DUNEDIN CLUB’S MEETING

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27375, 14 June 1954, Page 4

DUNEDIN CLUB’S MEETING

Blackfeliow Wins Handicap STEEPLES TO FREE GIFT (From Our Own Reporter) DUNEDIN, June 13. Blackfellow recorded a well-deserved win in the Queen Elizabeth Handicap, the main flat race and first leg of the double, on the final day of the Dunedin Jockey Club’s winter meeting at Wingatui on Saturday. After his second placings in the Birthday and Provincial Handicaps earlier at the meeting, he was the logical favourite, but he had to work very hard to pull his army of supporters through. A light-weight, Gold Mine, had Blackfellow beaten from the furlong until the last stride. This was Blackfellow’s second success from four starts from R. C. Whitford’s Riccarton stable. Blackfellow made a winning start from Whitford’s stable at the South Canterbury Jockey Club’s first winter meeting last month. Earlier, he was trained by C. McDonald, who rode the Boswell gelding on Saturday.

Rather surprisingly, there was an inquiry after the Queen Elizabeth Handicap, interference by Blackfellow to Saranac being alleged. The judicial committee heard evidence from Mr H. B. Lorigan, a stipendiary steward, and the jockeys concerned, and decided to take no action. It was stated that the alleged interference took place 75 yards from the post. At that distance from the finish, Saranac was weakening in third place—the position he finally filled, about two and a half lengths from the winner. to

Free Gift had a comparable record _• Blackfellow when he paraded for the Dunedin Steeplechase. Second placings in his two earlier appearances at the meeting, he was made odds-on favourite, and he toyed with a very poor lot. Ryeland's withdrawal from the field eased Free Gift’s task.

Royal Warrant recaptured his best form to win the Domain Handicap, the second leg of the double. Honours were heavily in favour of this Ric-orton-trained Royal Commission gelding, which was one of the last away, and still a long way from the leaders with three furlongs to run. Of the 16,288| tickets carried by Blackfellow in a pool of £23,393 10s, 534$ tickets were redeemed on Royal Warrant. The double dividend was £69 14s for £l.

Jockey’s Three Wins Royal Warrant is trained by A. J. Williams for Mrs F. L. Hobson, of Christchurch. He was the third winner ridden on Saturday by C. McDonald, of Riccarton, who also rode Blackfellow and Delayed, winner of the open •print.

Williams had further success as a trainer on Saturday, when he produced Solstice to win the Aid worth Handicap decisively for Mr C. I. Hobson. Solstice clearly outstayed the others. Solstice became the fourth Riccartontrained winner on the programme. The first was Lushing, which led all the way in the Electric Stakes and won easily. Lushing carries the same colours as the outstanding filly, Surprise Ending—those of Mr J. F. Kerr, who prepared Flying Feet to win the corresponding race on the first day of the meeting. Bitterly cold weather halfway through the programme took a lot of interest out of the racing. The ground was heavy and sticky. The qp-course totalisator turnover was £53,705 IQs, including £5242 on the double, compared with £63,330 10s for the third day last year. The total for the meeting this year was £181,488 10s—a decrease of £25,883 10s compared with last year.

