EPSOM FORM

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25735, 22 February 1949, Page 7

EPSOM FORM

BULL’S EYE WINS MOUNT ALBERT HANDICAP

Bull’s Eye, which was unplaced in the Massey Memorial Handicap at his first appearance at the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting at Epsom on Saturday, received a hostile reception from a section of the crowd when he won the Mount Albert Handicap later in the afternoon. When an inquiry was held by the stipendiary stewards into the improved showing of Bull’s Eye, the explanation of his trainer, C. R. Berkett. w’as accepted. After taking the lead in the early stages of the Mount Albert Handicap, Bull's Eye covered the first mile in 2min 14sec. and he was still clear at the end of a mile and a half in 3min 19sec, where Bexdale. Sir Vivian. Play Safe, Goldsmith, Indianote, Popular Girl, and Paper Man were following in close formation. Goldsmith raced wide out at the entrance to the straight to challenge Bull’s Eye, but he could not sustain the effort, and Bexdale. Paper Man, and Popular Girl passed him. They all finished well, but they had no chance with Bull’s Eye, which carried on to win comfortably by a length from Bexdale in 4min 25 3-ssec. One of the most raced and most travelled pacers in training, Bull’s Eye, which is owned by Messrs G. J. Barton and F. Anderson, has started 22 times this season for two wins and 12 minor placings. A Quite Sure gelding. Bull’s Eye, which was bred at Methven by Mr A. J. McLaughlin, is out of the Huia Dillon mare, Grattan Derby,, the dam of other winners in Homeward and BJack Marble. A Happy Voyage mare, Homeward was bred by and won races* for Mr Barton. A Thrilling Finish Pony Express made a bold attempt to lead all the way in the Massey Memorial Handicap, but he was narrowly beaten in a thrilling finish by Kilcash, which was at a long price. Certify finished solidly to take third place from Volo Bond. Pony Express led a bunched field to the six furlongs in Imin 38sec. where Real Nugget, Hopeful. Kilcash. Certify, and Sandiways were in close order. Kilcash secured a lucky run on the rails crossing the top, and he gradually overhauled Pony Express, eventually winning by a neck in 2min 42 l-ssec. Bull’s Eye broke up in the early stages. Solid Finishing Run It was with a solid finishing run that Entrust, the second favourite for the Railway Handicap, got up to win by a narrow margain from Fly On, which attempted to lead all the way. Fan Tan, which lost a lot of ground in the early stages when he broke, was a neck away third. Fly On set the pace to the mile in 2min 18sec, and the mile and a half in 3min 25 3-ssec. Won Well

After taking the lead from Sure Money at the end of six furlongs. Gold Horizon gave nothing else a chance in the February Handicap, winning very easily from Noble Star, which just shaded Songbird by half a head. King Arthur, which was in second place for most of the way, faded into fourth place in the run home. Sure Money, the early leader, broke badly when Gold Horizon ran past him to take the lead. He never appeared as a possibility afterwards. J. G. Gillard, the driver of Gold Horizon, was later fined £2O and his licence reduced to D grade for one month by the stipendiary stewards for gross carelessness in cutting across Sure Money too quickly. An aged chestnut gelding, Gold Horizon. which is trained at Ngaruawahia by Gillard, is by Quite Sure from a winner at the pacing gait in Eyre, which left another winner in Belcar to Worthy Belwin. Bred at Mangere by J. T. Paul, Eyre is by Great Parrish from Great Eyre, a Great Audubon mare which left a family of winners, including Gblden Eagle, Axminster, Charles Rex, Fighting Friend, and Eyre’s Last. Jottings

News Agent lost his chance when he broke at the start of the Burwood Handicap at New Brighton on Saturday. French Gold, the winner of the St. Kilda Handicap at the Forbury Park Trotting Club’s meeting on October 16, has been causing his owner-trainer, L. -A. Wigzell, some worry, and he has been turned out for a spell. Loyal Flier never appeared as a possibility after beginning slowly in the Autumn Handicap at the New Brighton Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday. Peccadillo, the winner of the New River Harness Trot at the Southland Racing Club’s meeting on November 13, pleased by his effort to finish second to Tutta Bella in the Riversdale Trot Handicap at the Gore Racing Club’s meeting on Saturday. Balloted Out

