SPRING CUP TO RIBANDS

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27150, 21 September 1953, Page 4

SPRING CUP TO RIBANDS

BRILLIANT WIN ON HEAVY TRACK

MERRYMAKER AT LONG ODDS

Ribands, which has been invited to race at the New Zealand Trotting Cup meeting, gave a brilliant display to win the £5OOO Spring Cup at Harold Park on Saturday night. After a keen du.»l with Recovered all the Way up the straight he prevailed by a nose. The track was soft and the race was run in rain.

Ribands had been beaten by Recovered on one of the earlier days of the meeting in a free-for-all and on Saturday night he conceded Recovered 24 yards. Ribands was a little slow, but soon settled into his stride. In most of his races his trainer-driver, P. J. Hall, has rushed him round the field to the lead, but on Saturday night he restrained him at the rear of tne field. With six furlongs to run Hall sent him after the leaders and he raced six wide into the straight with half a mile to run. He maintained his run wide out to be handy to Recovered turning for home. They fought out a desperate finish with the brilliant Lawn Derby five-year-old getting in the deciding stride on the line. According to radio commentators the performance of Ribands was one of the finest ever seen on Harold Park, especially when it is considered that he races best on firtn ground. The Wintoh-bred Bruce Hall, which had been handy all the way, held on for third a length back, just beating the faster-finishing New Zevland-owned Laureldale, with the pacemaker, Astrophe next, ahead of Scimitar, Lawnrock and Palava. Chamfer and Goldina were two of the last to finish. Merrymaker’s Win The Yaldhurst-bfed Lucky Jack gelding, Merrymaker, caused the surprise of the meeting when he beat the favourite, Avondale, in the Spring Handicap Final, which carried a stake of £2500. The Chrfstchufch-owned Mecca Chief was the pacemaker, with Merrymaker being kept up to his work to hold his position about three places back. Mecca Chief set a strong pace and at the straight entrance he was shading Merrymaker, with Heather Brigade and Avondale challenging.

Merrymaker had the measure of Mecca Chief halfway down the straight, but he had to be driven right out to hold off Avondale by half a head. A photo was called for to decide the finish and it was five minutes before the judge announced his decision, the longest delay since the apparatus was installed at Harold Park. Merrymaker was a useful winner for his breeder and trainer, O. E. Hooper, before he was sold towards the end of last season. His win on Saturday night was his first since being sent to Australia.

Mecca Chief battled on Solidly in the straight to win the £lB5 attached to third placing. He Was a heck behind Avondale, with Uncle Joe fourth, .clear of First Test, Heather Brigade and Orari, which broke n badly at the start. Sailor’s Globe also lost his chance at the start. Ambassador recorded another placing When he finished third to North Mall and Silent Silver in the Maroubra Handicap. Victory Dale, which started at 7 to 1, looked a little unlucky to be beaten by the veteran New Zealand pacer, Chedworth Hall, in the Bondi Handicap. Victory Dale broke badly at the start and lost ground. He was forced to race Wide out to get handy to the leaders. He fought on strongly in the straight, only to go under by a neck, with a similar distance to the favourite. Handsome Robert. Results

SPRING CUB, Of £5OOO. Thirteen and a half furlongs. P. and Mrs Kelloway’s RIBANDS by Lawn Derby—Marie Walla syrs 36

_ P. J. Hall 1 Recovered aged 12 .. F. W. Peterson 2 Bruce Hall aged 12 .. H. S. Mazoudier 3 Nose; length. Laureldale was fourth. Time, 3min 40 2-ssec. 6 to 4, 9 to 2, 8 to 1. Dividends £2 15s - plac es: £1 12s, £1 14s, £2 ss.

SPRING HANDICAP FINAL, Of £2500. Thirteen and a half furlongs. A. T. Cusick and J. R. Henderson’s Merrymaker by Lucky Jack—Arietta aged 12 .. .. j. Kelly 1 Avondale 6yrs 12 .. .. S. W. Bray 2 Mecca Chief 6yrs scr .. w. Picked 3 . ft. hcsdi ' tSck - Uncle Joe was fourth. Time, 3hun 45 1-bsec. Odds: 100 to 1, 6 to 4, 12 to 1. Dividends (for £1): Win: £62 14s. Places: £l2 17s, £1 Ils, £3 19s. STEWARDS WITHDRAW LADY JOSS (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) -T rr SYDNEY, September 19. Tne New Zealand mare, Lady Joss, will not start in the £5OOO Spring Cup at HaroJd Park tonight, the richest trotting rate of the seasoh. „ r s | acting for the New South Trotting Club have ordered the of Lady Jqss because the conditions provide that her acceptance for the Spring Handicap make het tiutoCup* Cally inellgible tb ruh in th ® Spring The New Zealand mare was equal second favourite for the cUp. C. H- Fairman, who brought Lady Joss and Blue Mist to Sydney specially for the Spring racing carnival, has been unlucky. Blue Mist slipped a shoulder muscle last week and will be out of action for two or three weeks.

