REEFTON FORM

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25902, 7 September 1949, Page 7

REEFTON FORM

ALL SERENE WINS AT FIRST START

The Riccarton-trained filly, All Serene, was made favourite for her race debut in the Black’s Point Novice Stakes at Reefton on Saturday, and she won the first division convincingly after leading throughout. Her winning margin was three lengths, and she was not asked for her best. All Serene was bred at the Alton Lodge Stud and was purchased at the Trentham yearling sales last year by Mr J. A. Mitchell, the owner of the Santa Rosa Stud, Longburn, for 800gns. She is by the champion sire Foxbridge from the English-bred Scotswood, which had progeny in England before being sent to New Zealand. Scotswood’s sire is Bold Archer (by Phalaris), winner of the Doncaster Rous Plate and the Gimcrack Stakes. Her dam. Scotford, won three races and was from Skein Dhu, the unraced dam of six winners. All Serene is trained by J. S. Shaw. Eulogize was confidently supported to win the Springs Handicap, the main flat event, but Volomai and his stablemate, Peridot, finished in front of him. Volomai, which is raced by the Riccarton trainer, A. S. Ellis, showed good form on the West Coast spring circuit last year. Deficiency was the leader to the straight from Peridot and Volomai, with Eulogize making a move from the back of the field. Peridot had Deficiency’s measure 100 yards from the post, but Volomai swooped through on the inner and won by a head. Eulogize was an average third, two lengths away, with the tiring Deficiency next. Caronia easily won the Boatman’s Hack Handicap at Reefton on Saturday, but her task was lightened when Queen’s General nearly came down approaching the straight. Jenny Jinks was the pacemaker to the straight, but Caronia, which was always handy, finished strongly to win by three lengths. Queen's General was an unlucky third. Not His Best Flying Orders raced well below his best, form in the Antonio’s Handicap, for which he was favourite, and his third placing was a moderate effort. He was hard ridden by N. A. Crombie in the early stages in an attempt to fill his customary role of pacemaker, but he did not have enough dash to reach the front. Leeston was first to show clear from Luminous Knight, Deficiency, Newspaper, and Flying Orders. Leeston was two lengths clear along the back, and galloping freely, he widened his margin to three lengths in the run home. The second horse, Deficiency, was clear of Flying Orders and Newspaper. Waihora, a bay filly by Defaulter from Waiwene. and a place-getter at Amberley in May, scored her first win in the second division of the Black’s Point Novice Stakes. She finished too strongly for Bosun, which was the leader for the greater part of the journey. Waihora was within a length of Bosun with two furlongs to run, and took charge inside the last furlong. Philmarch was. a fair third, followed by Oral Law and Iron Trail.

Ruling Night, a five-year-old son of Nightly and Rawlsbrook, provided an upset in the County Hack Handicap, winning attractively from Cinereous and Lady Montrose. Ruling Night's win dividend was past the score mark. He followed Cinererous into the straight and finished more strongly to win by a length. Lady Montrose was a useful third, ahead of Miss Loretto and Morning Watch.