Knight’s Star Surprises In Winter Hurdles

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27405, 19 July 1954, Page 4

Knight’s Star Surprises In Winter Hurdles

RACING

Knight’s Star was at good odds! when he won the Winter Hurdles at | Trentham on Saturday, but well-1 backed runners won the other main races. The consistent Dormant, a minor place-getter in his two races earlier I at the meeting, just got up to beat Berne in the Winter Oats, the first', leg of the double, and Pharoah’s. Castle won the second leg. the Ons- . low Handicap, with a brilliant late I run from well back in the field. Peaseblossom was made favourite for . the Eric < Riddiford Steeplechase, and | she won decisively, outstaying the , light-weight Peepin’ Thru over the last furlong. Knight s Star was having his first I race against the open hurdlers on Sat- ' urday after having run consistently: in the minor grade in the Auckland > district. He galloped strongly through! a sea of mud and slush, drawing out. to win by 20 lengths from Leighford, I another light-weight and outsider. |] Knight’s Star was eleventh favourite ! 1 in a field of 14, and paid £l9 10s 6djfor a win. He is a six-year-old geld- ’ , ing by Medieval Knight from Doric { • Star, raced by Messrs R. Demler andij C. H. Mitchell and trained by Demler; at Morrinsville. Canadian did best of the well-! 1 backed horses, finishing third, but he ’. was 24 lengths from the winner. r The favourite. Solar Mist, lost his rider after being checked five fur-1 longs from home. i Dormant was second favourite for' ■ the Winter Oats. He had to be hard I ridden to master Berne, but showed • the gameness that has characterised j most of his winter racing for Mr and Mrs M. Dentice, for whom he is trained at Hastings by W. D. Young. ’ Dormant carried 24,947 tickets on the ! double, and 3149 were re-invested on Pharoah’s Castle. The double was • t worth £55 13s 6d for £l. It was a ■ triumph for the Hastings jockey, C. ! H. Mackie, who rode both winners. The on-course totalisaior turnover was £168.433, including £17.092 10s ’ on the double, compared with £ 191,657 on the third day last year. The total for the meeting was £450,644 as against £514,430 last year. Dormant's Hard Chase ■ Dormant had a hard chase after Berne in the Parliamentary tHandicap and mastered the Awapuni horse only | in the last stride. The favourite, Topmast, was weakening slightly in third place, three-quarters of a length back. . Dormant was slowest to jump out, but moved fast from well back in the field to join the leading bunch across the top. He was close behind Topmast round the home turn and gamely met every call on him in his chase after Berne, which moved through on the inner to take charge early in the run home. Berne was about seven places back at the end of a furlong, and was alongside Elixir with only Royal Voyage, Topmast, and Bailing Eyes in front of him at the five furlongs. He looked likely to hold his lead in the straight, but Dormant got in the deciding stride. Topmast trailed until he was left in front at the three furlongs after Royal Voyage had dropped out He changed ground under the whip early in the run home, but gamely kept going to fill third place. Elixir was a length and a half back fourth. He had a great run all the way and made a likely move outside the furlong, but weakened under his weight after that Payloch was five lengths back fifth, clear of Bretton. The Wake was seventh, and was followed by Foxrelio, Lord Milling, Windsor, Pierre, Toparoa, Sir Nicholas, Royal Voyage, Golden Coronach, Golden Arch, Baffling Eyes, Gay Gitana. and Battle Ensign. Knight's Star improved six places from the mile to reach the front at the three furlongs in the Winter Hurdles. He led for home by two lengths from Leighford. View field, and Reproof, and drew Tight out to win by 20 lengths. Reproof fen at the last hurdle, checking Viewfieid, which was beaten for third by Canadian, half a neck separating them. Cabana led early, but Dinkum and Leighford displaced him starting the last round. Leighford went clear at the mile from Dinkum. Then there was a gap of two lengths to Viewfield and Cabana, with the favourite Solar Mist next. Wellfield was close by, two lengths clear of Knight’s Star. Sonloch. Silver Archer, Canadian. Reproof, and Chief Justice were following in that order. The hurdle at tne five furlongs put Dinkum and Solar Mist out of the race. Dinkum fell and Solar Mist bumped his rider out of the saddle. In that mix-up Silver Archer was checked and lost any chance he may have had. Leighford was two lengths clear at the half-mile, but Knight’s Star ran past him near the three furlongs and drew out going to the last fence, where Leighford. Reproof and Viewfield were leading the chase after him. Reproof crashed at the last jump and checked Viewfieid. which lost a good chance of a place. Wellfield was 20 lengths behind Viewfieid in fifth place, and then there was a bigger gap to Opposition. Silver Archer was next ahead of Cabana and Sonloch. Indian Scholar lost his rider at the first Jump. Chief Justice was pulled up. Brilliant Late Run

