CANTERBURY PARK MEETING

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27274, 15 February 1954, Page 4

CANTERBURY PARK MEETING

TROTTING

President’s Handicap To

Onward

VODKA SETS WINNING RECORD

Onward won his eighth race in nine weeks and brought his earnings for the period to £2934 10s when he won the President’s Handicap, the main race at the Canterbury Park Trotting Club’s autumn meeting at Addington on Saturday. After being handily placed all the way Onward finished strongly to beat Countermark and Brucus.

Trained by A. M. Purdon at Prebbleton for Messrs V. and W. Davies and R. Taylor, who race him on lease from Mr R. C. Idiens, Onward is a six-year-old gelding by Dillon Hall from Stirling Lady, a member of the renowned Miss Fortune family. His win on Saturday was most convincing, and his 3min 27 3-ssec for the mile and five furlongs was fast.

Countermark's effort to finish second was a feature of the race. He was very slow after starting from 24 yards, and his task looked hopeless at the end of three furlongs. He soon made up ground and raced three and four sulkies out for six furlongs to get handy to the leaders. He appeared to have the race won with half a furlong to run, but he could not withstand Onward’s finish. Countermark is back to his best again, and the first time he begins reasonably well he should win. Vodka established his second New Zealand and Australian record in less than four weeks when he won the Holmes Handicap. The Logan Derby six-year-old trotted the mile and five furlongs in 3min 27sec, 4-ssec better than the previous winning record held by Gold Horizon. Vodka’s time was 3-ssec outside his own New Zealand' record for the distance, established when he was beaten by Slipstream at the Royal meeting last month.

Vodka gave one of the finest dis-i plays of trotting seen at Addington for] a long time. His owner-driver, J. S. j Shaw, got him away smartly, and he did not add much to his handicap of 60 yards before he was really into his stride. He raced in the middle of the field for most of the race, but with about half a mile to run he was sent after the leaders, and followed Excellenza into the straight He soon went to the front and won with something in hand. Vodka is rapidly developing into one of the greatest straight-out trotters seen in the country. Saturday’s win brought Vodka’s Btake-eamings to £9265, of which £5170 has been won this season. When first brought to the South Island Vodka was very nervous at the start of his races, but he has gradually gained confidence. His improvement at the barrier has been most marked this season, and is a credit to his young Riccarton trainer, N. K. McKenzie.

Other fine races on Saturday were Tun by Star Rosa. Excelsa, Chandelier. and Moss HalL

There were 3492 winning 5s tickets on the Excelsa-Moss Hall doubles combination, which returned £24 9s for £l. The meeting was held in hot weather before a moderate attendance. The track was in good order. Totalise tor investments for the day amounted to £87,043 10s, including £ < <62 10s on the double, compared with £88.458 10s last year. Onward’s Win Onward returned to form with a decisive win in the President’s Handicap He began well, and at the end of two furlongs raced round the field into the lead. Diamed took the lead two furlongs further on, and Onward dropped back on the rails to third. Clontarf took over from Our Roger in the straight with a round to go, but she was soon beaten, and Our Boger was clear at the half-mile post. Countermark took charge with more than two furlongs to run, and he turned into the straight ahead of Brucus, Our Roger, and Onward, with two lengths to Roschana, Springston’s Pride. Brave Company, Sea Rover, and Star Rosa.

