Elixir, Prince Regent Win Trentham Double

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27402, 15 July 1954, Page 4

Elixir, Prince Regent Win Trentham Double

RACING

(From Our Own Reporter)

WELLINGTON, July 14. Elixir and Prince Regent won at the expense of the favourites in the Parliamentary and Members’ Handicaps, the totalisator double on the second day of the Wellington winter meeting at Trentham today. The runners-up were respectively Dormant and Lord Milling—both of them clear-cut favourites. Elixir could finish no closer than fifth at Avondale last Saturday, and his performance disappointed his Te Rapa owner-trainer, H. Long. However, he outstayed the others on a heavier track today. He changed his ground in the straight under a hard ride from N. A. Crombie, but kept clear and beat Dormant by a length and a half.

Payloch, runner-up in the Whyte Handicap on Monday, finished strongly for third, and gave her place supporters another good dividend. South Island horses failed badly in the Parliamentary Handicap. Blackfellow did best of them, and he was only twelfth in a field of 21. Prince Regent rounded off the double with a decisive win in the Members’ Handicap, a race he won narrowly last year. This seven-year-old Medieval Knight gelding had been extensively campaigned earlier in the season without winning, but his success showed that he is right in his element in the going usually provided at winter meetings at Trentham. . A doubles dividend of £145 19s 6d was shared bv holders of 1108 tickets on the Elixir-Prince Regent combination. There were 110 successful tickets sold on the course. There were 10.337 tickets (1151 on-course) on Elixir in a total pool of £97,851 10s. On-course double investments were £ 15,028 10s—more ' than on the first day of the meeting. Beauform’s Success Beauform, winner of the Hawke’s I Bay Steeples at his previous start, beat a weak lot in the Matai Steeplechase. He found Colonel Argosy the hardest to beat, but his task was made easier when the Southland horse bled in the running and misjudged his leap at the last fence when in front If all goes well Beauform will run In the Grand National Steeplechase next month. He was third in last year’s Grand National. Now rising nine years. Beauform has done better on reasonably firm tracks than in bad ground, and conditions at Riccarton will suit him better than those at Trentham.

All the best hurdlers at the meeting were left in their boxes today, and Sonloch. winner of the hack hurdles on Monday, was top-weight for the X-ambton Hurdles. Sonloch, the favourite, gave the South Island jockey, B. J. Langford, his third win for the meeting.

Russleigh (Trial Plate) and Royal Warrant (Petone Handicap) improved the weak record of South Island horses at the meeting with easy wins today. Both are trained at Riccarton. Russleigh by F. D. Jones and Royal Warrant by A. J. Williams, and C. McDonald rode both of them.

The on-course totalisator turnover Was £135,747 10s, compared with £133,340 last year. Elixir followed Blackfellow, Bretton. Cay Minstrel, Berne and Topmast into the straight in the Parliamentary Handicap, and ran clear of a challenge from the favourite. Dormant, to win handily by a length and a half. Payloch finished strongly into third place, but two lengths back. N. A. Crombie had Elixir well up from the start. Cabana and Blackfellow led early, with Gay Mnistrel, Topmast and Bretton in the trailing position. Baffling Eves was close by, ehead of Windsor, Elixir, Berne, Lyndomar, Pierre, Indian Scholar, Vitalogy and Dormant Bretton moved through on the inner to join Blackfellow in front at the five furlongs, and they led past the half-mile from Gay Minstrel, Cabana, Topmast. Berne, Elixir and Baffling Eyes, which was starting to go back through the field. Dormant was next, gallopina strongly. Gay Minstrel moved forward to be ©n the outside of Bretton and Blackfellow racing to the home turn. Berne, Topmast and Elixir were following closely, and Dormant was next, also going well Payloch was improving her position just behind these horses, but few of the others, apart from Toparoa, appeared to be going well enough to have a chance. Elixir veered towards the centre of the track after reaching the front. He led past the furlong from Dormant, which was also well out on the track. Topmast made a short-lived challenge on the inside, but weakened again in a few strides, and Payloch and Sir Nicholas beat him for third and fourth. Toparoa was sixth, three lengths back, and Berne was seventh. Next ■were Pierre, Lyndomar, Windsor, Bretton, Blackfellow, Royal Voyage, Battle Ensign, Baffling Eyes, Vitalogy. Cabana, Indian Scholar, Gay Minstrel, Silver Archer and Golden Arch.

