MEETING AT ASHBURTON

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26528, 17 September 1951, Page 4

MEETING AT ASHBURTON

JOHN GRIGG STAKES TO LORD FORT

HANDICAP WON BY ENTRANCING

Lord Fort was forced to establish a course record of lmin 24 l-ssec for seven furlongs to win the John Grigg Stakes at the Ashburton County Racing Club’s spring meeting on Saturday. The Washdyke-trained Broiefort gelding was all out to beat Sinister, which showed brilliant speed after beginning slowly. Only half a head separated these two good gallopers at the finish. This is Lord Fort’s second course record. At the Wellington summer meeting last January he ran the six furlongs of the Nursery Handicap in lmin 9 3-4 sec, a record for the Trentham track. Lord Fort is trained by E. J. Ellis, Washdyke, for Mr J. A. C. Bain, who purchased him at the 1950 national yearling sales for 310gns. He was making his first appearance this - season on Saturday and his success was the third of his career in six starts. Later on Saturday’s programme Spectral also recorded lmin 24 l-ssec when he won the open sprint, the Spring Handicap. Like Lord Fort, Spectral had not raced since the Easter meeting at Riccarton, but his Riccarton trainer, K. J. Thomson, had him well forward, and the Revelation' gelding won decisively from Declare. Entrancing, which had narrowly beaten Spectral in the last Great Easter Handicap at Riccarton, won the Ashburton Handicap on Saturday in clear-cut style, leading for the last seven furlongs and a half and stalling off a challenge from the win favourite, Travesty, with little difficulty. Ridden by F. H. Skelton, who was also on her in the Great Easter Handicap, Entrancing is trained at Riccarton by T. H. Gillett for Mr T. M. Timpany and the estate of E. F. Timpany. She ■ is a six-year-old daughter of Man’s Pal and the outstanding race mare, Queen of Song. The Ashburton Handicap was the first leg of the totalisator double, which was completed by Ngapunawai narrowly winning the Penscroft Handicap at good odds. The combination paid £267 18s fid for £l. Ngapunawai is a three-year-old gelding by the New Zealand St. Leger winner, Palfrey, which, like Entrancing, was by Man’s Pal, Palfrey was also trained by Gillett. The weather was sunny and warm and the track was fast. The totalisa- ’ tor turnover was £48,984 ss, including £4700 15s on the double, compared with £40,941 10s last year. John Grigg Stakes The Wingatui colt Liberty set a scorching pace to the furlong in the John Grigg Stakes, but he then weakened, and Lord Fort and the fast-finishing Sinister had the struggle to themselves, half a head separating them. Liberty was a length back third, and he was just ahead of the win favourite. Rustler, which finished brilliantly in the straight after losing several lengths at the start. Desperado, Royal Voyage, and Liberty raced practically abreast over the first furlong, and handy "behind them were Pukka Sahib, Hot 7 Night, Lord Fort and Bosky, with Sinister making up ground next. Liberty ran Into a clear lead going to the five furlongs, and at the half mile he was three lengths in front of Infanta, with a length and a half* to Desperado. Royal Voyage was. a length and a half further back, just heading Pukka Sahib, Bosky, Lord Fort, and Hot Night. Liberty was still clear at the straight entrance, but Lord Fort soon worked forward, and then took charge inside the furlong. Sinister showed brilliant finishing speed to run Lord Fort-so close, and in another few strides he would have had the race won. Liberty just lasted to beat the fast-finishing Rustler for third. Hot Night was ■ a length and a half back fifth, and next to finish were Desperado, Royal Voyage, and Demljour. Ashburton Handicap Running to the front inside the first &^‘SSS , E^ !r VW“*KuK ’ Handicap, winning by a length from Travesty, a firm favourite with doubles bettors. Trinidad was two lengths back third, just shading the fash-finishing Whittaker. Entrancing, after taking charge, led past the seven furlongs from Brutus, Night Owl, Travesty, St. Bruno and Trinidad. At the tail of the field were Balkis, Indiana, and Finance. Travesty was trailing Entrancing at the six furlongs, and soon afterwards Argonaut was taken forward to follow the leader past the half mile. Travesty was still getting the run of the race, and others well placed running to the straight were Brutus. Upshot, Trinidad, and Night Owl. Travesty was taken forward to challenge Entrancing early in the run home, but F. H. Skelton wai sitting quietly on the ' Man’s Pal mare, which ran the race out ,

