FIRST DAY AT WINGATUI

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26746, 2 June 1952, Page 4

FIRST DAY AT WINGATUI

Infatuate Succeeds

In Hurdles

DESERT TREK WINS STEEPLECHASE

(From Our Own Reporter? „ . . DUNEDIN, June 1. Canterbury horses, five of them from Riccarton, won six races on the first day of the Dunedin Jockey Club’s winter meeting at Wingatui on Saturday. With better luck they would have won’ at least one more event. Honours in two of the principal £ > a . c ?®’Ithe 1 the ,9 tag ,? Steeplechase and the Birthday Handicap, were earned by Desert Trek and Royal Tower, both Wingatui-tramed horses, but the Hiccarton candidate, Kettledrum, appeared to be unlucky not to win the Birthday Handicap. Desert Trek, which won the Otagb Hurdles three years ago, outstayed the favourite, Belgravia, to win the Otago Steeplechase. One of the veterans of the field, Desert Trek jumped neatly and made none of the rpistakes which cost Belgravia valuable ground twice during the race. Desert Trek, which had won two races over the Invercargill country at his previous appearances, was the runner-up to Gold Song in the Otago Steeplechase last year. Royal Tower showed improvement on his Timaru Cup form to win the Birthday Handicap by half a length from the fast-finishing Kettledrum, which appeared to be hopelessly placed with three furlongs to run. Kettledrum would have been eligible for the Wellington Racing Club’s Parliamentary Handicap if he had won this race. He will not get another chance to qualify at the meeting, as there is no other flat race worth £5OO to the winner, so he will probably be taken to the North Island for the Manawatu meeting later this month.

Infatuate’s Effort Infatuate led practically all the way to win the Otago Hurdles for his Christchurch owners, Messrs A. G. Kirner and K. J. Thomson. He was solidly challenged from the last hurdle by Robin Redbreast, and got the decision by only a nose, but his winning margin would have been wider if his jockey, B. J. Langford, had been able to hit him with the whip. Robin Redbreast was running so close alongside Infatuate that Langford was unable to do so. The Otago Hurdles was the first leg of the totalisator double. The second leg, the Winter Handicap, was easily won by the Riccarton-trained Johnny Peep, which had shown little form in his racing earlier this season. Johnny Peep was in front all the way and won unchallenged, but he was possibly lucky to beat Rustler, which finished second after being last away. The Infatuate-Johnny Peep combination carried 270 tickets and paid £93 3s for £l.

The programme was run under better conditions than have been experienced for this meeting for many years. The track was in splendid order, and the weather was sunny throughout the day. The on-course totalisator turnover was £77,073 10s, compared with £80,870 on the first day last year.

Desert Trek Wins The 10-year-old Desert Trek, one of the best-ridden horses in the race, outstayed the favourite, Belgravia, to win the Otago Steeplechase. Belgravia appeared to have the race won when he opened up a good lead with three furlongs to run, but Desert Trek beat him at the furlong and won by two lengths. The first and only incident of the race came early. Money Lender and Shadamai led to the brush double in the back straight. Money Lender made a bad leap and his jockey, G. G. Hampton, was nearly unseated. The horse was practically out of control and he ducked off on the inside of the second of the double, carrying Shadamai with him. Young Bob was then left well clear, but Belgravia drew up to be within two lengths of him running through the straight for the first time.

Belgravia made a clumsy leap at the first of the stand double, but he recovered cleverly, and going to the mile he was taken forward to join Young Bob. There they were 15 lengths clear of Mandeville, with two lengths to Battle Signal. Eleanor Star, and Desert Trek, and another 12 lengths to Free Gift. Shadamai had joined in the race, but was a long way back. Belgravia blundered again at the first of the double in the back straight, leaving Young Bob 10 lengths clear, but Belgravia closed on him quickly and went to the front at the half-mile. Meanwhile Desert Trek was making up ground steadily, and he was in third place, two lengths behind the tiring Young Bob, at the half-mile. Belgravia had a good lead turning to the last fence, but Desert Trek responded gamely to vigorous riding, and the tough Nightmarch gelding had the race won just inside the furlong. Mandeville did best of the others to finish third, four lengths behind Belgravia, and a length in front of Battle Signal. Eleanor Star was 20 lengths back, fifth, and he was followed horn at long intervals bv Young Bob, Free Gift, and Shadamai. '

