ASHBURTON CLUB

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27369, 7 June 1954, Page 5

ASHBURTON CLUB

TROTTING

CADUCEUS WINS N.Z. \ FUTURITY STAKES

/ ICE DRIFT SURPRISES IN HANDICAP

Caduceus proved himself the best three-year-old of the season when he outstayed a good field in the £lOOO New Zealand Futurity Stakes, the main race on the opening day of the i Ashburton Trotting Club’s winter meeting on Saturday? Caduceus had ‘failed to begin correctly in his three ! previous races, and this no doubt explained his win dividend of £2 14s. On Saturday he began brilliantly from the outside of the field, and he worked into the lead with more than one mile to run. He was challenged by Midday inside the furlong, but he easily held him off. Caduceus, which is raced by Messrs Moore Bros., of Wellington, has won the New Zealand Derby Stakes, the New Zealand Champion Stakes, and the Willoughby Norrie Handicap among other races this season, and from 15 starts he has had six wins six placings for £3632 in stakes. 1 Caduceus is trained at West Melton ' by J. D. Litten. On Saturday he was J driven by D. C. Watts, who had won :

earlier in the day with his own horse, Historic. Midday did well to finish so close up after being slow away. These two finished clear of Grand Monarch and Gay Lad. The Tokarahi-trained Ice Drift caused an upset when he beat a strong field in the Durbar Handicap. He was checked in the straight and finished with a strong burst .to head Lindy Lou and Fair Annette. Ice Drift was one of the outsiders in doubles betting, and he carried 7431 10s tickets in a pool of 27,127£. Of these 70J were reinvested on Royal Crown, winner of the Harvest Handicap, the second leg, the combination returning £3lB Os 6d for £l. •Other impressive efforts during the day were by Luckylast, Historic, and Royal Crown. The meeting was held in fine ■weather before a large crowd. The track was in first-class order. Totalisator investments for the day amounted to £52,096, including £4055 10s on the double, compared with