Solidly and won much more easily than her winning margin would suggest. ' Whittaker, which had 10 horses in front of him at the six furlongs finished boldly to run Trinidad close for third. Detention also came from well back to be practically right in line fifth, ahead of Military Chief, Balkis, Upshot, and Night Owl. Spring Handicap Spectral had the run of the race in behind the pacemaker, Diablo, in the Spring Handicap, and after reaching the front near the furlong, he held on to beat Declare by half a length. The race was marred by a bad start. Magical was left altogether, and Sharessa, Robin Dayes, and Zorro were slow away. Diablo was soon pacemaking, and he led past the half mile from Spectral, with Zorro making up ground next ahead of Declare, Saieda, Sharessa, Dark Courage, Detective, Royal Tan, and Balmoral. Zorro dropped out near the home turn, where Diablo was still leading. Spectral was asked for his effort racing to the furlong, and after mastering Diablo he ran on well to keep clear of Deciare's challenge. Diablo was two lengths back third, and Balmoral made up ground for fourth ahead of Royal Tan, Detective, Robin Dayes, and Sharessa. Results:— COUNTY HACK HURDLE HANDICAP, of £250; one mile and five furlongs.—2, 1 G. A. Lang's PREFECT by Royal ChiefSchoolgirl 6yrs 9-7 H. J. Ford 1; 3. 5 Dark Arrow 9-11 G. Hampton 2; 6, 6 Profane 9-9 D. Arney 3. I, 2 Flying Control; 7, 7 Gleneagles; 4, 4 Night Ruler; 8, 8 Royal Dollar; 5, 3 Don’t Listen; 9, 9 Albert John; 10, 10 Young Prince also started. Six lengths; half head. Flying Control was fourth. Time, 2mln 55 4-ssec. Winner trained by C. G. Humphries, Rlccarton. * Dividends.—Win: £4 3s. Places: £1 Ils, £2 Is, £4 3s 6d. NOVICE STAKES, of £250; special conditions; six furlongs.—First Division: 1, 1 W. R. Toon’s MODERN TIMES by De-faulter-Essay 3yrs 8-0 car. 8-2 C. T. Wilson 1; 6, 6 Lovelock 8-0 A. J. Stokes 2; 4, 3 Dan 8-0 car. 8-1 J C. McDonald 3. 22, 22 Air Rose; 13, 13 Grand Sign; 17, 16 Kimbo; 20, 19 Maraschino; 9,8 Pictorial; 14, 14 Our Bert; 21, 17 Calm Voyage; 10, 11 Edendale; 12, 12 Golden Chime; 3, 4 Ironside; 8. 9 Lord Lothian; 15, 15 Moombara also started. Three lengths; head. Calm Voyage was fourth. Time, Imln 13sec. Winner trained by J. S. Shaw. Rlccarton. Dividends.—Win: £1 15s 6d. Places: £2 Second Division.—2, 2 J. Bland’s CLOUDY VIEW by Airway—Broughton Belle 3yrs 8-0 W. D. Skelton 1; 1, 1 Lords 8-0 R. A. Muir 2; 5. 5 Mellc 8-4 J. T. Anderson 3. 11, 10 Escalade; 18, 21 Labyrinth; 6. 6 Trashna; 19,- 20 Brooch; 10, 11 Debenture; 12, 12 Gardez; 3, 4 Gold Tip; 8, 9 Kingsmead; 15, 15 Moncado; 7, 7 Sidra; 16, 13 Teheran also started. Length and a half; length. Klngsmead was fourth. Time, Imln 12 3-ssec. Winner trained by L. H. Pratt, Orari. Dividends. —Win: £3 6s 6d. Places: £1

19s 6d, £2 3s. Brackets: Trashna and Lovelock; Debenture and Edendale: Gardez and Golden Chime; Gold Tip and Ironside; Klngsmead and Lord Lothian; Lords and Modem Times; Moncado and Moombara. SELMA TROT HANDICAP, of £275; 3mln 37sec class: one mile and a half 1, 1 M. C. McTigue’s VENETIAN by Marco Polo—Double Measure aged scr owner 1; 3, 3 Royal Cameo scr R. Donald 2; 12, 11 Chippewa scr S. R. Townley 3. 6, 6 Agricola; 15, 14 Anvil Chimes: 10, 9 Attractive Girl; 8, 8 Bendemeer Stream; 16, 16 Goldessa; 9. 7 Heather Brigade; 11, 13 Kierloch; 20, 21 Lothario: 19. 19 Marching Girl; 4, 4 Regalia; 14, 15 Sergeant Major; 5, 5 Springwater; 2,2 Top Mast; 22. 20 Tosca; 20, 21 Zola; 13, 12 Graticulate: 18, 17 Lucky Scholar; 17, 18 Wentworth: 7, 9 Real Brigade also started. Neck; two lengths. Top Mast was fourth. Times, 3min 25sec, 3min 25 l-ssec, 3min 25 3-ssec. Winner trained by owner, Meth ven. Dividends.—Win: £3 12s 6d. Places: £1 18s 6d, £3 2s 6d, £6 9s 6d. ASHBURTON HANDICAP, of £600: one mile and a quarter.—3, 6 T. M. and Estate E. F. Timpany's ENTRANCING by Man’s Pal—Queen of Song 6yrs 7-l> F. H. Skelton 1; 1, 3 Travesty 7-11 A.{J. Stokes 2; 6, 7 Trinidad 8-10 C. T. Wilsdn 3. 4, 5 Detention: 8, 4 St. /Bruno; 5. 2 Night Owl; 2, 1 Brutus; 11,11 Ned Kelly: 10. 10 Balkls; 13, 13 Fjharwe; ; 7. 8 Whittaker; 8, 9 Military ihief; 13, 12 J

