FORBURY PARK CLUB

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25936, 17 October 1949, Page 5

FORBURY PARK CLUB

TROTTING

PREMIER ROYAL WINS MAIN RACE

From Our Own Reporter DUNEDIN, Oct. 15. O. E. Hooper’s confident attitude when he passed the winning post, and when he returned to take up first position at the bird-cage gate, misled many people into believing that he had won the President's Handicap, the main event at the Forbury Park Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday, with On Approval, but the photo-finish print revealed that the fastfinishing Premier Royal had won narrowly. It was a disappointing 'contest, the race developing into a sprint over the last two furlongs. On Approval and Democrat were the slowest to begin. and Prince Hall were the first to show out, but. at the end of the first furlong they were four lengths clear of Minoru, with a gap of 10 lengths to Dragoman, On Approval, and Premier Royal. Then came Democrat, another eight lengths away. Prince Hall worked his way into flfce lead, but with a mile to go he was passed by Minoru. At the end of a mile and a quarter, Minoru was followed by On Approval and Prince Hall, Right Royal and Premier Royal, Dragoman and Democrat, which were racing in pairs. On Approval appeared set for an easy win when he took the lead soon after entering the straight, but Premier Royal, which was vigorously driven by T. Thompson, finished fast wide out on the course to earn the first prize of £790 for Mr B. C. Lee.

Democrat, which appeared to be hopelessly placed after losing at least 48 yards when she broke badly at. the start, did well to earn the third prize for Mrs A. E. Keeler and J. M. Bain. She should win a race the first time she leaves the mark correctly.

The Sprinters Sent out first favourite, Baby Grand, which finished third to Victory Globe and Positive in the Flying Handicap on the first day of the meeting, justified his confident support when, after setting the pace for most of the way, he gained a comfortable win over Positive in the Farewell Handicap. Positive was the early leader, but P. P. Gallagher allowed Baby Grand to take over the role of pacemaker in the back straight. With five furlongs to go. Baby Grand was followed by Sir Peterson, Positive, Lyndale. Black Machine, Right Royal. Premier Royal, Caudray, Novelda, Dragoman, Lady Averil, Maudeen, and Follow Me. Dragoman struck trouble and broke with just over two furlongs to go, and in the mix-up which followed, Follow Me and Aberhall lost their chances. After being first into the straight for the sprint home. Baby Grand finished on well to win by a length and a half from Positive, with Black Machine another two lengths away in third place. Then came Premier Royal, Lady Averil, Novelda, Caudray, Lyndale, and Maudeen. Captain Sandy, which showed a lot of speed with three furlongs to go, did not finish on as was expected. Baby Grand, which was paraded in splendid order by G. S. Smith, who trains him at Addington, should add to his record at the Jubilee Cup meeting at Addington. Easy Win for Conceit Conceit’s supporters, who had sent him out 2-1 in the betting, received a shock when he broke after striking a wheel of Billy McElwyn’s sulky with about four furlongs to go in the Churchill Handicap, but he settled down quickly, and he was not troubled over th’e concluding stages to win from an outsider in Billy McElwyn. Sandy Duval, Teddy Gregg, Sure Maid, Bessie Grattan, Noble Star, and Nydia all made mistakes in the first mile. With five furlongs to go Vinceremo was leading from Billy McElwyn, Conceit, and Lady Inchcape. Vinceremo broke at the end of a mile, and G. Holmes eased Billy McElwyn out to avoid her, but when she caught her gait quickly he attempted to trail her. As he changed his position. Conceit struck one of the wheels of his sulky and broke. In the mix-up which followed. Lady Inchcape broke and lost several lengths. Once Conceit was properly balanced, M. Holmes sent him after the leaders, and he finished in fine style to win comfortably. Billy McElwyn gave an encouraging display to finish second, with Sandy Duval third. With better luck in the early stages Sandy Duval might have troubled Conceit at the finish. Systematic Wins Well

Systematic, the runner-up to Islaburn Lass in the Dominion Handicap on th’e first day of the meeting, gained a welldeserved win after a hard fight with Sandy Logan over the last furlong in the Victory Handicap. J. Bain’s bracket, Fillmore and Darrington Hall, were the first to show out, and when the field settled down they were followed by Wedding Ring, Systematic, Tom Gundy, Worthy Dick, Gold Strand, Sandy Logan, Foreign Lady, Awadale, Shalimar, Tarn o’ Shanter, and Fabric Silk.

