NEW BRIGHTON MEETING

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27132, 31 August 1953, Page 4

NEW BRIGHTON MEETING

TROTTING

M. Holmes Drives Four Winners

JOHNS HANDICAP WON BY ALADDIN

The Yaldhurst trainer, M. Holmes, was in great form at the New Brighton Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday when he drove the winners of half the programme, three of them being in succession. His winners were King’s Order, Aladdin, Battle Royal, and Tactics, the lastnamed being the only one of the four trained by himself. Holmes had two other drives during the day, behind Royal Hall and Trout Stream, but they were both unplaced. ♦

Aladdin brought his record since being trained by N. L. Berkett to two wins and one placing from three starts when he outstayed the field in the Johns Handicap. He was never far away, and Holmes took him up to be just behind the leaders at the straight entrance. His stablemate, Schwanda, went to the front outside the furlong, but Aladdin soon took his measure and looked in for a comfortable win until Gay Lyric came through on the inside. Aladdin was kept up to his work and he finished boldly to win well. He is owned in Methven by Mr P. A. Watson, who also owns Direct Link (second in the Brighton Handicap) and Inglewood (fourth in the Electric Handicap).

One of the best performances of the day was the win of Merval in the Oxford Handicap. The U. Scott mare lost ground as usual at the start of the race, but she was never really far from the leaders. I. M. Scoon sent her after the leaders with six furlongs to run, and, although she had to cover a considerable amount of extra ground in the back straight and on the bend running to the straight, she overcame the opposition and finally won as she liked from Spring Edition and Brava. It was a most impressive effort, and now that she has struck form, she should carry on. Her 3min 24 2-ssec for the mile and a half was a smart effort on a dead track.

Favourites had a bad day even though three of them—-Aladdin, Merval, and Tactics —were successful. Doublefigure dividends were returned by Excellenza. Jack's Luck and Battle Royal.

The Spring Handicap looked as though it would provide one of the best contests during the day, but the two favourites, Blue Admiral and Battle Cry, were well beaten with six furlongs to run. and Flammula was never a possibility. No doubt the track conditions were in part the cause of their failures, but, nevertheless, their efforts were disappointing. The race was won by the former Southland trotter, Battle Royal, which was well suited by the mile and a half journey. He was perfectly handled by M. Holmes, who saved him for a final effort inside the furlong and he came on to win well from two other lightly-supported candidates in Deportment and Ecosse. Bronze Indian was a hot favourite lor the first leg of the double, the Avon Handicap, but he was beaten in the last stride by one of the outsiders of the field in Jack’s Luck, with the unlucky Barrier Reef only a neck away in third place. In a pool of £27,490, including £B9lB 10s on the course, 2791 5s tickets were invested on Jack's Luck. The Aladdin-Schwanda bracket was favourite for the second leg, the Johns Handicap, and they had 609 tickets redeemed on their prospects, the successful combination returning £149 4s 6d for £l.

The club’s experiment of running the double on the second and fourth races was a great success and the turnover on course on the double was much larger than last year’s figure. The meeting was held in fine, cool weather before a very large attendance. The track was dead, with heavy patches on the bend near the straight. Totalisator investments for the day •mounted to £104,458, including £B9lB 10s on the doubles, compared with £98,749 10s last year. Aladdin’s Win Aladdin, after being handily placed all the way, won his second race for the week when he beat Gay Lyric in the Johns Handicap. Brave Company was one of the pacemakers over the last mile, and at the straight entrance Sea Rover was shading him, with Schwanda, Gay Lyric, Aladdin, Authie and Paia Royal next. Schwanda took the lead just outside the furlong, and then he was passed by Aladdin, which looked in for an easy win until Gay Lyric finished well to run him to a short length. Gay Lyric was always handily placed. He pulled himself to the front at the end of half a mile, only to be steadied behind Brave Company half a mile further on. He appeared to drift in the back straight, but caine again and was finishing on solidly. Schwanda, which went to the front perhaps a little soon, was beaten of! in third place, ahead of Authie, which had been at the rear witn five furlongs to run after breaking badly at the start. Authie did well to finish so close up. Sea Rover, a surprise 2. 4 favourite, was only a fair fifth, with Brave Company next, clear of Paia Royal, Red Chase and Brucus. Defendant broke at the start and lost her chance. Favourites Well Beaten The rout of the favourites continued in the Spring Handicap, the race going to Battle Royal, which had received a perfect trail all the way. Quite Soon and Madam Grattan made most of the pace and at the straight entrance Deportment had run up to shade Quite Soon, with Battle Royal, Ecosse. Father’s Wish. Ingenuity, Madam Grattan and Black Light handiest of the others. Battle Royal took the measure of Deportment at the furlong and he was kept up to his work to win well by two lengths.