£47,402 last year. N.Z. Futurity Stakes Caduceus finished, too solidly for his opposition in the New Zealand Futurity Stakes after setting the pace over the 'last eight and a half furlongs. Nroalong began best from the inside, - but he did not set a strong pace. At the end of a furlong Caduceus, which started from the outside of the field, was in sixth place handy to the leaders. Caduceus went to the front with more than eight furlongs to run, and he was closely attended by Grand Monarch. These two were together at the furlong, with Midday, Gay Lad I and Nipalong also handy. Midday moved up to Caduceus inside the furlong, and seemed likely to trouble him- However, Caduceus had too much in reserve, and he won comfortably by a length. Midday’s performance was good. He was well back after a slow beginning, and at the mile post he had eight horses in front of him. He had not improved his position racing to the straight, and his effort to finish so close up was most impressive. Grand Monarch, which had every chance, battled on for third three lengths behind Midday, with two lengths to Gay Lad, which just shaded Nipalong. Sure King was four lengths back sixth, three lengths in front of Brahman, with Santa Amada next. Maurice, Brahman, Light Blue, Synchronise and Santa Amada were among those to lose ground at the Ice Drift’s Win lee Drift finished brilliantly after being cheeked at the straight entrance to win the Durbar Handicap. Waihi Princess made most of the pace but she was passed by Straight Eight and Lodestar racing to the straight, where Rajah, Mighty Falla, Scottish Note, Fair Annette, and Lindy Lou were all handy. Mighty Falla and Scottish Note were in front at the furlong, with Fair Annette, Rajah, Lindy Lou. and Lodestar handiest of the others. Ice Drift, which had locked wheels with the breaking Swanee River, and been pushed back through the field at the straight entr?nce, was showing up wide out further back. Jurt .when Lindy Lou appeared to have the measure of the field, Ice Drift ehalj lenged, to head her near the. post and beat her going away by half a length. . Lindy Lcuifen her best race for a long time to finish second, a length in front of Fair Annette, which had never been far away. Mighty Falla, which had raced wide in the early part of the race, was a head back fourth, in front of Scottish Note, with Barcola, Melva Grattan, Rajah and Dillon d’Oro next. Scottish Note, Trout Stream, Melva Grattan, Rowan tar, and Barcola lost ground Luckylast Wins Again Luckylast won her third successive race for M. Holmes when she outclassed the field in the Rakaia Handicap. She began safely from 12 yards, and raced for the first mile in the middle of the field, not far from the pacemakers, Errol’s Pal and Royal Hall. Silver Circle and Isla Devan went to the front with five furlongs to run. and they led into the straight. Racing *° * ron £ Luckylast, which had been gradually making up ground, went to the front ahead of Silver Circle, Sonlight, Isla Devan, Air Command, Luminous, and southern Blade. None of the others I seemed likely to-trouble Luckylast, which I won easily by six lengths. | There was a keen battle for the minor | Prongs. Bedivus finished wide out on I i Sotting up for second, half a | - J sr-gth in front of Biazeworthy, which I strongly. Air Command did I ”2"* to finish fourth after being awkI c Placed racing to the straight. f r ut £ ern Blade, Young Sam, Sonlight, and | tnrols Pal were next. - Label, Tiki Napu and Ebony Hall | *ost ground early In the race. I , Winner From Tinwald | Pylon, after forcing the pace with Sure ’ .over the last mile, ran on too I vTv for Demimonde in the Stewards’ I Pylon and Sure Phoebe were I , ? 2® 5 “ ser .turning into the straight, but racI to the furlong Pylon was clear of ESure Phoebe (tiring), ?ole, Caliph and Don’t Rede challenged Pylon over rds, but had no chance of nd Pylon won convincingly an another sound race for ie was never further back The next time she is :ed in the handicaps over ice she should win. drifting racing to the d impressively for third 10 Demimonde, with a length itropole, Remodel, General i were next. ze, Executive. Chief Eagle, Moth, Alandale, and were among those to make lANDICAP, of £225; trot»c class; two miles.—4, 5 and A. J. Bromby’s b g aydon—Dubonette 6yrs 72 1; 1, 1 Daybreak 6yrs 24 2; 7, 6 Lamie Scott 3yrs ishton 3. liles; 12. 15 Assure; 10, 7 13 Combine: 20, 20 Jean u Boy; 14, 11 Ladas; 15» 14 4 Prestbury; 3, 3. Primaeal Mystery; 6, 8 Super Willowdale; 2,2 Circlette; Has; 13, 12 Bedelia; 18, 16 ilso started. e. Circlette was fourth. 3 l-ssec, 4min 37 2-ssec, (Mile rate: Zmin 16 4-5 rained by A. J. Bromby, in: £l4 13s. Places: £3 £4 5s 6d. HANDICAP, of £225; s: one mile and a half.— I Itts-s b g HISTORIC by Furfurelle 3yrs scr. owner iged scr G. McKendry 2; , yle aged scr J. L. Behrns , tr: 16. 16 Black Invader; ■ 14. 13 Blonde Prince; 4, 3 impton Court; 11, 11 Hazel >cund; 10. 10 Mandoza; 15, J. 6 Pursuance; 9, 7 Sir ! ama also started, s of a length; five. Belah. Times. 3min 19 2-ssec, ■ 3min 20 3-ssec. (Mile ebbfeton Winner trained by ta £ : 4 £ lV 5M - SDICAP, Of £750; 4n'.in 36 miles.—lo. 10 w. B.®Mc- - by Icevus—Avail : Sutherland 1; fl. 9 Lindy , J. Townley 2; 8, 7 Fair ' C. C. Devine 3. 1 I 2 - Camdon; 1, 1 Lode- j J y a Grattan; 9, g Mighty 3 L J, nc L y J Lou; 13 • ™ Rajah; •; 22 Straight Eight: 6, 4 1 . bracketed Dillon d’Oro; « bracketed Fair Anwan ee River: 3, 8 Trout >ttish Note; 15, 15 Maestro ’ leneth. Mighty Falla was ’ 4mm 22 4-ssec, 4min 23 4 *>sec. (Mile rate: 2min 11 J

2-ssec.) Winner trained by I. S. Sutherland, Tokarahi. Dividends.—Wiij: £27 14s. Places: £7 2s, £4 18s. £3 Bs. N.Z. FUTURITY STAKES, of £1000; three-year-olds; one mile and a half.—l, r'A?T-r.PTTc S a P d -Moore’s br c D c wlw. Scott—Little Ada scr D- C. Watts 1,5, 6 A. Holmes and A. L. b £ 5 y Gold Bar—Shep--2.“? s .# r °P k tcr M - Holmes 2: 4, 4 c. R. c - Graßd Monarch by Light Brigade—Safari scr owner 3. 10. 12 Blacksmith; 2, 5 Brahman: 3 2 S™- Light Blue; 14 ’ 14 Maua S Nipalong; 6. 3 Santa Amada: 9, SiSln?...?, 7 JP rin « Walk; 12, 8 rLlrt,? 8 ’ 11 Synchronise also started Length; three flngths. Gay Lad was fourth. Times: 3min 17sec. 3mta 17*“ sec, 3min 17 4-ssee. (Mlle rate: 2min 11 wS C Melton nner traine<i by J - R Utten£2 14s - Places: HARVEST HANDICAP, of £375; 3min 29s<£ class; one milt; and a half.—2 2 J Pr^ a < n ’ s r ch , g CROWN by DirecttSleir—Lucky Choice 4yrs 12 G. McKendry 1; 5, 5 Coincident syrs 12 R. J. May 2; 12, 12 Goldship aged scr L. o' Thomas 3.

