SECOND WIN FOR GAY FELLOW

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26492, 6 August 1951, Page 4

SECOND WIN FOR GAY FELLOW

JUMPERS’ FLAT AT RICCARTON

Gay Fellow won the Jumpers’ Flat Handicap at Riccarton on Saturday in the salne manner as he won that race last year, leading all the way and keeping clear of any would-be challengers in the straight The Robin Goodfellow gelding began smartly and led out of the straight from Prefect, Pageant, Personality, and Gay Spion. Count Bian was last. At the mile Duvaals and Sunshine Bay had been taken forward into the trailing positions behind Gay Fellow, handiest of the others being Prefect and Cornishman. Gay Fellow had a lead of four lengths racing to the home turn, where Sunshine Bay and Duvaals were weakening and Personality, Helio, Count Bian Prefect and Foxfable were improving their positions. At the furlong Gay Fellow had the race won. Personality failed by two lengths to reach him, and the fast-finish-ing Count Bian was a length further back third, with the little-ianeied Helio a length and a naif away fourth. The top weight, Foxfable, was close up fifth ahead of Bragden and Prefect, which were together. San Quentin Surprises San Quentin, the 8-8 favourite, established a handy lead near the six furlongs in the Enfield Steeplechase, and he won easily by seven lengths from Bravura. Lartique fell heavfly at the first fence, the post and rails, where Dark Warrior lost his rider. Royal Dollar lost his rider at the sod wall near the five furlongs. E. P. Corboy, rider of Prang, broke a leather at the top of the straight, and the horse was pulled up. Free Gift and Governor led through the straight for the first time, but Governor somersaulted at the second of the stand double. That left Free Gift three lengths clear of Owenga going to Cutts’s, where Sailor Boy, one of tne last horses, ran off.

San Quentin, which followed Free Gift and Owenga over Cutts’s, ran to the front in the next furlong, and at the kennels double he had opened up a lead of five length*.- San Quentin increased his lead to eignt lengths racing to tne brush at the top of the straight, Owenga leading the chase after him three lengths ahead of Free Gift and Wandering Minstrel. Bravura was making up ground next. San Quentin jumped the last fence safely and won unchallenged. Bravura outstayed the others to take second place three lengths clear of Wandering Minstrel. Free Gift was three lengths further back fourth, and the only others to finish were Owenga and Fermoy. Roman Son ran off at the brush at the top of the straight, and Dinner Time was pulled up. Decisive Win Sons of Royal Chief, Silver King, Field Chief, and Crowned, filled the first three places in the Cashmere Plate. The race was stylishly won by the Wlngatul-tralned Silver King, which trailed the leaders to the straight, reached the front at the furlong, and won by a length and a half from Field Chief, which beat Crowned by a neck. Foremost was last away, and Corocutie, Modern Times, Sikandara, and Chief Lignt also started slowly. Millrace led after a furlong, and near the half mile Liberty dashed past him and Waltzaway moved into second place. Millrace was next ahead ot Dan, Calm Voyage, Lords ana Silver King. Liberty led into the straight from Waltzaway, Millrace, Silver King, Dan Calm Voyage, Crowned, Lords, Lovelock, and Fie:d C'hiet. Silver King took charge near the furlong and opened up a handy lead which the others were unable to bridge. After the minor place-getters. Field Chief and Crowned, were Lords, a length clear of Liberty. Next were Dan, Demijour, Ngapunowai, Glad Tidings, Millrace, Belle Nuit, Koistar, Waltzaway, and Corocutie.

Close Finish The Gisborne-trained Night View caught the favourite, Lady Gretchen, a few strides from the post to win the Trial Hurdles by half a head. Fort Silver was a length back third. The well-supported Gold Cloud fell at the first hurdle, and Night Ruler led to the stand hurdle from Kirkella, Fort Silver, Flying Control, Military Chief, and Lacy Gretchen. There Robin’s Song’s rider lost his irons.

Kirkella and Night Ruler opened up a lead of eight lengths racing to the nine furlongs, but Kirkella started to drop back near the mile. Fort Silver joined Night Ruler in front racing to the five furlongs, where Kirkella fell. Lady Gretchen had there moved into third place three lengths back, and Night View, Sylvan and Gay Prince were handy. Wight Ruler dropped out early in the run home and Lady Gretchen mastered Fort Silver inside the furlong, only to be headed in the last stride by the fast-fin-ishing Night View. Sylvan was fourth, a length and a half behind Fort Silver, and Gay Prince was fifth just ahead of Military Chief. Seventn was Look Ahead and next, practically in line, were Silver Spur, Bon Chale, Night Ruler, and Coxswain. Led All Way

Supporter* ot the favourites had their second success of the day in the last race, the Avonhead Handicap, Sports Post winning easily after being in front ■ll the way. Sports Post and Valid led past the six furlongs from Boniface, Greetings, Symbolic, Paper Royal Young Prince, All Profit and Master Mariner.

There were no changes among the leaders racing past the half mile, and Sports Post and vaiid held their lead into the straight from Greetings, Boniface, Paper Royal, Master Mariner, Symbolic, Confetti All Profit and Royal Monarch (wide out). Sports Post was clear at the furlong, and he went on to win easily by three lengths from Confetti, which caught Greetings a few strides short of the post. The bracketed pair, Notable and Master Mariner, both came home strongly and the camera could not separate them for fourth. Notable s effort was particularly good, because she was slow away. Other* which began slowly were Robbie, Penzie, Bright Robin, Louisville and Sarada.

JOCKEY SERIOUSLY INJURED

SPRINGWATER DESTROYED The Riccarton jockey, R. J. Hawes, suffered head injuries when Springwater fell in the Grand National Steeplechase at Riccarton on Saturday, and he was taken to the Christchurch Public Hospital. He was seriously ill yesterday. Springwater fractured his pelvis, and was destroyed. An eight-year-old gelding by Robin Goodfellow from Fusion, Springwater was owned by Mr A. M. Satterthwaite, and had been raced on lease by Mr A. T. Cartwright. Springwater had his first race over country in May, and he quickly built up a good record. He started In seven steeplechases for four wins and one third, and his stake winnings over country amounted to £3935. He won the Matai and Eric Riddiford Steeplechases at the Wellington winter meeting last month.

KOXINGA DESTROYED

Koxinga fractured his off fore-leg just after he entered the straight with a big lead in the Paparua Handicap at Riccarton on Saturday, yet he finished the race in about fourteenth position. Koxinga rounded the home turn with a lead of Hi lengths, but when he fractured his leg he started to veer towards the outside rail. He was dismounted near the turn out of the straight. At first it was hoped that he could be saved, but after a second Inspection it was decided to destroy him. A four-year-old brown gelding by Boulder Dam from Paper Love, Koxinga was trained at Invercargill by R. E. Humphries for Mr R. C. Udy. An offer of 2000 guineas for him was refused recently.