Counter nark appeared to have the race won inside the furlong, but Onward, Which was confidently driven, took his measure about 80 yards from the post and won well by a length. Counter mark’s placing was full of merit He had been slow at the start and was the last of the bunch at the end of three furlongs. He raced round the field and covered extra ground before he took the iead. He fought on surprisingly well in the straight to be a nose in front of Brucus. which ran his best race for some time. Star Rosa made up ground for fourth. six lengths back, just shading Brave ; Company, with Brava, Roschana, Magel- • lan. and Sprinfston’s Pride next. Battleground broke badly at the start, i and First Victory was a little slow. Vodka Wins Brilliantly Vodka gave a brilliant display of trotting to win the Holmes Handicap. He began well and quickly made up ground to be tenth at the end of five furlongs. He stayed in that position for a time, and then moved up two places at the half-mile post. He then set out after the leaders, and just over a furlong further on he was lying second behind Excellenza, which led him into the straight ahead of Slipstream, Blue Admiral, Swanee River, Indomitable, and Fair Isle, with Correction also showing up. Vodka soon took the measure of Excellenza and he won well by a length. Slipstream ran another useful race for second. He was handily placed all the way, but allowed Vodka to get a break on him with three furlongs to run. He finished solidly, and may soon win again. Excellenza, which broke at the start and soon settled down, battled on for third a short length behind Slipstream, with two lengths to Swanee River, which had difficulty working clear racing to the straight. Indomitable ran another useful race for fifth, ahead of Fair Isle and Correction, ■with four lengths to Barrier Reef at the head of the others. » Roderick Dhu, Precaution, Blue Admiral, and Lady Inchcape lost ground early. Bonus and Sandyshore became entangled before the end of a furlong, and C. M. Laing, driver of Bonus, was thrown from the sulky. Sprint to Star Rosa Star Rosa, which had run a great race in the President’s Handicap earlier In the day, outstayed a high-class field of sprinters in the Otley Handicap. Gay Lyric began best and he set a scorching pace with Star Rosa handily placed in about fourth or fifth place. Star Rosa was third with a half a mile to run, and at the straight entrance she was on terms with Brava, just behind Gay Lyric, 'with Poranui- and Thelma Globe handy, well clear of Countermark. Gay Lyric tired over the last furlong and Star Rosa went to the front. She ran on well under pressure to win by two lengths. Gay Lyric ran his best race for some ■time to hold on for second, half a head in front of the back-marker, Thelma Globe. Thelma Globe was slow to get into her stride, but once she became balanced she showed great speed. Poranui raced well for fourth. She was slow away, and then was badly checked when Au Revoir broke near the half-mile post. Her effort to finish so close up was a feature of the race. Brava battled on for a close fifth, 10 lengths in front of Zulu and Countermark. Countermark, Tactics, and Ohio lost ground early, and Ohio broke in the running. When Au Revoir broke he checked Poranui and Imperial Trust, and several of the other runners had to race wide out to escape trouble. Excelsa in Form Excelsa raced well to win the Harewood Handicap, The Young Bob mare was •well handled by R. Young. She broke ■when the tapes were released, but she soon settled into her stride and dropped In behind Wai hi Princess. She went to the front at the end of a furlong and a half, and set a sound pace. Midnight moved up to be handy to Excelsa at the straight entrance, with Wai hi Princess, Recent Choice, Amiable, Rajah, Grange Lady, and Frigate next. Excelsa was challenged inside the furlong by Midnight and then Waihi Princess. They had a keen duel, Excelsa fighting back strongly to win by half a head from Midnight, which ran another sound race for his placing. Waihi Princess, which had every chance, ran her best race for some time to take third place half a length behind Midnight, clear of Bronze Indian, which did not have a good run. Grange Lady finished strongly from well back for a close fifth, ahead of Recent Choice, Amiable, and Lindy Lu, with the favourite. Frigate, at the head of the others. Rajah, Frigate, Virginia Scott, Super Globe, Scottish Note. Lindy Lou. and Mighty Falla were among those to give ground at the start. Results:— YALDHURST HANDICAP, Of £4SC. Trotters. 3min 55sec class. One mile and five furlongs. 4- 5—H. J. Hewson’s QUEEN’S BRIGADE by Light Brigade—Boydon’s Gift aged scr Owner 1 8 3—J. M. Williamson’s Executive 6yrs 24 Owner 2 IB 17—J. W. CUffortJ’s Alandale aged scr Owner 3 6, 6 Anitra; 10, 10 Beau ScotU- 13, 14 Bishop's Cleeve: 9, 9 Conjbateer; 13, 16 Gallant Charger; 7, 7 Oaktree; 5, 4 Pylon; 1. 1 Seaforth: 16, 15 Sure Phoebe; 2.2 Wee Raider. 12. 12 Efficient; 15, 13 Idealist; 19, 19 Braeval; 16, 18 Crystal Light; 8, 8