A brilliant run from well back in the field carried Pharoah’s Castle to victory in the Onslow Handicap, the second leg of the double He was one of the slow beginners, and had only Chattan behind him in the field of 11 at the half-mile C. H. Mackie took Pharoah’s Castle wide out to get the better going in the Straight, and the grey closed on the leaders brilliantly. He won by half a length, going away, from the Whyte Handicap winner Himiler, which had mastered FirBolgs and Prince Regent inside the n 1 Himiler was seventh at the half-mile and did not come into the picture until well into the straight. Himiler beat Sleipnir by a neck for second. Sleipnir was slow away, but

moved fast from the home turn to the furlong, where be was drawing up to the leaders. Fir-Bolas, which had done most of the pacemakir.g, was a length back fourth, and there w®s another length to Prince Regent, which weakened after getting the run of the race. Delayed, the only South Island sprinter in the field, was last. Riddiford Steeples Peaseblossom shodk off a challenge from Peepin’ Thru in the straight in the Eric Riddiford Steeplechase, beating the Te Rapa jumper by two lengths. The others, led by Count Minerva, straggled home a long way back. They were tired a long way from home. Windfall led into the last round from Fox Fun and the Wellington Steeplechase winner. Lay Off, whose jumping had been patchy and which had nearly gone out ’ of the race at the third fence. hwssom and Peepin' Thru followed Lay Off into the last mile, and Look Ahead led the others. Peaseb ossom was taken forward to join Windfall and Fox Fun in front at the five furlongs, but Windfall was beaten before they reached the half-mile. Fox

Fun also felt the strain . before they reached the straight, but Peepin’ Thru put fresh interest into the race when he moved into second place on the turn. Peaseblossom and Peepin’ Thru jumped the last fence together, but the Hastings mare showed superior stamina from the furlong home. Count Minerva plodded past tired horses for third 15 lengths back. Fox Fun weakening to fourth. Then there was a gap of 12 lengths to Loyal Subject Repayment was sixth three lengths ahead of Wotan's Gold. He was followed at intervals by Windfall, Look Ahead. Jimmy Woodser, Game Telous, Lay Off, and Green Light. For the third time at the meeting Manoeuvre ran off at the stand double He was the first to drop out Hit Parade fell at the end of a round. The Piper was pulled up a round from home, and Wild baulked at the fence near the seven furlongs. Results:— TALAVERA HURDLES, . £9OO. About two miles. 1. I—HUNTING VITE b g 6yrs by Beau Vite—Whimper car. 9-31 • L. O. Jarvis 1 T. s—Amiens 10-4 .. ..J, Hely 2 *• 3—Bullenzo 9-4 L. Skipper 3 e Riv erston; 4, 4 PukewAkSj Sy Imp; 8, 8 w s’? ex: J 3, 12 Barry (ran 8. 9 Decapitate (lost rider); 12, 13 Master Gregory also started. Four lengths: two lengths and a hall. Bobbie was fourth. Time, imin tr J aine SL by R G - Kerr ’ Gisborne ... Dividends.—Win: £4 3s 6d. Places: £1 Ua 6d. £3 14s £2 3s 6d. -£ OVIC ® HANDICAP, L OAK t crew song 8-8 Ucpirlani x