HANDICAPS METHVEN CLUB Handicaps for the Methven Trotting Club's meeting Oh Saturday are:— DRAYTON TROT HANDICAP, of £200; trotters; 4min class; one mile and five furlongs.—Billy Galindo, Centennial Star, Circlette, Component, Demimonde, Elate, First Dictator, Jean Able, Ladas, Lady Biddy, GiCngailah, Marawiti, Merry Leader, Meteoric, Morning Mist, Night Wihd, Preferable, Recruit, Remodel, Robin’s Gift, Scotty Grattan, Suredale, Te Waihopi, Victory Cheer scr; Kowhai, Pridola Sure Pip 24. WfcSTWARD HO HANDICAP, of £200; 3min 56sec class; one mile and five furlongs. (to be run as two races). —Abbey SCott, Adah, Adriatic, Air Command, Annie Laurie, Bedivus, Bobby Brigade, Bonnie Castle, Bonny Argyle, Deveron, Fervent Scott, Frigate, Gold Light, Highland Hall, Hurricane, Kauru Boy, Kilcullen, KingsdoWn Grattan, Larnie Scott, Loch Maree, Mighty Fine, New Look, Night Flare, Patience, Perplexed, Sandy Rey, Sandy RiVer, Skirl, Springvale, Superior Globe, Supersonic, Supreme Prince, Triple Crown, Tui Scott, Vanolo, Wings, Zola scr; Agricola 12; Onward 36; Ductile, Sir Benjamin 48. MOUNT HARDING HANDICAP, of £250; 3min 52sec class; one mile and five furlongs.—Camille, Credulous, Dancing Years, d’Artagnan, Ddctile, Frostivus, Green Label, Jet Control, Killarney Lady, Little Toff, Marathon, Moor, Red Hackle, Sandygowan, Sayonata, SprihgWater, Sure Terra scr; Direct Link 12; Mighty Imp 24; Royal Present 36; Lady Jane 60. METHVEN CUP HANDICAP, of £1070; ! 4rhin 32sec class; tWo miles.—Alkin, Archaic, Barrier Reef (T.), Defendant, Fair 1 Annette. High Class, His Majesty, May- ’ Cnga, Merval, Retard, Royal Biigade, Spring Edition sCr; Brave Company, Diamed, Gay Lytic, Sea Rover, Sir Leon- ' ard, Poranui 12; Battleground, Schwanda ■ 24.

AVONMORE HANDICAP, of £350; 3min 48sec class; one mile and five furlongs.— Charles, Denver Hall, Direct Link, Eatly Delivery. Flywheel, Gift, Goldship, Hihepo Lotaine, Loyal Jane, Makarewa, Pipe Dteam, Royal Hall, Royal Present, Silver Wood scr; Grattan Bay, Lisnaskea, Royal Cameo, Sure Wood, Lady lane 12; Sally Walla 24; Valour 48. RIVERBANK HANDICAP, of £315; trotters] 3min 56sec Class; one mile and five futlorigs.—Fairy Dell, Lillian Dale scr; Allandaie, Beau Scott, Bishops Cleeve, Black Pegasus, Combateer, Sure Phoebe 12; Don’t Regret, Executive 24; Crystal Light, Dainty Joe, Quite Soon, Royal Marine 48; Fingal’s Cave, Silver Pine 60. S. G. HOLMES MEMORIAL HANDICAP, of £58O; 2min 51sec class- one mile and a quartet.—Barrier Reef (T.), Dillon d’Oro, Drucilla, Gratlculate, Gteehwich, Hillsborough, Imperial Lord, Lexeter, Mighty Falla, Moreta, Peter Polo, Sally Walla, Silver Circle, Special Globe, Stormy Ways, Waihi Princess, Walnut Jimmie, Waroohga, Wyvern, Young Salute, Young Sam, Valour scr; Black Wings, Direct PoWer, Jeopardy, Kimberley, Kuhla, Mighty Maori, Rola Veyor, Wentworth 12; Brava, Chief Lochiel, Trout Stream 24.