MINOR RACES AT ASHBURTON

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26220, 18 September 1950, Page 4

MINOR RACES AT ASHBURTON

GLENEAGLES WINS HURDLES

Making his second appearance for Mr H. H. O’Connor, Gleneagles won the County Hack Hurdles at the Ashburton County Racing Club’s spring meeting on Saturday. The Siegfried gelding was fully extended to beat All Pockets, which was in front with him for the last half-mile. Reggie led past the stands from Good Shot, Gleneagles and Enforce, AH Pockets, Diameter, and Coxswain, Bon Chale, Theocritus, Boon Companion and St. Nat. Reggie had a lead of four lengths at the mile, but Gleneagles displaced him at ‘the six furlongs, where Reggie and Good ShQt were on terms next ahead of AH Pockets, Enforce, Diameter, and Coxswain. All Pockets was taken forward to join Gleneagles racing to the half-mile, and they drew away from the others. Gleneagles stayed on well in a keen finish to win by a neck. Reggie was four lengths away third, and Coxswain was a moderate fourth, just shading Enforce. Diameter lost his rider when he hit the last hurdle. Finished Strongly Entrancing appeared to have a strong winning chance when she entered the last furlong of the Penscroft Hack Handicap with a handy lead, but Fille d’Honneur closed fast on her in the last few strides and got up to win by a head. They had the finish to themselves, Ryeland being three lengths back third. Dreenagh and Alleviate lost ground at the start, and Bridgeway was slow away. Mightgo ran to the front after a furlong from Dissenter, Lights On, Entrancing, Fille d’Honneur, Stagdance, Beau Esprit, Lord Montrose, Sylvan, and Beau Soir. Mightgo had opened a lead of three lengths at the five furlongs from Dissenter. Entrancing, Lights On, Fille d’Honneur, Stagdance, Ryeland, Beau Esprit, Travesty, Lord Montrose, and Sylvan. Mightgo led round the home turn, but Entrancing raced past him outside the furlong. She established what appeared to be a winning lead, but Fille d’Honneur. which had five horses in front of her at the straight entrance, finished resolutely to win narrowly. Ryeland beat Lord Montrose by half a length for third. Dissenter was fifth, ahead of Stagdance and Hobgoblin, which were on terms ahead of Lights On, Mightgo, and Maunga Reka. Novice Stakes Airwork, the second favourite, shared the pacemaking with Spinning Lady in the first division of the Novice Stakes, and after reaching the front at the furlong he won decisively by a length and a half from Hue and Cry, which was running on well over the last furlong. Dawn Mist and Stourmaid lost several lengths at the start, Airwork arid Spinning Lady being the early leaders from Lilting, Plume d’Or, False Dawn, Two Light, Regent, and Lucky Mav. There were few changes in the run across the top, but approaching the home turn, Lucky May dashed up on the outside of Airwork and Spinning Lady, handiest of the others being Plume d’Or, Hue and Cry, and Greetings, which had dwelt at the start. Airwork was in front at the furlong, and he did not have to be ridren out to keep clear of Hue and Cry. False Dawn was a length away third, Ruth's Praise making up ground for I fourth, ahead of Spinning Lady, Plume d’Or, Regent, and Greetings. Tallahassee was slow away in the second d’-ision, in which Arrowlea led ; practically throughout. After a furlong, ■ Associate, Jock Scott, and Arrowlea were the pacemakers from Pictorial, Rising Glory, Dan Kelly, and Whittaker, with a . gap to Midas and Tallahassee. Arrowlea and Associate were followed 1 furlongs by Dan Kelly, Whittaker, Rising Glory, and Jock Scott. ■ The order Was unchanged on the home i turn, Whittaker improving his position after straightening up. Associate chal- . lenged over the last furlong, but ran out, . losing a good winning chance. Arrowlea : beat him by two lengths, Whittaker being a length and a half away third, with Ris- ■ mg Glory fourth. Next to finish were ? Jock Scott and Dan Kelly; then there ■ was a gap to Fiddlesticks, Tallahassee . and Fricka.

Decapitate took no part in th e second division. He threw his rider, G. Hillis at the barrier, and galloped back towards the entrance gates, the field being sent away without him.