WESTLAND CLUB’S MEETING

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

WESTLAND CLUB’S MEETING

RACING

PRIM LADY WINS DECISIVELY

Prim Lady had a clear-cut success in the Lakes Handicap, the principal event and first leg of the double on the opening day of the Westland Racing Club’s meeting at Hokitika on Saturday, which was held in fine though overcast weather. There was a large attendance. When the pacemaker, Whltecombe Jack, weakened at the three furlongs, Prim Lady took over, but was hotly challenged by Eastern Friend, but Prim Lady drew away over the last 100 yards to win comfortably by a length and a half from Eastern Friend, with Detroit three lengths back. Then came Escalado, Lights On, and Whitecombe Jack.

Prim Lady has raced most generously recently for her Christchurch owners, Mr and Mrs C. L. Kettle, and the Kaiata trainer, C. J. Walsh, had her in excellent order. She was capably ridden by E. G. Low. Prim Lady did not respond to the whip when challenged by Eastern Friend halfway down the straight, and her rider immediately fcode her with hands and heels, and the Rhodes Scholar—Masquerade six-year-old mare responded immediately. County Tyrone slipped and fell after half a mile, but neither horse nor rider, G. W. Mein, was ipjured. Detroit, the surprise favourite, was always handily placed to be a moderate third. Prim Lady was a firm favourite on the doubles totalisator in the first leg. carrying more than one-third of the total investments. The winning doubles combination, Prim Lady and Finir, returned a dividend of £l2 13s for £l. The totalisator handled £11,490, compared with £12,588 15s on the first day last year. Colonel Hunt’s Success The locally-owned three-year-old colt Colonel Hunt ran away with the honours in the opening event, the Novice Stakes. Always handy to the leader, Star of Evening, Festive, and Lamaja, Colonel Hunt raced past them at the three furlongs, and though he ran wide at the straight entrance he won by four lengths from Lamaja, which was two lengths clear of Haughty Chief. Then came Silver Sandal. Star of Evening, Sheriff, the warm win favourite, which ran poorly, and Al Capone. A half-brother to Bambalina, by Treasure Hunt from Cloud Dance, Colonel Hunt is owned by Mr W. A. Diedrich, of Kokatahi, who also raced the dam and Bambalina. Colonel Hunt is trained at Riccarton by H. Smith. Fortement Surprises Fortement, which recently changed hands and now races in the interests of Mr F. Dudley, of Atarau, where he is trained, stayed on too well for the three other runners in the Mclntosh Memorial, winning handsomely by a length from Original, with Peter Bruce half a length back and Costello tailing off. Peter Bruce made all the running to the distance, where he began to weaken, and finishing resolutely from the rear Fortement and Original fought out the issue. Fortement was produced in fine order by his new owner. He is an aged gelding by Stourbridge frdm Forte. Peter Bruce was challenged all the way by Costello until the latter’s condition gave out. Costello has had a lengthy spell and looked burly. He will benefit greatly by the race. He now races in the interests of his trainer. C. J. Walsh, of Kaiata.

Narrow Win Canyon Maid won narrowly though well from Scrum and Royal Scroll in the Houston Memorial Hack Handicap. Canyon Maid finished resolutely to win by half a length from Scrum, which just shaded Royal Scroll, the pace-maker to the distance. After the placed horses came Hermes, Adowa, and Air Comfort. Several runners ran wide going out of the straight, including Tarawingee, Kandahar, Lucky Deal, Air Comfort, and Ideal Robe. Canyon Maid has won previously on the circuit. She is a five-year-old mare by Paper Boy from Our Rose, and is trained at Waimate by W. Barr tor Mr V. J. Meehan.

Close Finish There was a close finish in the Royal Hack Handicap, the second leg of the double, Finir just getting up to beat Ra in a photo-finish, with Elsie Mary weakening into third place a length further back. Then cajne Peter Bruce, Prince Crusader, Jolly Miller, and Balloch Prince. Balloch Prince made all the running to the home turn from Ra and Elsie Mary, where Ra took over, but Finir finished full of running to win by a short head. Trained at Riccarton by F. A. Roberts for his wife, Finir was a warm favourite on the win machine, but Elsie Mary was favourite on the double machine. Finir is a four-year-old mare by Finis from Salutation.

