AMBERLEY CLUB

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27036, 11 May 1953, Page 4

AMBERLEY CLUB

PTOLEMY AND SIDRA MAIN WINNERS

W. D. SKELTON RIDES WELL

W. D. Skelton, New Zealand’s leading jockey this season, went close to riding the winners of the totalisator double at the Amberley Racing Club’s annual meeting on Saturday. .Skelton expertly rode Ptolemy to a clear-cut win in the first leg, the Amberley Handicap, and was a close third on Exchequer in the G. B. Starky Memorial Handicap. Ptolemy, a former North Island galloper, was having his fourth race in the colours of the Washdyke trainer, P. Andrews. It was his 20th start for the season and his first success since a Woodville meeting more than a year ago. Skelton had Ptolemy in a trailing position running to the home turn, and when the pacemaking Desperado, which had been hanging out all the way, left a gap, he pushed the grey through to take the lead. Ptolemy soon drew clear, and won by a length and and a half from Instinctive, which caught Desperado near the post. Sidra’s determined challenge in the Starky Memorial Handicap gave her a neck decision. King Willow beat Exchequer by a head for second.

This was Sidra’s fourth win, her first being recorded at the Amberley meeting last year. The four-year-old De-faulter-Syria mare has been lightly raced by the Riccarton owner-trainer W. J. Davidson, and seldom this season has she failed to acquit herself well. There were 324 10s tickets on the Ptolemy-Sidra combination, and the doubles dividend was £53 4s 6d for £l.

A brilliant win by Denominate in the Seadown Handicap and a sound win by Danger Point in the Brackenfield Highweight were other features of the day’s racing. W. D. Skelton was the most successful jockey, with two successes. He won the second division of the Novice Stakes on Red Hand, as well as the Amberley Handicap on Ptolemy. The weather was fine, the attendance good, and the track firm. The on-course totalisator turnover was £29,207, including £2324 on the double, compared with £29,983 last year. Keen Finish Sidra had the run of the race behind the leaders in the G. B Starky Memorial Handicap and her challenge carried her to a narrow but convincing win. Exchequer and Tipperary were ridden through to the front in the run through the straight for the first time, and D. J. Thistoll settled Sidra down into the trailing position alongside Finir and just in front of Peter Bruce, Tyro, Miss Neptune, King Willow, Me Too, and Sovereign Salute. Tipperary was beaten just after passing the half-mile, where King Willow started to improve his position. King Willow maintained his run to join the hard-ridden. Exchequer racing to the home turn. There Sidra was still trailing clear of the favourite, Tyro, which was feeling the •train. Exchequer did not surrender his lead without a struggle, battling on solidly right to the end, but Sidra and King Willow finished a shade too strongly. Sidra’s challenge was well timed, and •he was going away from the other two at the finish. Her winning margin was * neck, and King Willow beat Exchequer by a head for second. Finir. which went back a few places when the rush for better positions started near the half-mile, was two lengths back fourth, and Tyro was next ahead of Peter Bruce. Ptolemy's Success Ptolemy had the Amberley Handicap won in a few strides racing to the home turn when W. D. Skelton moved him through to the front on the inside of Desperado, which had been hanging all the way. " . Ptolemy and Desperado raced together tn front for the first “furlong, and they were followed past the six furlongs by King’s Command, Ulster Queen, Quarry, and Spectral. Ptolemy w; s then eased baclr to beon the rails behind the leaders, and »: the half-mile Desperado and King’s Command were the leaders with Desperado s stablemate, Spectral, also moving forward. Vitalogy, one of the stow beginners, was also well in the picture at that stage, but Quarry and Ulster Queen had lost good positions. Ptolemy, in the trailing position, was quick to take an opening on the inner racing to the home turn, and after getting to the front he never looked likely to be caught. Instinctive, never really well placed in the packed field racing to the home turn, finished boldly to cut Desperado out at second place by a head. The lightlysupported Ulster Queen also came home strongly for fourth a neck behind Desperado. Plausible was a good fifth ahead of Vitalogy. Vitalogy’s effort was a good one, this being his first race since January, and his first from P. H. C. Stock’s stable. King’s Command, the win favourite, dropped right out over the last two furlongs, and was last to finish. Results:— BRACKENFIELD HIGH-WEIGHT HANDICAP, of £225: nine furlongs.—l, 2 C. C. and R. R. Bateman'S DANGER POINT by Booby Trap—Open Fire syra 10-4 G. W. Mein 1; 2, 1 Modern Times 4yri 10-1 A. J. wftaml 3= 3 ’ 3 ATg ° MUt sy ” U -° 4, 5 Black Briar; 9, 9 Saieda; 10, 10 Ambergris; 8, 8 Prim Lady; 7, 7 Herb o’ Grace; 5, 4 Lord's; 8, 8 Escalado also started. Length and a half; one length. Black Briar was fourth. Time, Imin 57sec. Winner trained by T. I. Smith, Riccarton. Dividends.—Win: £2 13s Bd. Places: Cl 10s, £1 8s 6d, £2 4s. NOVICE STAKES, of £260; two- and three-year-olds; six furlongs.—First Division: 13, 19 R. J. Murphy’s ENFOLD by Finis—Cuddle 3yrs 8-7 P. H. Jones 1; 7, 5 Royal Sable 3yrs 8-7 car. 8-111 B. J. Langford 2; 5, 4 Sun Goddess Byrs 8-7 B. Gordon 3. 11, 11 Card Game; Ift 17 Gtoriann; 21, 22 Lady Doretta; 17. 15 Latoaja; 20, 20 Silver Nutmeg; 14, 15 Tarantella; 16, 17 Whitby; 15, 14 Hickory Stick; 9, 9 Lushing; 1,2 Merry Medley; 12, 12 Steadfast; 4. 6 Trustworthy also started. Two lengths; three lengths. Lushing was fourth. Time, Imin 14 3-ssec. Winner trained by R. Wilson, Riccarton. Dividends.—Win: £2O 14s. Places: £l3 14s 6d, £2 7s 6d.