I Quite Soon and Citronella bracketed; 11, j 11 Madam Grattan also started. : Length; three lengths. Madam Grattan was placed fourth. Times—3min 42sec, |3min 40 l-ssec, 3min 42 4-ssec (mile rate, 2min 16 3-ssec). Winner trained bv owner, Kaikoura. Dividends.—Win: £8 15s. Places; £3 2s 6d, £2 16s 6d, £l7 17s 6d. PROBATIONARY HANDICAP, Of £450. 4mn 44sec cla&. Two miles. 1 ‘ W - G - Ir ving’s DANCING YEARS by Dillon Hall—Princess Napoleon 4yrs 24 .. R. Stockdale 1 4. 4—A. L. Mugford’s Tiny Scott aged , *8 • • - C. Kerr 2 3. 3—D. Green s Quite Obvious 4yrs I • . ■ - - - H. E. Fine 3 2.2 Esteem: 6, 7 Treviso; 7, 6 Lucky (Scholar; 5, 5 Sandman also started. j Five lengths; 16 lengths. Treviso was fourth. Times—4min 43sec, 4min 42sec, ;4mm 49 l-ssec (mile rate, 2min 21 3-ssec). i Winner trained by M. Holmes. Yaldhurst. ! Dividends.—Win: £1 16s. Places: £1 Is 6d, £2 4s. £1 18s. HAREWOOD HANDICAP, 'Of £7OO. 3min 23sec class. One mile and a half. 2. 2—M. Baker and B. Jones’s EXCELSA by Young Boh—Wexford Rose 4yrs scr .. R. Young 1 6- 5—A. Holmes’s and J. Shelly’s Mid-- ,® lght syrs scr -■ T - Webster 2 12. 12—O. M. Scott’s Waihi Princess aged scr .. .. C. F. King 3 5.6 Amiable; 1,1 Frigate; 3,3 Mighty Falla and Lindy Lou bracketed; 11, 11 Rajah; 9, 10 Bronze Indian; 15, 15 Eureka Scott; 10. 9 Grange Lady; 14. 14 Ice Drift; 7. 7 Recent Choice; 8, 8 Scottish Note; 16, 16 Super Globe; 4, 4 Trout Stream; 13. 13 Virginia Scott also started. Half a head; half a length. Bronze Indian was fourth. Times—3min 12 4-ssec, 3min 13sec, 3min 13 l-ssec (mile rate. 2min 8 3-ssec). Winner trained by L. O. Thomas. Spreydon. Dividends.—Win: £5 12s. Places: £2 7s, £3 10s 6d. £8 Is 6d. PRESIDENT’S HANDICAP, Of £l2OO. 3min 37sec class. One mile and five furlongs. 1. I—V. and W. Davies and R. Taylor’s ONWARD by Dillon HallStirling Lady 6yrs scr „ „ _ „ A. M. Purdon 1 3. 3—F. B. Clark and C. J. Ferrier’s Countermark 6yrs 24 . C. R. Berkett 2 10- .11 —A. H. Todd’s Brucus 6yrs 24