Blackfellow caught Gold Mine in the last stride to win the Queen Elizabeth Handicap, first leg of the double. He finished strongly down the outside, but C. McDonald was hard at him from the furlong to get in his challenge. Back in the middle of the field for the first half of the race. Blackfellow was still some distance from Saranac, the leader, on the home turn. Saranac had Just taken charge from his stablemate. Gold Token, and Brutus, Gold Mine, and Peony Royal were well in the picture. Saranac was weakening at the furlong, where Gold Mine was moving through on the inner, and Blackfellow was at the i height of his run wider out on the track. I Gold Mine appeared to hold a slight lead a few strides from the post, but the big Boswell gelding cut him out of first place in the last stride. The weakening Saranac was two and a half lengths back, third, and Ma rite a, the last away, was a long way back, fourth. Royal Voyage and Taj were next in line, clear of Peony Royal, Chief Light, Gay Gitana. Gold Token, Hunter’s Choice, and Brutus. Free Gift Scores Easily Free Gift was a class above a weak lot in the Dunedin Steeplechase. He jumped to the front at the boards near the halfmile, and came right away, winning by 20 lengths from the plodding Battle Signal, which caught Silver Spur in the run home. Belgravia fell at the third fence, leaving five runners on their feet. Silver Spur took over at that stage and, though joined by Miro Chabo at the stand double, went ahead alone again until Free Gift mastered him. Silver Spur weakened badly—so badly that Battle Signal, one of the slowest gallopers pbout, beat him by 30 lengths for second. The 10-year-old Miro Chabo was the only other horse to finish, and he was a long way back. Cherry Prince fractured his near hind leg about six furlongs from home. He was pulled up, and later destroyed. Mighty Dollar was backed as a near certainty for the Empire Handicap, but he could finish only fourth in a field of six. The race was decisively won by his stablemate, Delayed, which was in front all the way, and beat Gold King by a length and a half. Delayed had Johnny Peep as' co-pace-maker to the home turn, but the former had the race won at the furlong. Mighty Dollar moved from the half-mile to trail the leaders into the straight. He was pulled out to challenge on the outer, but his response was weak, and he was beaten outside the furlong. Gold King, which was about six lengths from the leaders on the home turn, finished well for second, two lengths cieaf of Johnny Peep. The.tiring Mighty Dollar Was well clear of Dissenter, and Royal China was at the rear. Riverstone, winner of the hack steeplechase on the second day of the meeting, clearly outstayed the others in the June Hurdles. Positions changed quickly during the middle stages, and Riverstone ran to the front near the five furlongs after Black Briar and Profane had been pacemakers. Riverstone drew four lengths clear coming to the straight, and by that time all the others were too tired to make any impression. Wealthy beat the faster-finishing Reproof by three-quarters of a length for second, the latter putting in a long run from the tail of the field. Wealthy had been handy all the way. The tiring Black Briar was beaten off, fourth, dear of Tenner. Results: — JUNE HURDLES, Of £5OO. One mile and three-quarters. 8. S—RIVERSTONE car. 9-2 j C. G. Low 1 1- I—Wealthy 9-7 .. H. W. Skinner 2 4. 4—Reproof 9-13 S. G. Shaw 3 2, 3 Profane: 5, 6 Waffles; 3,2 Tenner: 8, 9 Black Briar: 7. 7 Command; 9, 8 Kind Wish also started. Three lengths: three-quarters of a length. Black Briar was fourth. Time, 3min 33sec. Winner trained by D. V. Pankhurst, Invercargill. Dividends.—Win: £9 8s 6d. Places: £2 Bs, £1 Ils 6d. £2 2s. ELECTRIC STAKES, Of £3OO. Six furlongs. 3. 3—LUSHING 8-11 .. D. J. Thistoll 1 6 6—Gazette 8-11 .. J. Didham 2 7. 7—Poor David 8-13 .. E. Fraser 3 11. 11 Basseterre; 13. 13 Bold Blaze; 5, 5 Double Ray; 14, 15 Kinloch Chief; 8. 8! Miss Neptune; 16. 16 Royal Rose; 2,2 Sir | Gerald; 12. 12 Tasman Tide; 9. 9 Thibaut; ■ 1. 1 Carol York; 17. 17 Papilio; 10, 10 Field Dress; 4. 4 Gold Flame; 15. 14 Optimist also started. Three and a half lengths; nose. Bold Blaze was fourth. Time. Imin 23sec. WinMr trained by J. F. Kerr. Riccarton. Dividends.—Win: £6 3s 6d. Places: £2 sn. £3 14s. £3 15s 6d. TAINUI HANDICAP, Of £350. Six furlongs. 5. S— RED ADMIRAL 8-6 J. Didham 1 1. 2—Copperfield S-5 .. L. W. Hare 2 3- I—Brooke 9-9 W. F. Ellis 3 3. 3 Dutch Flag; 4. 4 Suncrest: 10. 10 c’ 8 Lawrence; 7, 7 Ar9, 9 Boheme; 6, 6 Red Tinge also