Second Division: 2,3 W. C. Deyell’s RED HAND by Red Mars—Dunmurry 3yrs 8-7 W. D. Skelton 1; 11. 11 Royal Warrant 3yrs 8-7 car. 8-8 H. W. Hibberd 2; 1,2 Our Treasure 2yrs 7-12 W. Hanlin

21, 21 Celerite; 3, 1 Epaulette; 18, 13 Grand Cheval; 8, 8 Lady Lothian; 4, 7 Spar: 5, 4 Worthy Song; 10, 10 Freddy; 15, 14 La Fontaine; 9, 9 Spike Jones; 12 12 Te Pahi; 6, 6 Waltzing Home also started.

Two lengths: length and a half. Spike Jones was fourth. Time, Imin 14 3-ssec. Winner trained by A. G. Ridgway, Riccarton. Dividends.—Win: £3 10s 6d. Places: £1 19s Bd. £6 7s Bd. TEVIOTDALE HOT HANDICAP, of £230; 3min 37sec class; one mile and a half—2, 1 A. Lowe’s SAGE GIRL by Grattan Loyal—Olive Rey Byrs scr F. G. Holmes 1; S, 5 Red Hackle 3yrs scr C. J. McLaughlin 2; 3. 3 Klipper 3yrs scr C. S. Donald 3.