; IS, 15 Annie Dillon; 4, 4 Band Queen; , 11, 11 Cherry Queen; 10, 9 Currency; 15 12 Gold Direct; 7, 8 Hinepo; 3, 3 Moko Boy; 17, 16 Pipe Dream; 19, 18 Shillelah; 6, 7 Direct Hall; 14, 15 Double Talk 20, 20 Green Spear; 9. 10 Moor; 13, 14 Reyleen Hall; 8, 6 Romanesque bracketec True Friend; 1, 1 Stadium Chief; 13, 19 Bourbon Lass also started. Neck; three lengths. Stadium Chief was fourth. Times. —3min 15sec, 3min 15 1-5 sec, 3min 16 4-ssec. (Mile rate: 2min lOsec.) Winner trained by owner, KerryDividends.—Win: £5 5s 6d. Places: £1 17s, £4 8s 6d, £9 14s. STEWARDS’ HANDICAP, of £400; trotters; 3min 36sec class; one mile and a half.—B, 7 H. S. ‘Donaldson’s b g PYLON by Pilot Peter—Linda Wrack 6yrs scr Owner 1; 1, 1 Demimonde syrs scr A. M. Purdon 2; 2.2 Caliph 4yrs 12 O. M. Quinlan 3. 18, 18 Alandale; 17, 15 Bishop’s Cleeve; 11, 10 Component; 1, 1 Remodel and General Lee bracketed Demimonde; 3, 5 Kowhai; 16, 17 Moccasin; 5, 6 Moth; 4, 4 Sure Phoebe; 6, 3 Don’t Regret bracketed Chief Eagle; 12, 13 Kakahu Pride; 7, 8 Anitra; 19, 19 Black Market; 14, 12 Executive; 9, 9 Madam Grattan; 15, 16 Metropole; 12, 14 Factotum; 10, 11 Cabra .also started. Two lengths; 10 lengths. Kowhai was fourth. Times.—3min 21 3-ssec, 3min 22 sec, 3min 23sec. (Mile rate: 2min 14 2-5 sec.) Winner trained by owner. Tinwald. Dividends.—Win: £l4 12s 6d. Places: £4 4s, £1 17s, £2 19s 6d. AUTUMN HANDICAP, of £275; 3min 33sec class; probationary drivers; one mile and a half.—2, 2 F. W. and S. F. Robertson’s b m FIONA by Dillon Hall— Sure 4yrs scr F. S. Franks 1; 4, 3 Final Glow 3yrs scr I. S. Sutherland 2; 1, 1 Scottish Song 4yrs scr B. G. Nyhan 3. 7, 7 Banbury; 10, 9 Coronita; 13, 13 Credit Chief; 6, 6 Fair Lead; 4#- 3 Sandy Rey bracketed Final Glow; 14, 15 Gay Cobra; 5, 4 Kirigsdown Grattan; 3, 5 Moray; 8, 8 Preston Lad; 12, 12 Sandra Kay; 11, 11 Woolaway; 9, 10 Colena; 15, 14 Mighty Globe also started. Three lengths; length and a half. Kingsdown Grattan was fourth. Times.—3min 19 2-ssec, 3min 20sec, 3min 20 2-ssec. (Mile rate: 2min 13 l-ssec.) Winner trained by D. M. Kerr, Gore. Dividends.—Win: £5 14s 6d; Places: £2 9 7c f 1 6s RAKAIA HANDICAP, of £550; 4min 40sec class; two miles.—l, 1 R» M. Hamilton’s b m LUCKY LAST by Blaydon— Fortunate syrs 12 M. Holmes 1; 10, 10 Bedivus 4yrs scr D. J. Campbell 2; 5, 4 Blazeworthy 6yrs scr R. J. Cleave 3. 21, 21 Ebony Hall; 11, 12 Errol’s Pal bracketed Luminous; 7, 11 Green Label; 14, 13 Isla Devan; 16, 17 Royal Hall; 13, 14 Sedate; 4, 5 Sonlight; 15, 18 Southern Blade; 9, 8 Speed King; 12, 9 Sure Terra; 19, 16 Tiki Napu; 23, 22 Wyvern; 18, 15 Radiant Diamond; 22, 23 Sailaway; 6, 6 - Air Command; 2,2 Lexeter; 17, 19 Silver Circle; 8, 7 Super Nurse; 20, 20 Warren Grattan; 3, 3 Young Sam also started. Six lengths; half a length. Air Com- ! mand was fourth. Times.—4min 24sec, 4min 26 l-ssec, 4min 26 2-ssec. (Mile rate: ' 2min 12sec.) Winner trained by M. Holmes, Yaldhurst.

Dividends.—Win: £2 Ils. Places: £1 14s, £6 12s 6d, £4 4s 6d.