Indiana; 15, 15 Crease; 14, 14 Upshot; 15, 16 Argonaut also started. ten? 1118 - Whittaker was trained bGlUett, Ricclrton.^”" 61, JOHN GRIGG STAKES, of £500; for three-year-olds; seven furlongs —2 1 J. A. C. Bain’s LORD FORT by Broiefort —Bayadeer 8-10 L. J. Ellis 1; 4, 3 T. E. Elliotts Sinister by Pherozshahr—Bird of 8-10 K. Nuttall 2; 6, 5 G. J. Barton’s Liberty by Gold Nib—Perfect Peace 8-10 L. W. Hare 3.

12, 12 AU Ataunt; 5, 6 Bosky; 8, 8 pemijour; 10, 9 Desperado; 7, 7 Pukka ?anl*?; 3. 4 Royal Voyage; 1,2 Rustler; 14, 13 Sunbeat; 13, 14 Corocutie; 11, 11 Hot Night; 9, 10 Infanta also started. Half a head; length. Rustler was fourth. Time, lmin 24 l-ssec (course record). Winner trained by E. J Ellis Washdyke. Dividends.—Win: £3 19s 6d. Places: £1 6s 6d, £2 Ils, £3 2a. PENSCROFT HACK HANDICAP, of £250; one mile.—6, 7 Mrs H. C. Manaton’s NGAPUNAWAI by Palfrey—lrrigation 3yrs 7-7 D. F. Coombe 1; 1,2 Greetings 9-0 C. McDonald 2; 3, 1 Turbulent 7-7 car 7-9 L. J. Ellis 3.

13, 13 Beau Solr; 2, 3 Master Mariner and Reminiscent bracketed; 8, 9 Kettledrum; 5, 4 Wealthy; 15, 15 Dreenagh; 4, 5 Sarada; 7, 6 Samovar; 10, 10 Dawn Mist; 14, 14 Margaret Leigh; 17, 17 Orontes; 12, 12 Black Wealth; 11, 11 Glad Tidings; 16, 16 Threaten; 9, 8 Irish Saint; 18, 18 Letitia also started.

Head; three lengths. Sarada fourth. Time, lmin 37 3-ssec. Winner trained by R. Wilson, Riccarton. Dividends—Win: £2B 13s. Places: £6, £1 12s, £1 10s.

SPRING HANDICAP, of £400; seven furlongs.—4, 1 B. G. Rutherford’s SPECTRAL by Revelation—Twilight 4yrs 7-12 A. J. Stokes 1; 2, 3 Declare 7-1 N. Eastwood 2; 1, 4 Diablo 7-9 W. D. Skelton 3. 5, 5 Royal Tan and Robin Dayes bracketed; 6, 6 Dark Courage; 7, 7 Magical;' 9, 9 Saieda; 3,2 Sharessa; 8, 9 Detective; 10, 10 Balmoral; 11, 11 Zorro also started. Half a length; two lengths. Balmoral was fourth. Time, Imin 24 l-ssec. Winner trained by K. J. Thomson, Riccarton. Dividends.—Win; £5 0s 6d. Places: £1 12s 6d. £1 13s 6d, £1 15s 6d. RAKAIA TROT HANDICAP, of £365: 3min 33sec class; one mile and a half.— 14, 14 D. Green’s GALLANT SATIN by Gallant Knight—Satin Queen scr F. NewHeld 1; 5, 4 Queen of Scots 24 R. W. Townley 2; 2,2 Esquire scr R. H. Butterick 3. 16, 17 Bedella; 12, 10 Black Heath; 10, 11 Direct Link; 4, 5 Gay Dene; 8, 9 Gay Heritage; 17, 15 Keretaki and Kildare bracketed; 9, 8 Lochella; 13, 13 Main Force; 3, 3 Red Lexie; 6, 6 Scotty Dillon; 11, 12 Spangled Star; 1 Supreme Globe; 18, 18 Wentworth; 6, 7 Western Comet; 15 16 Peter Joffre also started. Gay Dene won by four lengths from Gallant Satin but was disqualified. Gallant Satin beat Queen of Scots by two lengths for second, and Esquire was a neck back fourth. Gallant Satin- trained by D. Green, owner, Winchmore. , Dividends.—Win: £62 7s. Places. £l3 10s, £2 17s 6d, £2 3s.