Results:— NOVICE STAKES, of £100; six furlongs. —3, 2 COLONEL HUNT 8-10 E. G. Low 1; 6, 7 Lamaja 8-10 L. Woodhouse 2; 5, 5 Haughty Chief 8-5 N. Eastwood 3. 1, 1 Sheriff; 8, 7 Aglow; 10, 12 Festive; 7, 8 Flying Owl; 2, 3 Star of Evening; 4, 4 Al Capone; 12, 6 Red Magic; 11, 11 Margaret Jane also started. Four lengths; two lengths. Time, Imin 16 3-ssec. Dividends.—Win: £4 12s 6d. Places: £1 7s, £5 Bs, £4 9s. J. J. McINTOSH HACK HANDICAP, of £150; one mile.—4 FORTEMENT 7-0 B. Hillis 1; 3 Original 7-7 N. Eastwood 2; 1 Peter Bruce 8-2 G. Mein 3. 2 Costello also started. Head; half length. Time, Imin 45sec. Dividend. —Win: £6 17s. FEBRUARY HANDICAP TROT, of £140; 2min 23sec class; one mile.—3, 2 ROLLING STONE scr G. Bennett 1; 1, 3 Scottish Ensign scr M. McClintock 2; 2, 1 Chancely 12 J. A. Bates 3. 4, 5 Charlotte Belle; 5, 7 Dawn Parade; 7, 4 Kauru Boy; 9, 8 Rollito; 4, 5 Silver Casket; 8, 9 Ipso Facto also started. Nose; four lengths. Times.—2min 16 l-ssec, 2min 16 2-ssec, 2min 16sec. Dividends.—Win: £5 0s 6d. Places: £1 8s 6d, £1 9s 6d, £1 7s. LAKES HANDICAP, of £250; one mile.— 2,2 PRIM LADY 7-8 E. G. Low 1; 4, 3 Eastern Friend 7-3 N. Eastwood 2; 1, 1 Detroit 7-12 F. H. Skelton 3. . Length and a half; three lengths. Time, Imin 42 2-ssec. Dividends.—Win: £3 5s 6d. Places: £2 2s 6d, £3 Is. M. H. HOUSTON HACK HANDICAP, of £140; seven furlongs.—4, 4 CANYON MAID 8-0 E. G. Low 1; 7, 7 Scrum 7-2 R. I. Rosewarne 2; 6, 6 Royal Scroll 8-10 C. McDonald 3. 2,2 Tarawingee; 1, 1 Kandahar; 8, 8 Lucky Deal; 10, 10 Adowa; 5, 5 Air Comfort; 9, 9 Ideal Robe also started. Half a length; head. Time, Imin 19 1-5 sec. Dividends.—Win: £6 6s. Places: £2 2s 6d, £3 0s 6d, £2 13s 6d. ROYAL HACK HANDICAP, of £170; one mile and a quarter.—l, 1 FINIR 7-0 N. Eastwood 1; 3, 3 Ra 8-6 R. J. Skelton 2; 2,2 Elsie Mary 9-0 A. J. Stokes 3. 5, 5 Balloch Prince; 7, 7 Jolly Miller; 6, 6 Prince Crusader also started. Half head; length. Time, 2min 10 4-ssec. Dividends.—Win: £2 8s 6d. Places: £1 13s 6d, £2 3s. PRESIDENT’S HANDICAP TROT, of £140; 3min 37sec class; one mile and a half and 63 yards.—3, 3 WINSOME GIRL scr P. Jones 1; 2,2 Rolling Stone 48 G. Bennett 2; 7, 7 Rillito scr N. A. McGuinness 3. . , „ 6, 5 Kauru Boy; 1, 1 Chancely; 4, 4 Enterprise also started. Six lengths; half length. Times.—3min 32sec, 3min 29 2-ssec, 3min 34sec. Dividends.—Win: £3 19s. Places: £2 2s, £1 15s. STEWARDS’ HACK HANDICAP, of £140: six furlongs.—4, 6 EASY WAY 7- W. D. Skelton 1; 2,2 Eastern Friend 8- E. G. Low 2; 11, 11 Ideal Robe 7-2, R. Rosewarne 3. _ 1, 1 Double Paper: 5, 3 Jesse James; 6, 5 Tom Bowling; 3. 4 London Lights; 9, 9 Our Treasure; 10, 10 Kanuka; 8, 7 White Clover also started. Length; two lengths. Time, Imin 15sec. Dividends.—Win: £8 9s. Places: £3 2s, £1 17s 6d, £l3 12s.