’ Short neck; two rnd a half lengths. Dutch Flag was fourth. Time, Imin 22 i l-ssec. Winner trained by A. E. Didham, 1 Wingatui. Dividends.—Win: £6 14s. Places: £2 2s, £1 13s 6d. £1 Ils. QUEEN ELIZABETH HANDICAP, Of £6OO. One mile. 1. I—BLACKFELLOW 8-3 C. McDonald 1 : 5. 4—Gold Mine car. 7-8 J F. H. Skelton 2 2. 2—Saranc 7-11 .. W. D. Skelton 3 6. 6 Peony Royal; 4. 5 Royal Voyage; 10. 11 Brutus; 7. 7 Maritea; 9, 9 Taj: 3, 3 Chief Light; 12, 12 Gold Token; 10, 10 Gay Gitana; 8, 8 Hunter’s Choice also started. Nose: two and a half lengths. Maritea i was fourth. Time, Imin 50sec. Winner trained by R. C. Whitford, Riccarton. Dividends.—Win: £2 9s 6d. Places: £1 Bs, £2 6s. £1 19s. DUNEDIN STEEPLECHASE, Of £6OO. About two miles and a quarter. 1. I—FREE GIFT 10-9 .. W. J. Hillis J 6. 6—Battle Signal car. 9-1 A R. A. Gibson 2 4. 4—Silver Spur 10-10 M. H. Hillis 3 2.2 Belgravia: 3, 3 Cherry Prince; 5, 5 Miro Chabo also started. Twenty length’s; 30 lengths. Miro Chabo was fourth. Time. smin 21 l-ssec. Winner trained by W. E. Hazlett, Invercargill. Dividends.—Win: £1 18s. Places: £1 9s. £5 12s. EMPIRE HANDICAP, Of £450. Six furlongs. 3. 3—DELAYED 8-4 .. ,C. McDonald 1 5. s—Gold King 8-4 A. J. T. Stokes 2 2. 2—Johnny Peep 9-5 .. C. C. Stokes 3 1, 1 Mighty Dollar; 5, 5 Royal China bracketed Gold King; 4, 4 Dissenter also started. Length and a half; two lengths. Mighty Dollar was fourth. Time, Imin 22sec. Winner trained by A. E. Didham, Wingatui. Dividends—Win: £5 19s. Places: £2 4s 6d, £3 6s. DOMAIN HANDICAP. Of £350. Seven furlongs. 5. S—ROYAL WARRANT 8-9 C. McDonald 1 1. I—Wayren 8-9 .. W.> D. Skelton 2 2. 2—Cheerio 10-1 .. J. S. Crawford 3 3. 3 Perfect Peach; 6, 6 King Charles; 7. 7 Mulberry: 4, 4 First Whack; 8, 9 Square Dance; 9. 8 Bright Race; 10, 10 Green Island; 11, 11 Russley Lad also started. Length and a half; four lengths. Mulberry was fourth. Time, Imin 37 l-ssec. Winner trained by A. J. Williams, Riccarton. Dividends.—Win: £9 9s’ 6d. Places: £2 18s, £1 Ils, £1 13s. ALDWORTH HANDICAP. Of £450. One mile and three furlongs. 4. 4—SOLSTICE 8-12 .. W. D. Skelton 1 I 3. s—Balveine 9-5 .. E. G. Low 2 111. 10—Cerne 8-0 F. H. Skelton 3 ; 1,1 Locherbie; 18, 18 Relinquish; 2,2 i Abbot’s Choice; 15. 17 Athenry Fair: 13, 13 Admiral’s Keep; 10, 11 Lolita; 12, 14 The Guy; 6, 3 Evening Shoes; 21, 22 Diplomatic: 5, 6 Trustworthy; 16, 12 Culton; 19, 19 San Antonio; 20, 20 Chief Stuart; 9, 9 Americus: 17, 16 Brian Baffles; 14, 15 Carnaval; 11, 10 Courant bracketed Cerne; 22, 23 Night Signal; 8, 7 Patris bracketed Spike Jones; 7, 8 Show Place bracketed ; Soumai; 23, 21 Swift Passage bracketed Winston’s Pal also started. Length and a quarter; three-quarters of a length. Evening Shoes was fourth. Time, 2min 40sec. Winner trained by A. J. Williams, Riccarton. Dividends.—Win: £7 Ils 6d. Places: £2 19s, £3 is, £8 4s 6d.