4, 4 Andros; 11. 11 Excelsa; 14, 15 Fanny Grattan; 13, 13 Flower Girl; 1,2 Jaunty; 7. 6 Misty Grattan; 18, 16 Prince Volomite; 9. 9 Stranraer Lass; 8, 7 Winsome Girl; 10, 9 Cherry Queen; 17, 17 Loyal Eagle; 15, 14 Paddy Grattan; 6, 6 Marathon; 12, 12 May’s Surprise also started. Two lengths; one length. Excelsa was fourth. Times—3min 28 3-ssec, 3min 27sec, 3nan 27 l-ssec. Winner trained by owner, Yaldhurst. Dividends.—Win: £5 3s 6d. Places: £1 12s 6d, £3 4s 6d. £2 6s Bd. AMBERLEY HANDICAP, of £315; £? r, P n ® s — 3 - 3 p - Andrews’s PTOLEMY by Pherozshah—Straight Drive ®y rs 7-9 W. D. Skelton 1: 4. 4 Instinctive syrs 7-7 car. 7-2 N. A. Dempsev 2: 2, 1 Desperado 4yrs 8-6 car. 8-6 J C. C. Stokes *• * Command: 6, 6 Spectral; 9, 10 Vitalogy; 10. 9 Plausible; 7, 7 Quarry; 11. 11 Roving Robin; 8. 8 Ulster Queen; 5, 5 Hot Night also started. Length and a half; head. Ulster Queen was fourth. Time, Imin 28see. Winner trained by owner. Washdyke. Dividends-Win: £4 17s 6d. Places: £1 15s, £2 7s 6d, £1 10s. GLASNEVIN STAKES, of £200; maidens; seven furlongs.—2 2 H. C and c Davey’s ROYAL APPAREL 4yrs 8-2 F. H. Skelton 1; 1. 1 Diplomatic 4yrs 8-2 R. McSeveny 2; 3, 3 Demand 4yrs 8-2 G. W Mein 3. ’ Blonde Peak; 4. 4 aS Started 8 Sharpist; 5 - 5 Two Llght ? ne > en «th. Karanda was fourth. Time. Imin 29sec. Winner trained by C. Davey and F. J. Haddock. Riccarton. Dividends—Win: £4 13. fld ■ £1 7s 6d. £1 6s Bd. £1 Ils 6d S „ T . AR KY MEMORIAL HANDIf one raUe • nd * quarter.— * * W. J. Davidson's SIDRA by Defaulter —Syria 4yrs 8-11 D. J. ThlstoU 1; 2,2

King Willow 3yrs 7-12 R. McSeveny 5; 6 6 Exchequer syrs 7-10 W. D. Skelton 3. ' 5. 5 Tipperary; 7, 7 Sovereign Salute; 1, 1 Tyro; 8, 8 Peter Bruce; 9, 9 Me Too; 3, 3 Finir; 10, 10 Miss Neptune also started. Neck; head. Finir was fourth. Time, 2min 10 2-ssec. Winner trained by owner, Riccarton. Dividends.—Win: £7 Is 6d. Places: £2 BS, £1 17s 6d, £3 2s. SEADOWN HANDICAP, of £250; seven furlongs.—l, 1 H. D. Greenwood’s DENOMINATE by Defaulter—Cyrillian 3yrs 8-2 A. J. Stokes 1; 11. 11 Full Tilt syrs 9-5 B. J. Langford 2; 13, 13 Roue 3yrs 7-10 R. L. Gibson 3. 7, 7 Royal Road; 6, 5 Millrace; 12, 12 JeSse James; 4, 4 Hermes; 5, 6 Connair; 8, 9 Okaruru; 2, 3 Zingabo; 3. 2 Direct Passage; 9, 10 Gone Away; 14, 16 Airscol; 9, 8 Red Dawn; 16, 14 Princess Finis; 17, 17 Doctor Pippin; 15, 15 Adversary; 18. 18 Golden Air also started. Four lengths; head. Zingabo was fourth. Time, Imin 28 3-ssec. Winner trained by K. J. Thomson, Riccarton. Dividends.—Win: £4 5s 6d. Places; £1 16s, £6 9s 6d. £l4 14s. KOWHAI TROT HANDICAP, of £245; 3min 33sec class; one mile and a half.— 1. 1 B. Grice’s LODESTAR by Josedale Grattan—Single Star 3yrs scr F. G. Holmes 1; 8, 8 Colonel Peterson syrs scr J. Crofts 2; 9, 9 Spike aged scr W. E. Lowe 3. 4, 3 Grattan Bay; 5, 4 Loraine bracketed Sheffield's Pride: 14, 13 National Lady; 13. 14 Rodina; 12, 12 Spring Glory; 7. 7 Springwater;. 11, 10 Billet Doux; 2,2 Drucilla; 16, 15 Nelson Wrack; 6, 6 Royal Present bracketed Mecca Chief; 10, 11 Sir John; 3, 5 Wha’ Hae; 15, 16 Serviceman also started. Head; three lengths. Drucilla was fourth. Times—3min 27sec, 3min 27 l-ssec, 3min 28sec. Winner trained by owner, Prebbleton. Dividends.—Win: £2 17s 6d. Places: £1 10s 6d. £5 10s 6d, £7 Us. Failed to Weigh In F. H. Skelton, rider of Finir, which finished fourth in the Starky Memorial Handicap at Amberley on Saturday, was fined £3 for failing to weigh in. P. Andrews was fined £2 for the late scratching of Saleda in the Amberley Handicap, the first leg of the double.