M. Holmes rushed Sandy Logan up to take the lead with three furlongs to go, and he was first into the straight for the

sprint home, with Systematic and Awadale prominent. Excitement was intense as Systematic got up to beat Sandy Logan by half a length. A consistent performer, Sandy Logan was not disgraced in defeat. He should soon win again for P. P. Gallagher, who trains him at Washdyke. The weather was fine and there was a large attendance. Overnight rain made the track heavy, but it improved rapidly during the day. The totalisator handled £91,795, compared with £88,758 10s on the corresponding day last year. The total for the meeting was £176,926, as against £165,975 last year. Results:— TAHUNA HANDICAP Of £350. 3min 39sec class. One mile and a half. 1. 3—J. W. Wilson's DICTATION by Josedale Dictator—Seal Globe syrs scr .. .. .. Owner 1 2. I—Ripcord syrs 36 S. A. Edwards 2 4. 4—Dame Durdin 6yrs scr T. H. Gunning 3 5, 5 Efficient; 7, 7 Finale; 3,2 Lochinvar; 9, 9 Norma’s Pride; 8, 8 Sure Peg; 6, 6 High Stakes also started. 15 lengths; two lengths. Efficient was fourth. Times.—3min 32 l-ssec, 3min 33 4-ssec; 3min 37sec. Winnef trained by owner, Rakaia. ST. KILDA HANDICAP Of £4OO. 3min 33sec class. One mile and a half. 2. I—G. J. and C. W. Belcher’s NATURE GIRL by U. Scott—Great Muricata syrs scr .. W. R. Butt 1 1. 3—Quindale 4yrs scr .. M. Holmes 2 3. 2—Mystery Dillon syrs scr D. Jones 3 5, 5 Cottesloe; 4, 4 Mischievous; 6, 6 Lusty Bingen; 7, 7 Lucky Fellow also started. Half a length; two lengths. Cottesloe was fourth. Times.—3min 27 l-ssec, 3min 27 2-ssec, 3min 27 4-ssec. Winner trained by W. R. Butt, Templeton. DOMAIN HANDICAP, Of £5OO. 3min 29sec class. One mile and a half. 13. ll—O. Clarke’s SUPER SCOTCH by U. Scott—Escapade aged scr J. Behrns 1 4. 3—Grey Streak 6yrs scr T. W. Dickie 2 9. 9—Peggydale 6yrs 36 H. I. Herbert 3 6, 6 Desert Flight; 5, 4 Direct Power; 14, 15 Final Return; 3, 5 Joygiver; 12, 12 Master Mariner: 2,2 Vigilant; 10, 10 Woodstock; 11, 13 Wrackdale; 8, 8 Daisy Bar; 7, 7 Double Deck; 1, 1 Nebula; 15, 14 Roulette bracketed Tautuku; 16, 16 Josedale Audubon also started. ; Three-quarters of a length; two lengths.! Final Return was fourth. Times.—3min 20 sec, 3min 20 l-ssec, 3min 17 2-ssec. Winner trained by C. H. G. Irvine, Dunedin. I PRESIDENT’S HANDICAP, Of £l2OO. 4min 28sec class. Two miles. 2. 3—B. C. Lee’s PREMIER ROYAL by Grattan Loyal—Clarice aged 12 T. Thompson 1 1. I—On Approval 6yrs 24 O. E. Hooper 2 3. 3—Democrat aged scr .. M. Gray ) 3,2 Prince Hall bracketed Democr, . 5. 5 Right Royal; 6, 4 Minoru; 4, 6 Drago man also started. ftalf a neck; three-quarters of a length. Prince Hall was fourth. Times.— 4min 29sec, 4min 28 l-ssec, 4min 30 2-5 sec. Winner trained by T. Thompson, Yaldhurst. CHURCHILL HANDICAP, Of £6OO. 3min 33sec class. One mile and a half. 2. I—H. and C. Stafford’s CONCEIT by Desmond’s Pride—Mersa Matruh 6yrs 24 .. .. M. Holmes 1 8. B—Billy McElwyn aged scr G. Holmes 2 5. s—Sandy Duval 6yrs scr D. Jones 3 6, 6 Nydia bracketed Noble Star; 9, 9 Sure Maid; 1,2 Bessie Grattan; 3, 3 Lady Inchcape; 4, 4 Vinceremo: 7, 7 Blackdale; 10, 10 Teddy Gregg also started. i Two lengths: four lengths. Vinceremo was fourth. Times.—3min 23sec, 3min 25 l-ssec, 3min 26sec. Winner trained by M. Holmes, Russley. ROYAL HANDICAP, Of £575. 3min 25sec class. One mile and a half. 1. I—J. S. Dick’s PIERRE by Dillon Hall—Mademoiselle syrs scr M. Holmes 1 4. 2—Air Mail aged 12 W. R. Butt 2 5. s—Great Wonder aged scr C. C. Devine 3 2, 3 Belle Potts bracketed Allanah; 11, 11 Brynawelon; 2, 4 Constellation; 12, 12 Hall Ace; 10, 9 Mellon; 6, 6 Saga; 8, 8 Slavonic bracketed Smirke; 9. 10 Sirocco bracketed Coliseum; 7, 7 Tutta Bella also started. One length and a half; two lengths. Times.—3rnin 16sec, 3min 15 2-s§ec, 3min 16 3-ssec. Winner trained by M. Holmes, Russley. VICTORY HANDICAP, Of £675. 3min 22sec class. One mile and a half. 1. 3—H. Rattray’s SYSTEMATIC by Grattan Loyal—War Bride 6yrs scr R. Young 1