Prince Regent in Form Prince Regent won his second successive Members’ Handicap in sound style. He galloped strongly from the home turn to get to the front outside the furlong. Lord Milling finished strongly from the rear to run him to a length, but arrived too late to trouble him. Prince Regent was fifth at the end of • furlong, and third, behind Clever Lass and Royal Mail, at the half-mile. He ran these two with ease after reaching the straight, and established a lead that Lord Milling could not close. _ Lord Milling jumped out wen, but drifted to the rear. He was still at the tail of a bunched field on the home turn, »ut his characteristically strong finishing run gave him his second minor placing for the meeting. Pharoah’s Castle followed Prince Regent from the home turn to inside the furlong, but Lord Milling cut him out of •econd place by a length and a half. _ Chattan, the second favourite, came from near the rear for fourth. Curzon did well to carry 9-8 into fifth place on the heavy track, but little could t>e said for the others. Gold Drive wa.■ixth, about 15 lengths behind Curzon. Beauform outstayed the South Island Jumper, Colonel Argosy, in the Matai Steeplechase. He drew out from the last fence to win by five lengths. Colonel Argosy had to struggle home for second, weakening after bleeding during the race. Wotan s Gold beat a poor lot home for third, and Windfall followed him in. Beauform and Parsifal led in the last Bound, but the former was eased, and two Southland horses, Colonel Argosy and Parsifal, led into the back from Windfall. Deep Gold, Beauform, Wotan’s Gold, and Verification. Parsifal was nearly down at the seven furlongs, and was taken forward to join Colonel Argosy going to the five furlongs. Beauform closed on these two in the next furlong, but Colonel Argosy went away again, and led round the home turn by two lengths. Windfall was dropping back in third place, but Beauform was still Galloping well. • ®$® u form bad Colonel Argosy beaten on landing over the last fence. Colonel Argosy beat Wotan’s Gold by two lengths *or second. Then there was a big gap Windfall, and another one to Deep Gold. Manoeuvre ran off at the second of the Stand double, a round from home. Mi was PuUed up at the mile, after Stifling himself. Verification fell at the seven furlongs, and Parsifal was pulled tip at the five furlongs. _C. H. Mackie, rider of Dormant in the preliminary Handicap, was questioned •bout his mount changing ground several times during the race. He explained that •fter being checked by Cabana he moved or l the inside of that horse and was then forced to go on the outside of Topmast at the top of the straight. In addition, he had to change ground in the run tiorrie as Elixir ran out. tut there was no interference by the latter. Mackie’s explanation was accepted. After hearing explanations from the connexions of Boleigh and Gay Echo, which were late into the birdcage on the first day, the judicial committee remitted " nes of £2 imposed on each owner The committee decided to award riding fees to J. W McDonald, who was engaged to ride Algaro in the Lambton Hurdles, put was replaced when the horse’s totoer, W. Barr, jun., alleged that McDonald was over-weight, and substituted G. Jenkins as the rider. The committee decided that the question of McDonald’s being over-weight was not proved. When Serrate ran off at the fence near the mile in the Corunna Hack Hurdles, he caused interference to Barry, ridden by R. B. Shield. Shield considered that his mount had broken down, and pulled him In tt» Trial Plate, Spike* Jones was •quMsed at toe start, and Producer had

to be checked when trying to run off the course turning into the straight. W. E. Lepper was censured for excessive use of the whip on Modern Boy in the same event.