DepQrtment was never far from the leaders, and he ran a useful race to take second money two lengths behind the winner, with a similar distance to Ecosse, which had also never been far away. Ingenuity, which had been well back early, finished on for fourth, just ahead of Black Light, which finished well. Father’s Wish made little Impression on the leaders in the run home, and she was sixth, ahead of Quite Soon, Madam Grattan and Flammula, with gaps to Roderick Dhu and Battle Cry’. Battle Cry broke with six furlongs to run. and Blue Admiral was well beaten two furlongs further on. Flammula was always hemmed in on the fence, but she t did not look a possibility at any stage of the race. Ascot lost all chance at the start, and Silver Pine also lost ground. Tactics Wins Again Tactics, an impressive winner at Addington the previous Saturday, gave a sound display to win the Electric Handicap. She began splendidly from an outside position, and was sixth at the end of two furlongs. She waited on the leaders to the straight, where she was on the outside of Gay Dene and Forward, just behind Duncraig, Sydney Victor and Countermark (in line), with Brucus and Imperial Trust handy. Duncraig was beaten outside the furlong and Countermark was left in front. Tactics then made her run in the middle of the track and finished too well for Countermark and Imperial Trust to win going away. Countermark was not disgraced as he broke and lost about 24 yards at the start. He is very well and should soon make amends. Imperial Trust did w’ell to deadheat for second with Countermark. He was towards the rear most of the way and finished on well under pressure. Inglewood, which broke at the start, made up ground for fourth, just ahead of Forward, with Brucus and First Mate next, clear of Sydney Victor and Duncraig. When Duncraig dropped back slightly. Gay Dene put a foot through a wheel of his sulky. Merval Wins Easily Merval outclassed the field in the Oxford Handicap even though she was very slow to begin and was forced to race wide out all the way. Her race at Addin eton the previous Saturday had resulted in great improvement. Clean Sweeo made the pace and at the straight entrance she was still in front, from Ohio, Alkin, Spring Edition. Royal Brigade and Brava, with Merval right up wide out. Merval finished solidly to take the measure of the opposition with 150 yards to run. and she won very easily by four lengths. It was an outstanding performance and now that she has struck form she should carry on. Spring Edition’s second placing was a worth-while effort. She had to sprint in the early stages of the race to be handy, and she had no respite in the running. She was a half-length in front of Brava, which finished on well over the last bit, with three lengths to Alkin. which received a good trail all the way. Clean Sweep and Ohio dead-heated for fifth, with Royal Brigade right up. and Rosy Morn and Regalia at the head of the others. Recent Choice. Eureka Scott, Virginia Scott, Bonny Brogue and Trout Stream all broke at the start. With four and a half furlongs to run Eureka Scott and Fair Annette locked wheels and lost their drivers, neither of whom was injured. Results:— WELCOME HANDICAP, Of £375. Trotters. 3min 38sec class. One mile and a half. 8. 9— L F. Berkett’s EXCELLENZA by Quite Sure—Loris aged 24 W. S. Cummings 1|

