CIRCLETTE BACK TO FORM

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

CIRCLETTE BACK TO FORM

JjONGBEACH handicap AT ASHBURTON

Cirdette, improved by her race the previous Saturday, gained a decisive win in the Longbeach Handicap at Ashburtoii on Saturday. She began well from 24 yards and was soon in a handy position. Te Waihopi, Ladas, and then Kauru Boy and Larnie Scott took turns aj pacemaking at the head of a bunched field. Racing to the final furlong, Larnie Scott had charge, with Circlette showing through on the inside. They were closely attended by Kauru Boy, Daybreak, which could not get clear, Barravey, and Te Waihopi. Circlette continued her run on the inside and soon hit the front. She ran on solidly over the final half-furlong and won well by two lengths. , Daybreak did well to finish second. She was handily placed for the first mile, but could not get off the rails. She was allowed to drift back towards the rear of the bunch racing to the straight, where she was giving the leaders a start of about eight lengths. Once she worked clear well inside the furlong she finished very fast for her placing. Kauru Boy, which had always been one of the leaders, finished on for third, a length in front of the galloping Barravey, which had broken several times in the running. Larnie Scott, in a break, was next, ahead of Superfortress, Te Waihopi, Irish Laughter, in a break, and Victory Cheer. Barravey was subsequently disqualified for the race, and Larnie Scott, which appeared to gallop further than Barravey, was promoted to fourth.

Coronation Hall Wins Coronation Hall, which had raced well back in the field for most of the Trial Handicap, finished with a great run to win comfortably. Empyrian and Pursuance began best, but with eight and a half furlongs to run Aerophlite went to the front. Floriean took over racing to the three, and at the furlong Pursuance, Auriferous, Scottish Laird, Gainesway, and Long Range were handy, with Coronation Hall showing up wide out. Florican broke inside the furlong, hampering Scottish Laird, and Gainesway went to the front. He looked to have -the race won until Coronation Hall put in nis claim wide out. He finished on boldly and won going away by a length. Gainesway’s performance to finish second was outstanding. He was slow away and then at the end of two furlongs he broke for no apparent reason. He was about half a furlong behind the leaders when he settled down. He gradually made up ground, and in the circumstances he ran on surprisingly well. , Auriferous, which had never been far away, was two lengths away third, ahead of Scottish Laird. Then, right in line, came Homely Maid, Pursuance, Child’s Play, Happy Landings, and Royal Dictator.

Demimonde Stays On Demimonde, which had not shown much stamina in her other races this season, ran out two miles solidly in the Mayfield Handicap. She was always handy to the pacemaker, Moth, which was joined by Pylon at the end of a mile. Pylon was shading Moth at the furlong, -with Caliph, Executive, Sure Phoebe, Demimonde, and Alandale all handy. Demimonde was not asked for an effort until inside 'the last’ half-furlong, and she finished on in great style to win well by half a length. Executive, which broke at the start, trotted a fine race for his placing. He was a long way back at the end of two furlongs. Pylon also trotted a sound race after being one of the leaders most of the way. He ran on surprisingly well over the last furlong. Moccasin finished fourth in a break, but he was later disqualified and Caliph, which had broken at the start and then raced wide out, was promoted. They were followed by Idealist and Kowhai.

Among those to lose their chances at the start were the favourjte. Amigo, which was very slow, and Metropole.