An inquiry was opened into interference to Pahoro and Harleston during the running of the Petone Hack Handicap, and after some evidence had been heard the inquiry was adjourned till Saturday. N. Eastwood, the rider of Strada, which finished fourth in the Seatoun Hack Handicap, weighed in 51b light, and Strada was disqualified, fourth placing being awarded to Foghorn. An inquiry into the incident was adjourned till Saturday. Results:— CORUNNA HACK HURDLES, Of £BOO. About one mile and threequarters. 1. I—BOLEIGH 9-9 .. J. Walker 1 8. 7—Robbie 9-0 .. R. A. Jenkins 2 6. 6 Puketoi 9-13 .. K. W. Dulieu 3 2,2 Riverstone; 3, 4 Mary Tudor; 4, 3 Wessex; 9, 9 Anvil Song; 5, 5 Nod; 11, 11 Barry (pulled up); 10, 10 Decapitate; 7. 8 Serrate (ran off) also started. Three lengths; two lengths. Riverstone was fourth. Time, 3min 34Jsec. Winner trained by E. Ropiha, Woodville. Dividends.—Win: £3 13s. Places: £1 15s, £3 13s 6d. £3 7s. TRIAL PLATE, Of £750. Two and three-year-olds. About seven furlongs. 3. 3—RUSSLEIGH 8-0 .. C. McDonald 1 7. 7—Horatius 8-0 ... A. C. Messervy 2 1. I—Gay Silk 8-11 .. N. B. Holland 3 5, 5 Al Capone; 8, 8 Educated; 2,2 Gazette; 18, 17 Jetsun; 15, 15 Lady Broie; 6, 6 Modern Boy; 9. 9 Nukutere; 17, 18 Prince Subat; 14, 12 Romily; 13. 14 Sailing Signal; 4, 4 Spike Jones; 11, 11 Straight Lead; 19, 19 Calmdale; 16, 16 Imprudent; 12, 13 Meadow Queen; 10, 10 Producer; 3, 3 White City also started. Five lengths; three lengths. Modern Boy was fourth. Time. Imin 39sec. Winner trained by F. D. Jones, Riccarton. Dividends.—Win: £8 Is 6d. Places: £2 15s, £4 2s, £1 12s.

Bracket- Russleigh and White City. LAMBTON HURDLES, Of £l5OO. About one mile and threequarters. 1. I—SONLOCH 9-11 B. J. Langford 1 5- 4—Leighford 9-0 .. W. E. Lepper 2 9. 9 Amiens car. . 9-2 .. J. Hely 3 4, 5 Bhikoo; 10, 10 Lady Gretchen (pulled up); 11, 11 Amber Glow; 7, 7 Reproof; 2.2 Serenade; 8, 8 Dinkum; 6, 6 Algaro; 3. 3 Upright also started. Two lengths; half a head. Reproof was fourth. Time, 3min 31sec. Winner trained by T. R. Howe, Awapuni. Dividends.—Win: £2 17s 6d. Places: £1 12s 6d, £2 12s, £4 5s 6d. PARLIAMENTARY HANDICAP, Of £2250. About one mile and three furlongs. 8. 9—ELIXIR 8-4 .. N. A. Crombie 1 1. I—Dormant 8-6 .. C. H. Mackie 2 13. 15—Payloch 8-1 R. Meynell 3 16, 14 Pierre; 19, 20 Vitalogy; 6, 7 Bretton; 21, 21 Gay Minstrel; 7, 5 Lyndomar; 4, 6. Sir Nicholas; 15, 16 Cabana; 5, 4 Golden Arch; 11, 10 Toparoa; 12, 12 Royal Voyage; 14. 13 Windsor; 3, 3 Baffling Eyes; 20. 19 Blackfellow; 2.2 Topmast; 10, 11 Battle Ensign; 17, 18 Indian Scholar: 9, 8 Berne; 18, 17 Silver Archer also started. Length and a half; two lengths. Sir Nicholas was fourth. Time. 2min 361 sec. Winner trained by H. P. Long, Te Rapa. Dividends.—Win: £l6 6s 6d. Places: £5 13s 6d, £2 16s, £8 17s. MATAI STEEPLECHASE, Of £1750. About two miles and a half. 2. 3-BEAUFORM 10-4 .. G. Jenkins 1 4. 4—Colonel'Argosy 9-1 M. V. Coon 2 3. 2—Wotan’s Gold 9-0 J. Hely 3 6, 6 Parsifal (pulled up); 7. 7 Mr Thunder (pulled up); 1, 1 Windfall; 8, 8 Deep Gold; 5, 5 Manoeuvre (ran off); 9, 9 Verification (fell) also started.