9. B—W. Thomson's Redale 6yrs 24 G. L. Mitchell 2 2. I—R. H. Butterick’s Black Pegasus aged 24 ~ .. Owner 3 7, 7 Bedelia; 6, 6 Idealist; -3, 4 Fairy Dell; 12, 12 Little Ann; 13, 13 Alandale; 5, 5 Royal Marine; 10, 10 Sure Phoebe: 1. 2 Fingal’s Cave; 11, 11 Crystal Light; 4, 3 General Lee also started. Half a head; 10 lengths. Fingal’s Cave was fourth. Times—3min 31 3-ssec, 3min 31 4-ssee, 3min 33 4-ssec. (Mile rate: 2min 21sec.) Winner trained by owner, Weedons. Dividends.—Win: £l6 16s. Places: £4 19s, £4 16s 6d, £1 18s 6d. AVON HANDICAP Of £650. 3min 25sec class. One mile and a half. • 9. B—P, A. Goodwin’s JACK’S LUCK by Lucky Jack—Phalasia aged scr ; , -J. G. Hamptort _ 1 1. I—R. J. McDonald’s Bronze Indian ; aged scr .. S. A, Edwards 2 2. 2—Mrs M. Rice’s Barrier Reef aged 12 .. .. .. D. G. Jones 3 4, 5 Casacando; 6, 7 Cincinnatus; 3, 3 Rola Veyor; 11, 11 Wentworth; 8, 9 Ballymena; 7, 6 Gretna Green; 10, 10 Maid Myra; 5, 4 Scottish Greetings also started. Nose; neck, Rola Veyor was fourth. Times—3min 29 3-ssec, 3min 29 4-ssec, 3min 29sec. (Mile rate: 2min 19 4-ssec.) Winner trained by J. G. Hampton, Belfast. Dividends,—Win: £24 14s 6d. Places: £5 4s fid. £1 Bs, £1 13s 6d. BRIGHTON HANDICAP, Of £375. 3min 33sec class. One mile and a half. 3. 3—W. D. Robinson, G. Francis, and C. G. Humphries’s KING S ORDER by Light Brigade—lmperial Worthy 4yrs scr .. .. M. Holmes 1 12. 12, — P. A. Watson’s Direct Link aged scr R. S. Clayton 2 5. 5—K. J. Tarrant’s Lady French 6yrs scr .. .. K. E. Tarrant 3 19. 19 Charleston; 8. 8 Cherry Queen; 2,2 d’Artagnan; 6, 6 Flower Girl; 11, 14 Grattan Bay; 1, 1 Invicta; 13, 11 Marathon; 14, 15 Marching Girl; 15, 13 National Lady; 18, 18 Nouvelle; 4, 4 Pacific bracketed Rocky Reef; 10, 10 Sayonara; 17, 17 Sheffield’s Pride; 16, 16 Springwater; 7, 7 Sure Terra; 20 . 20 First Class; 9, 9 Lady Jane also started. Length and a half; four lengths. Grattan Bay was fourth. Times—3min 28sec, 3min 28 2-ssec, 3min 29 l-ssec. (Mile rate: 2min 18 4-ssec.) Winner trained by O. G. Oakley, Yaldhurst. Dividends.—Win: £6 2s 6d. Places: £2 9s, £lO Ils 6d, £3 9s 6d. JOHNS HANDICAP, Of £1250. 4min 32sec class. Two miles. 1. I—P. A. Watson's ALADDIN by Grattan Loyal—Anita Patch syrs 24 M. Holmes 1 ' 8. B—C. A. W’inter’s Gay Lyric 6yrs 12 .. .. G. Cameron 2 1. I—V. W. Russell’s Schwanda 6yrs 24 .. .. .. N. L. Berkett 3 5, 5 Authie; 9, 9 Defendant; 12, 12 Springston’s Pride; 3,2 Brave Company; 10, 10 Diamed; 4, 3 Paia Reyal; 11, 11 Relight; 2, 4 Sea Rover; 7, 6 Brucus; 6, 7 Red Chase also started. Three-quarters of a length; six lengths. Authie was fourth. Times—4min 34 4-3 sec, 4min 36sec, 4min 36 2-ssec. (Mile rate: 2min 17 2-ssec.) Winner trained by N. L. Berkett, Yaldhurst. Dividends.—Win: £3 17s 6d. Places: £2 15s, £2 14s. First and third horses bracketed. SPRING HANDICAP, Of £650. Trotters. 3min 33sec class. One mile and a half. 7. 7—L. M. Denton and F. E. Sutton’s BATTLE ROYAL by Light • Brigade—Regal Lady aged 12 M. Holmes 1 8. 9—A. T. Smith’s Deportment aged 24 .. N. Watson 2 10. 10—J. Baxter’s Ecosse aged 12 J. G. Hampton 3 15, 16 Dainty Joe; 4, 4 Flammula; 9, 8 Madam Grattan; 13, 13 Quite Soon; 5, 5 Silver Pine: 16, 17 Sabre Dance; 14, 15 Sandy Duval; 2, 3 Battle Cry, 1, 1 Blue Admiral; 3,2 Black Light bracketed Ascot; 11, 11 Ingenuity; 12_. 14 Roderick Dhu; 6, 6 Father’s Wish also started.