! 8. B—Sailing Signal 8-5 D. D. Gough 2 14. 13—Sherris 8-2 J. R. O’Neill 3 8, 8 Dollar Area: 4, 4 Foxborough; 2,2 Gay Silk; 7, 7 Modem Boy; 13. 11 Al i Capone; 11, 14 Brass Bar: 10. 10 Gazette. 117, 17 High Noon; 5, 5 Educated; 9. 9 Fairy Whispers: 19. 19 Hope; 22. 22 Jetsun: 3, 3 Leighon’s Star; 15, 15 Nukutere; 16, 16 Pelican: 18. 18 Prince Subat; 21, 21 I Queen’s Ransom; 12, 12 Red Amber; 20. 20 Sidena also started. ■ Three lengths: length and a quarter i Dollar Area was fourth. Time. Imm 43<sec. Winner trained by W. A. McMillan. Bulls. Dividends.—Win: £3 16s 6d. Places: £1 18s 6d, £4 7s, £8 2s. ERIC RIDDIFORD STEEPLECHASE, Of £3OOO. About three miles. 1. I—PEASEBLOSSOM br m 7yrs by Robin Goodfellow—Kathbella 9-10 R. B. Sheild 1 113. 13—Peepin’ Thru br g Byrs by Saleve—Bright Ray car. 9-41 V. H. Simpson 2 I 8. B—Count Minerva b g 9yrs by Defaulter—Princess Minerva L. Skipper 3 7, 9 Repayment; 3, 3 Lay Off: 2,2 Fo* | Fun; 1. 1 Green Light bracketed Peaseblossom; 4, 4 Game Felons; 9, 7 Windfall; 110, 11 Hit Parade (fell); 11, 10 Jimmy Woodser: 14, 14 Look Ahead; 5, 5 Loyal Subject: 12, 12 Manoeuvre (ran off); 15, 15 The Piper: 16, 16 Wild Rush (baulked): 6, 6 Wotan’s Gold also started. Two lengths; 15 lengths. Fox Fun was I fourth. Time, 6min 55sec. Winnei I trained by A. W. Meikle, Hastings. Dividends.—Win: £3 17s. Places: £1 Ills 6d, £l2 28 6d, £4 17s 6d. WINTER OATS HANDICAP, Of £2OOO. About one mile and three furlongs. I 2. 2—DORMANT b g 4yrs by Under-wood-Perfect Peace 8-9 C. H. Mackie 1 i 7. s—Berne b g syrs by Ruthless— Hippolyta 7-10 T. S. Carbin 2 L I—Topmast ch g 6yrs by Timanova —Elettra 7-13 .. J. M. Cappie 3 12. 11 Pierre; 8, 10 Elixir; 5, 8 The Wake; 3, 4 Golden Coronach; 4, 3 Sir Nicholas: 10, 14 Bretton: 9, 7 Payloch; 18, 19 Golden Arch; 17, 17 Royal Voyage--11. 9 Toparoa: 15. 13 Windsor; 16, 15 Baffling Eyes; 14. 16 Battle Ensign: 6,6 Lord Milling; 13. 12 Foxrelio: 19, 18 Gav Gitan» also started. Nose; three-quarters of a length. Elixn was fourth. Time, 2min 44sec. Winner trained by W. D. Young, Hastings. Dividends.—Win: £7 14s. Places: £2 18s 6d, £4 14s 6d, £2 Is 6d. WINTER HURDLES, Of £750.. About two miles and a quarter. 11. 11—KNIGHT’S STAR b g 6 yrs by Medieval Knight—Doric Star car. 9-21 V. H. Simpson 1 13. 13—Leighford b g 6yrs by Lei chon—Baffray 9-0 W. Lepper 2 -2. 2—Canadian, br g 4yrs by Foxbridge—Sona 10-6 J. W. Harris 3 3, 6 Silver Archer; 1. 1 Solar Mist (lost rider): 9. 12 Indian Scholar (lost rider)* 4. 3 Cabana; 7. 7 Sonloch: 6. 8 Opposition: 10, 10 WeUfield: 5. 4 Viewfield; 14. 14 Chief Justice; 12. 9 Dinkum: 8. 5 Reproof (fell) also started. Twenty lengths; four lengths. Viewfield was fourth. Time, 4min 51 3-ssec. Winner trained by R. Demler, part-owner, Morrinsville. Dividends.—Win: £l9 10s 6d. Places: £5 10s, £7 7s 6d, £2 4s. CROFTON HANDICAP, Of £750 About seven furlongs, 4. 4—RUTILANT br g 4yrs by Ruth-less-Molten 8-5 .. V. J. Sellars 1 16. 16—Camaval 8-0 .. A. J. Stokes 2 14. 13—y Shaun 8-10 .. R. J. Skelton 3 1. 1 Sir William bracketed Selector; 5. 6 Flying Gainsborough; 2,2 Bulla; 13, 14 Rueful: 17, 17 Deodar: 6. 5 Foghorn: 3. 3 Pahoro: 11. 11 Red Bill; 15, 15 Statice: 21, 21 Le Brabo; ft, 18 Wayren; 8. 12 Copperfield; 9, 9 Bernard; 7. 7 Quantico; 20, 20 Waireka; 19, 19 Gay Don; 10, 8 Master Touch bracketed Nokomis; 12. 10 Prince Shar bracketed Saunter also started. Half a neck; two lengths. Deodar was 41sec. Winner trained by T. H. Knowles, Awapuni. Dividends.—Win: £6 21s. Places: £3 3s. £lO 10s, £.9 3s. * ONSLOW HANDICAP, , Of £l2OO. About seven furlongs. 4. 4—PHAROAH’S CASTLE gr g syrs by Pherozshah—Adena 8-1