Kettledrum Unlucky The favourite. Kettledrum, finished brilliantly from the home turn in th. Birthday Handicap, but his bold challenge failed to carry him up to Royal Tower, which beat him by half a length. Uist was half a length further back, third, and there was a similar margin to the second favourite, Gay Gitana. Dissenter ran to the front inside the first furlong, and led past the mile from Milton, Night Owl, Aquelio, Royal Tower, Uist, Scuttle, Cogitation, Formation. Reprimand, Incentive, Gay Gitana, Kettledrum, and Finance. The top-weight, Cogitation, was taken into the trailing position. and Scuttle moved into the postion behind him going to the -five frulongs, where Royal Tower had eight horses in front of him. Kettledrum had improved his position slightly, but was still givin? the leader a big start. Royal Tower was in fourth position at the three furlongs, and after following Cogitation, Dissenter, and Uist into .the straight, he worked his way to the front near the furlong. Uist momentarily headed Royal Tower inside the furlong, but she weakened suddenly. Royal Tower was then left in front again, and the fast-finishing Kettledrum came a shade too late to beat him. Uist beat Gay Gitana. which had a bad run, by half a length for third. Milton was close up fifth, just ahead of Cogitation, Aquelio, Formation, and Addition.

Hurdles to Infatuate Infatuate was in front practically all the way in the Otago Hurdles, and after a hard struggle with Robin Redbreast from the last hurdle, he got in the deciding Stride to win by a nose. Infatuate won the hard way. With a lack of pace early he was pulling hard with a round to go. and B. J. Langford had to allow him to stride along in front, on terms with Coro fin.

Corofin and Infatuate remained abreast to the straight entrance, where Corofin was beaten. Infatuate was almost immediately challenged by Robin Redbreast, but vigorous horsemanship by B. J. Langford played a big part In getting him to the post with the narrowest of winning margins. Robin Redbreast was in the trailing position all the way, and if he had been as well ridden at the finish as Infatuate, he would have won.

Sylvan, which finished third, two lengths and a half behind Robin Redbreast, steadily improved her position from the middle of the field to be fifth on the home turn. She could not continue her run from the furlong, but was unchallenged for third, a length and a ouarter in front of the favourite, Bragden, which lost ground with a bad leap near the six furlongs.

Irish Jig, well placed all the way, was fifth, ahead of the tiring Corofin. Young John fell near the five furlongs when he was racing on the outside of Corofin and Infatuate. Results: TAHUNA HACK AND HUNTERS’ STEEPLES, Of £4OO. Two miles and a half. 1. I—ON BROADWAY 10-8 E. P. Corboy 1 2. 2—Benevolus 9-3 .. W. J. Hillis 2 7. 7—Master Mishna 9-0 E. Rosewarne 3 5, 5 Libellula; 3, 3 Generator; 6, 6 Thornbridge; 4, 4 The Turk;-8, 8 Prang also started. Twelve lengths; four lengths. Libellula was fourth. Time, amin 19sec. Dividends.—Win: £2 12s. Places: £1 10s 6d, £1 Ils, £4 Bs. TRIAL STAKES, Of £3OO. Six furlongs. 5. 4— MERRYMYLE 8-11 A. J. Stokes 1 1. I—Lord Rowallan 8-2 L. W. Hare 2 6. 7—Corona Fox 8-11 M. R. Soper 3 9, 9 Attainment; 17. 17 Bosco bracketed with Royal Road; 15, 16 Fielder; 3, 3 Hurricane Lamp; 20. 19 Home Chat; 12. 11 Motos: 7, 5 Miss Feldwick; 22. 22 Winston’s Psi; 20, 21 Air Spin; 4, 6 Arable; 13, 14 Abbeyfale; 2,2 Chief Stuart; 16, 13 Cotton: 11, 10 Haughty Step; 17, 18 Royal Haughty; 10, 12 Sam Black: 17. 20 Gay Tim; 14, 15 Master Cent bracketed with Our Gift; 8, 8 Shirley Mac bracketed with Thibaut also started.

Half length: length. Chief Stuart was fourth. Time, Imln 16sec.

Dividends.—Win; £l2 6s 6d. Places £3 13s, £1 9s, £5 Is.

BRIGHTON HANDICAP, Of £4OO. Seven furlongs. 4. S—PAPER ROYAL 8-2

A. J. Stokes 1 8. B—Snuffbox 9-4 .. C. McDonald 2 6. 6—Master Mariner 8-9 .. .. „ „ B - J - Langford 3 13, 12 Goldmine; 19, 19 Salmon King: 2.2 Beaumont; 5, 3 Mararoyal; 10, 9 Black Briar; 15, 14 Miss Kaweku; 7, 7 Wealthy; 9, 10 Evening Shoes: 16, 16 Glowing; 3, 4 Sheik: 12. 14 Bafflem; 21, 21 Blackfellow; 17, 17 Betula; 19, 20 Chatswln: 11. 11 Fecket; 1. 1 Great Art; 14, 13 Intreatful bracketed with Miro Chabo; Jl', ? 8 , Summer Chase bracketed with Waldeck also started.