. . . D. G. Jones 3 2, 4 Battleground; 3. 3 Brave Company bracketed Countermark; 9, 9 Clontarf; 8 8 Diamed; 5. 7 Magellan: 4,2 Our Roger and Brava bracketed; 15, 15 Relight; 16. 16 Sea Rover; 12. 12 Springston’s Pride; 7 6 Vivanti; 14, 13 First Victory; 13, 14 Flight Commander; 6, 5 Roschana; 11, 10 Star Rosa also started. Length; nose. Star Rosa was fourth. Times—3min 27 3-ssec. 3min 25 4-ssec, 3min 26sec (mile rate, 2min 7 4-saec.) Winner trained by A. M. Purdon, Prebbleton. Dividends.—Win: £3 10s. Places: £1 i 16s, £2, £8 14s 6d. I WIGRAM HANDICAP, lOf £BOO. 3min 39sec class. One mile and five furlongs. 1. I—Mrs K. S. Doyle’s MOSS HALL by Golden Shadow—Ann Hall 4yrs 12 .. .. W. R. Butt 1 3. s—O. E. Hooper’s Consul 4yrs 12 „ r, -r -. _ Owner 2 8- 7—L. M. Denton and F. E. Sutton’s Maestro syrs scr _ „ . S. A. Edwards 3 _ 2.2 Chief Lochiel; 11, 10 Knightmare; 5, 4 Flagship; 4, 3 His Majesty; 7, 9 Punt; 9, 8 Rosy Morn; 10, 11 Royal Brigade; 6, 6 Tribal Song also started. Three-quarters of a length: five lengths. Tribal Song finished third, but was placed fourth for interference. Times—3min 32sec, 3min 32 l-ssec. 3min 34 2-ssec (mile rate 2min 10 3-ssec). Winner trained by W. R. Butt, Templeton. Dividends.—Win: £3 10s 6d. Places: £1 9s 6d. £2 16s, £4 7s 6d. HOLMES HANDICAP, Of £lOOO. Trotters. 3min 44sec class. One mile and five furlongs. 2. 2—J. S. Shaw’s VODKA by Logan Derby—Cyone Girl 6yrs 60 Owner 1 1. I—Sir John McKenzie’s Slipstream aged scr .. G. B. Noble 2 6. 5—L. F. Berkett’s Excellenza aged scr C. R. Berkett 3 6, 5 Roderick Dhu and Sandyshore bracketed Excellenza; 5, 6 Blue Admiral: 15, 15 Loyal Wrack; 13, 13 Bonus; 4, 4 Globe Son and Correction bracketed; 12, 12 Lady Inchcape; 7, 8 Red Valley; 9, 9 Rewa Scott and Barrier Reef bracketed; 3. 3 Indomitable; 10. 11 Fair Isle; 11, 10 Precaution; 14, 14 Signal Light; 8, 7 Swanee River also started. Length; three-quarters of a length. Swanee River was fourth. Times—3min 27sec. 3tnin 32 1-ssec. 3min 32 2-ssec (mile rate 2min 7 2-ssec). Winner trained by N. K. McKenzie, Upper Riccarton. Dividends.—Win: £4 15s 6d. Places: £2 0s 6d. £1 16s 6d, £3 6s 6d. STROWAN HANDICAP, Of £6OO. 3min 44sec class. One mile and five furlongs. 1. I—D. G. Nyhan’s CHANDELIER by Springfield Globe—Lightning Lady aged 24 Owner 1 2. 2—H. C. Steel’s King’s Blue 4yrs 12 R. Donald 2 5. 4—R. M. Hay’s Radiant Diamond 6yrs 12 .. .. C. S. Hay 3 3, 3 Bright Horizon and Dillon d’Oro bracketed; 6, 8 Charleston: 2,2 Jaunty bracketed King’s Blue. 12, 12 Lady Jane; 10, 10 Merry Gold; 13, 13 Pacific Pace; 5, 4 Chance bracketed Radiant Diamond; 7, 6 King’s Order; 9, 9 Lady Rolleston; 11, 11 Silver Circle; 14. 14 Wentworth; 8, 7 Lady Balfour; 4, 5 Lord Sandy also started. Six lengths; length. Lady Balfour was fourth. Times—3min 28 2-ssec, 3min 30 3-ssec, 3min 30 4-ssec (mile rate 2min 8 l-ssec). Winner trained by owner, Templeton. Dividends.—Win, £3 6s. Places: £1 13s, £1 13s 6d, £3 7s 6d. OTLEY HANDICAP, Of £lOOO. 2min 45sec class. One mile and a quarter. 8. 5—R. A. Hamilton’s STAR ROSA by Gamble—Star Ace aged scr S. A. Edwards 1 10. 11—C. A. Winter’s Gay Lyric 6yrs scr .. . - G. Cameron 2 7. 9—Drs. A. C. and A. S. Sandston’s Thelma Globe aged 36 J. B. Pringle 3 5, 4 Brava; 2,2 Countermark; 12, 12 Paia Royal; 1, 1 Poranui and Imperial Trust bracketed: 4, 8 Au Revoir; 13. 13 Duncraig; 9, 6 Ohio; 3, 7 Tactics; 11, 10 Adorian; 6, 3 Zulu also started. Two lengths; half a head. Poranui was fourth. Times—2min 37 3-ssec, 2min 38sec, 2min 35 l-ssec (mile rate 2min 6sec). Winner trained by S. A. Edwards, Spreydon.

Dividends.—Win: £l2 16s. Places: £3 6s 6d, £5 16s, £3 19s.