Two lengths; same. Ingenuity was fourth. Times, 3min 30 4-ssec, 3min 30 l-ssec, 3min 31 3-ssec. (Mile rate, 2min 20 3-ssec.) Winner trained by W. M. Denton, Yaldhurst. Dividends—Win: £lB 16s. Places: £5 2s, £5 6s, £-7 Is. CAMBRIDGE HANDICAP, Of £5OO. 3min 30sec class. One mile and a half. 4. s—B. Jones’s EXCELSA by Young Bob—Wexford Rose 4yrs 12 . „ L. O. Thomas 1 1- 2—H. C. Steel’s Royal Cameo 6yrs 12 .. .. R. Donald 2 2. I—W. J. T. Lochhead’s Scottish Note 4yrs 12 .. S. A. Edwards 3 13, 14 Penno’s Pride; 8, 8 Rewa Scott bracketed Early Delivery; 12, 12 Robin Gay; 6, 6 Royal Hall; 11, 11 Christmas Spirit; 3, 3 Distant Star; 10, 10 Makarewa bracketed Shillelah; 5, 4 Black Wings; 9, 9 Lucky Scholar; 7, 7 Sally Walla; 14, 13 Wyvern also started. Length and a half; two lengths. Black Wings was fourth. Times, 3min 27sec, 3min 27 l-ssec, 3min 27 3-ssec. (Mile rate, 2mm 18sec.) Winner trained by L. O. Thomas. Spreydon. Dividends—Win: £7 Is. Places: £2 17s. £1 16s 6d, £1 16s 6d. OXFORD HANDICAP, Of £650. 3min 23sec class. One mile and a half. 1. I—Mrs W. T. Lowe’s MERVAL by U. Scott—Roseal 6yrs 12 I. M. Scoon 1 3. 2—M. Duffy’s Spring Edition 6yrs „ 12 .. •.. . . - W. R. Butt 2 4- 4—G. Francis s Brava syrs scr _ J. D. Litten 3 I - B * nn S r Brogue; 13, 12 Regalia; 11. 10 Reko; 5, 5 Rosy Morn; 2, 3 Trout Stream; 10, 9 Alkin; 9, 8 Clean Sweep; 12, 13 Eureka Scott; 3,2 Fair Annette bracketed Spring Edition; 15, 15 Kapeen; 7 6 Lindy Lou; 6, 7 Ohio; 14, 14 Recent Choice; 8, 11 Royal Brigade; 16, 16 Virginia Scott also started. Four lengths; half. Alkin was fourth. Times. 3min 24 2-ssec. 3min 25 l-ssec, 3min*26 2-ssec. (Mile rate, 2min 10 2-ssec.) Winner trained by I. M. Scoon Rakaia. Dividends.—Win: £3 3s 6d. Places: £1 17s, £1 18s, £2 os. ELECTRIC HANDICAP, Of £750. 2min 45sec class. One mile and a quarter. 1- I—A. A, Wilson’s TACTICS by Light Brigade—Nell Grattan 6yrs ® cr _ • • • ■ • • M. Holmes 1 2- 2—-F. B. Clark and C. J. Ferrier’s Countermark 6yrs scr C. R. Berkett t 4. 3—T. Lilley’s Imperial Trust aged _ 12 _ • - .. A. M. Purdon t 9, 9 Brucus; 8, 10 Fallacy; 7, 5 First Mate; 3, 6 Forward; 6, 4 Gay Dene; 5, 7 Inglewood; 11, 11 Sydney Victor; 10, 8 Duncraig also started. Two lengths; dead-heat. Inglewood was fourth. Times. 2min 51 2-ssec, 2min 51 4-ssec. 2min 50 4-ssec. (Mile rate, 2min 17 l-ssec.) Winner trained by M. Holmes, Riccarton. Dividends.—Win: £3 Is 6d. Places: £1 14s, £2 3s 6d (Countermark), £2 18s 6d (Imperial Trust). WELLINGTON TROTTING CLUB (Inc.). ACCEPTANCES. Because the Trials at Christchurch have been Postponed until Tuesday, acceptances for the First Day of the Wellington Trotting Club’s September meeting have been POSTPONED until 5 p.m. Tomorrow (Tuesday). W. PERE, Secretary. , Advt.

Ashburton R.C. Entries Nominations for the Trotting Events at the spring meeting will close on Monday. 31st inst., at 4 p.m. —Advt.