Length: two lengths and a quarter. Beaumont was fourth. Time. Imin 26 1-asec.

Dividends.—Win: £lO Ss 6d. Places: £3 15s 6d, £5 6s, £4 6s. 6d. OTAGO HURDLES, Of £lOOO. One mile and three-quarters. 2. 3—INFATUATE 9-12 B. J. Langford 1 5. s—Robin Redbreast 9-6

B. R. Thomson 2 3. 2—Sylvan 9-5 I. Powell 3 I, Bragden; 6. 6 Gay Prince; 10, 9 Cargill; 4, 4 Irish Jig; 7, 7 Fort Silver; 11, 11 Corofin; 13, 13 Winning Cheer; 8, 8 Duvaals; 12, 12 Kleve; 9. 10 Young John also started. Nose; two lengths and a half. Bragden was fourth. Time, 3min 14sec. Dividends.—Win: £5 0s 6d. Places: £2 2s 6d. £2 9s. £2 Is 6d. BIRTHDAY HANDICAP, Of £lOOO. One mile and a half. 10. 10—ROYAL TOWER 7-12 E. G. Low 1 1. I—Kettledrum 7-11 A. J. Stokes 2 5. s—Uist 8-1 .. .. W. F. Ellis 3 11, 11 Cogitation; 13, 17 Ash; 4, 4 Finance; 7, 8 Milton; 8, 9 Night Owl; 3, 3 Formation; 6. 7 Aquelio; 2,2 Gay Gitana; 16, 16 Incentive; 17, 15 Vermeer Lad; 9, 6 Addition; 18. 18 Dissenter; 14, 13 Dad's Pal; 12, 12 Reprimand; 15. 14 Scuttle also started.

Half length; same. Gay Gitana was fourth. Time, 2min 32 l-ssec. Dividends.—Win: £22 18s 6d. Places: £6 Ils 6d, £1 13s, £4 3s 6d.

OTAGO STEEPLECHASE, Of £l5OO. About two miles and a half. 4. 3—DESERT TREK 11-4

, „ „ , E. P. Corboy 1 1. 2—Belgravia 9-4 B. R. Thomson 2 7. 7—Mandeville 9-0 B. J. Langford 3 3, 3 Free Gift; 5, 5 Money Lender; 2. 1 Shadamai; 9, 8 Eleanor Star; 6, 6 Battle Signal: 8, 9 Young Bob also started. Two lengths: four lengths. Battle Signal was fourth. Time, smin 18sec. Dividends.—Win: £7 13s 6d. Places: £2 4s 6d, £1 13s, £3 Bs.

WINTER HANDICAP, Of £5OO. Seven furlongs. 7. 6 JOHNNY PEEP 8-10 bracketed with Delayed .. C. C. Stokes 1 1. I—Rustler 9-0 ~ W. D. Skelton 2 2. 2—King’s Command 8-9 B. J. Langford 3 14, 14 Felicitous; 7, 6 Delayed; 18, 15 Dashing; 12, 11 Glenlivet; 11, 12 Ned Kelly; 8. 9 Sir Abbot; 15, 16 Winning Gem; 4, 4 Diablo; 9, ,10 Social News; 1J 19 Western Winner; 12, 12 Cherry Prince; 17, 18 Plausible: 20, 20 Billy Mac; 22, 22 Great Bid; 21. 21 Balmoral; 23, 23 Command; 3, 3 Gypsy Way; 6, 5 Judith Ann; 13. 13 Royal China bracketed with Royal Monarch: 10, 8 Taj bracketed with Tip Top; 5, 7 Quarry also started. Length and a half; length. Plausible was fourth. Time, Imin 26sec. Dividends.—Win: £l7 6s. Places; £4 12s 6d, £1 13s, £2 7s. ST. CLAIR HANDICAP. Of £450. One mile and three furlongs. 3. 3—MEMORIES 8-0 ~ G. W. Mein 1 13. 7—Gay John 8-12 W. D. Skelton 2 11. 12—Hunter’s Choice 9-7 A. Reid 3 9, 9 Mightgo; 14, 13 Lady Play; 15, 8 Colonel Argosy; 10, 10 Robin’s Choice; 6, 4 Prim Lady; 7, 11 Royal Mail; 1, 1 Countenance; 18, 18 AU Hurry; 16, 16 Ember: 19, 19 Fine Art; 17, 17 Reproof: 15, 15 Rosehaven; 8, 6 St. Train: 12, 14 Sikandara; 4, 5 Unfurl; 2,2 Vocalize also started. Length; length and a half. Countenance was fourth. Time, 2min 22sec. Dividends.—Win: £6 12s 6d. Places: £2 16s 6d, £4 15s, £8 13s 6d..