2. I—Sandy Logan aged 12 M. Holmes 2 4. 4—Awadale aged scr J. L. Behrns 3 8, 8 Darrington Hall bracketed. Fillmore: 3,2 Fabric Silk bracketed Wedding Ring* 5, 5 Gold Strand: 6, 6 Shalimar: 7, 7 Worthy Dick; 2, 1 Foreign Lady bracketed Sandy Logan; 10, 10 Tam o' Shanter; 9. 9 Tom Gundy also started. Half a length; three lengths. Foreign Lady was fourth. Times.—3min 14 1-5 sec, 3min 13 2-ssec, 3min 14 3-ssec. Winner trained by G. S. Smith, Addington. FAREWELL HANDICAP, Of £7OO. 3min 2sec class. One mile and three furlongs. 1. I—C. S. C ver’s BABY GRAND by Lusty Volo—Mountain Jewel aged scr .. .. M. Holmes 1 2. 2—Positive aged scr P. P. Gallagher 2 9. 6—Black Machine aged scr W. R. Butt 3 1, 1 Right Royal bracketed Baby Grand 12, 13 Caudray; 11, 12 Lyndale; 7, 10 Novelda; 3, 4 Sir Peterson; 5,, 5 Premier Royal; 6, 7 Captain Sandy; 8, 8 Dragoman; 13, 11 Follow Me; 4, 3 Lady Averi! bracketed Maudeen: 10, 9 Minofflj; 14, 14 Aberhall also started. One length and a half; two lengths Premier Royal was fourth. Times.—2min 56 2-ssec, 2min 56 3-ssec, 2mln 56 4-ssec. Winner trained by G. S. Smith, Addington.