mate; 12, 12 Play Safe also started,

Length and a half; half length. Carisbrook fourth. Times.—2min 43 l-ssec, 2,mu» tt a-ss«s, »nan 42 a-s»eo. Winner