Five lengths; two lengths. Windfall was fourth. Time, smin 23 J sec. Winner trained by P. R. Williams, Otaki. Dividends.—Win: £5 9s. Places: £1 18s 6d, £2 4s 6d, £1 16s.

SEATOUN HACK HANDICAP, Of £750. About seven furlongs. 20. 20—RED BILL 8-0 K. A. Thomson 1 10. 12—Bulla 8-9 .. C. H. Mackie 2 12- 9—Diadema 8-2 .. A. C. Messervy 3 16. 16 Cristatus; 1,2 Benefactor; 6, 7 Beauty Spot; 9, 11 Foghorn; 4. 4 Shaun; 13, 13 King; 5, 6 Red Admiral; 8, 10 Strada: 21, 21 Devastator; 17, 17 Wayren; 3, 3 Copperfield: 2, 1 Bernard; 14, 14 Quantico; 22, 22 Waireka; 23. 23 De Soto; 15, 15, Durham Chief; 12. 9 .Radiate; 11, 8 Selector bracketed Carnaval: 19, 19 Cool Air bracketed Darik; 18, 18 Gay Don bracketed Lushing; 20, 20 Prince Shar; 7, 5 Red Tinge bracketed Saunter also started. Head; three lengths and a half. Foghorn was fourth. Time, Imin 39sec. Dividends.—Win: £B5 ss. Places: £l9 Is 6d, £6 9s 6d, £5 18s. Brackets: Red Bill and Prince Shar, Diadema and Radiate. MEMBERS’ HANDICAP, Of £l2OO. About seven furlongs. 5. S—PRINCE REGENT 8-1 K. R. Grylls 1 1- I—Lord Milling 8-1 K. A. Nuttall 2 3. 3—Pharoah’s Castle 8-0 C. H. Mackie 3 8, 8 Red Star; 9, 10 Royal Mail; 6. 6 Curzon; 7, 7 Foy; 2,2 Chattan; 10, 9 Gold Drive; 4, 4 Clever Lass; 11, 11 Major Neptune also started. Length; length and a half. Chattan was fourth. Time, Imin 382 sec. Winner trained by G. Carmont, Avondale. Dividends.—Win: £8 10s. Places: £2 18s 6d, £1 17s 6d, £2 9s 6d. PETONE HACK HANDICAP, Of £BOO. About one mile. 6. S— ROYAL WARRANT 9-1 C. McDonald 1 8. 7—lndian Sue 8-12 .. F. H. Skelton 2 11. 13—Ballast 8-1 A. J. Stokes 3 9, 9 Tia Maria: 13, 14 Rueful; 5, 8 Annexe; 3. 3 Bowater; 7, 6 Deodar; 10, 10 North Sea; 4, 4 Pahoro; 16, 16 Bonny Anne: 2,2 Traffic Cop; 12. 12 High Street; 1. 1 Josudi; 18, 19 Harleston: 15, 15 Margaret Leigh; 17, 17 Master Touch bracketed Sassenach; 20, 20 The Bet; 19, 18 El Capitan bracketed Fair Magic; 14, 11 Hush ah bracketed Superior King also started. Three lengths; half a neck. Annexe was fourth. Time, Imin 53sec. Winner trained by A. J. Willianls, Riccarton. Dividends.—Win: £l2 19s. Places: £4 6s 6d, £4 12s 6d, £9.