To reduce the fields to the safety limits the following horses were balloted out after acceptances had been , taken for the Kaikoura Trotting Club’s meeting at Rangiora on Saturday:— Hapuku Handicap.—Birthstone, Centenary Boy, Realm Again. Gallant Girl, Glen Lance., Helali, Indian Guide, June Grattan, Lady Teazle. Kenyon, Pot Pourri, Major Gaillard. Real Brigade. Terrace Lass, Te Pura. Velvet Brown, Wrackdale, Bonnie Dale. President, Doris Potts, Empire Lady, Estella Direct, Green Valley. Helen Grattan, Nankin, Intrepid, Kelvin Lass, Meteoric, Soubrette, Sir Gary, Super Grattan, Trixie Hall, Windsor Maid. Stewards’ Handicap.—Alandale, Autumntide. Beau Scott. Bishop’s Cleeve. High Time, Joselito, Krakatoa. Lady Avonmore. Misconception, Pablo, Predicament. Sandhurst, Steel Sword, Super Sound, Taj Mahal. Kekerangu Handicap.—Emondale, Gallian. Highland Chief, Piquant. Peninsula Handicap.—Chatto Boy, Commentator, Contempt. Farlena, Grattan Arrow, Highland Belle, Hineora, Kitty Globe, Kopara Lass. Lady Ellen, Locknit, Loyal Scott, Moncrieff, Empire Lady, Our Sylvie. Realm Again. Vistula, Wrackdale. President’s Handicap.—Milford Lad, Worthy Jack. Keenan Handicap.—Braeval, Detour, Test Flight. A Successful Season The New Brighton Trotting Club concluded its first season since returning to its own course after being forced to race at Addington during the war years with a successful meeting on Saturday. Large crowds have attended each meeting, and the totalisator investments have been remarkable for a suburban course, the total for the season being £395,299 10s, compared with £437,188 when the club raced at Addington last season. The following amounts were handled on the four days at’ New Brighton, the figures in parenthesis being the amounts handled at Addington on the corresponding days last vear: September 11, £112,883 (£127,329); September 25. £100,169 10s (£110,260); December 11, £84.630 (£98,894); February 19, £97,617 (£100,705). Mated with Bonny Bridge Mares mated with the New Zealand Derby Stakes winner. Bonny Bridge, which stood the season in the North Otago district, included Cherry Maid, Wattle’s Wish. Brown Shadow. Madam Gay, Fay Emerson, Plaudit, Anna Wong, Seamstress. Irish Linen, Blue Smoke, Molly Desborough, Lady de Oro, Icilma, Cheers. Ambition, Sonoma Rita, Tiny Axworthy, Neeca. Margaret Dillon, and Princess Tracey. Lost Ground Gloxania. the favourite on the place totalisator for the Belfast Handicap at the New Brighton Trotting Club's meeting on Saturday, never appeared as a possibility after losing ground when she was hampered by breaking horses at the start. Broke Under Pressure Senjt out 1-2 in the betting on the Progressive Handicap at the New Brighton meeting on Saturday, Passive showed speed from the 60 yards mark to oe fifth to Desworthy, Rowan McCoy, Merry Man, and Single Task at the entrance to the straight, but she dropped out of the contest after breaking under pressure in the sprint home. Better placed in the handicaps, she should soon win a race for W. J. Doyle, who trains her at Leeston. Trained at Templeton Globe Theatre, the winner of the second division of the February Handicap Trot at the Westland Racing Club’s meeting at Hokitika' on Saturday races in the interests of W. R. Butt, who trains him at Templeton. A three-year-old gelding. Globe Theatre is by Springfield Globe from Lady Concliff, which i&*by the Imported Concliff from Meb.