_ _ . C. H. Mackie 1 2. 3—Himiler, ch g 6yrs by Cimbrone—Merry Bunsby 9-5 H. 10—Sleipnir b h 4yrs by Gold NitS? 2 Valoos 8-2 K. Nuttall 3 6, 6 Curzon; 5, 8 Prince Regent; 7. 5 • 9 ? el^ y S d; lo * 11 Upright; ! S’ 1 3,2 Sanford; 8, 7 Clever 1 Lass also started. r f a 2 SJ} gth; neck * Fir-Bolgs was fourth. Time, imin 41|sec. W’inner trained by G. H. Salt. Otaki. • 6d Di £2 C "s £ X? ?’ £7 17S ' Places: £2 12s ! ORA HANDICAP, t or £9OO. About one mile and three j t furlongs. E A 3—BALLAST br g 4yrs by Bal- •,, 1001I 001 } -1 " 3 BeUa 8-1 A. J. Stokes 1 • ’r lB . C. H. Mackie 2 ' “it 1 2“£ !ow ? t S; 8-7 D - D Gough 3 . S ; 8 K °yal Warrant; 19. 19 Merry York: s , J Boayerbrook; a, 9 Easterbrook; 3, 4 Indian Sue:. 18, 18 Sasin; 6. 7 Baiveine; 13. i J? 16 - 15 Royal Invader: 14. ■ tF* 3 arla ’ 11, 17 Elsie Mary: 9, 10 La 1 2i aU rim l i>4. l m . No ? h , s S. a; ’• 8 Quits: 20. > 2. Gompactum; 2.2 Traffic Cop; 21. 20 ’ SrtaT Cf: 13 street ®lso

Two and a half lengths; nose. Traffic £2? , wa ? fourth. Time. 2min 47sec. Win--7H t .T3 In '? L Smith. Riccarton. 3,1 P,aees: £3

MINOR EVENTS AT TRENTHAM HUNTING VITE WINS HACK HURDLES favouritism for Hurdles at Trentham on ? He won comfortably after folAmiens and Puketoi into the and drawing clear -outside the Amiens and Sly Imp did most of the f’accmakmg. but Puketoi joined Amiens in trout at the six furlongs. Hunting Vite and Pictavia Boy were in the trailing positions racing to the home turn, and Hunting Vite ran past the leaders with ease soon alter straightening up. Alter that he was unchallenged, and reached tue post tour lengths clear of Amiens, which beat the second favourite, Bullenzo by two and a half lengths. Bullenzo made up several lengths from tne half-mile, but was never able to get challenging distance of the leadRobbie was a fair fourth two lengths back, just beating Pictavia Bov. Then there was a gap of 12 lengths to Wessex, wpich was followed by the Southlander, Riverstone. Riverstone did not show much dash on the heavy, slushy track. Barry ran off at the first jump, and Decapitate lost his rider six furlongs from home when well back. Novice Handicap Winner Black Oak dashed to the front near the half-mile in in the Novice Handicap and kept clear in the straight, winning with ease by three lengths from Sailing Signal. Sherris and Dollar Area both improved several places from the home turn for third and fourth. Black Oak was followed to the straight by Prince Subat, Leighon’s Star, Sailing Signal, and Brass Bar, but none of them troubled him in the straight. Sailing Signal beat Sherris by a length and a quarter for second. Dollar Area was a neck back fourth. Then there was a gap to Red Amber, which just beat Gay Silk. The Riccarton-trained Fairy Whispers was eighth after having every chance.

Black Oak is a rising four-year-old gelding by Jnstinct from Forest Song, trained at Bulls by W. A. McMillan for Mr J. Moron. Carnaval Unlucky The Riccartaon-trained Carnaval was unlucky not to win the Crofton Handicap for hi? Christchurch owner, Mr C. Whitford. He was slow away from the No. 23 barrier position, and his powerful challenge just failed to carry him past the Awapuni hack, Rutillant, which beat him by half a neck. Rutillant was in the first 10 at the end of a furlong, and moved through to be in front With Saunter on the home turn. He reached the front going to the furlong, but was all out to hold off Carnaval, which was tenth at the half-mile but little further ahead on the turn.

Shaun did well to get up for third two lengths back. He was not well placed for the first half-mile, and had to be taken very wide to improve his position racing to the straight. He kept- up a strong run from the turn, running past several horses over the last two fur-

longs. Shaun was fourth favourite for the corresponding race on the second day of the meeting, but this time he was 14-13 in the betting and paid £9 3s for a place. £1 7s less than Camaval. The Wing a tui-trained Deodar, which had only one runner behind her near the halfmile, finished strongly for fourth, a length clear of Foghorn, one of the slowest beginners. The favourite. Sir William, was among the leaders to the furlong, but weakened to sixth under top weight of 9-8. South Island Victory Ballast, which carries the same colours as Carnaval, and is also trained at Riccarton by T. I. Smith, Improved on his placing on the second day of the meet-

ing when he decisively won the Kia Ora Handicap. The race took a sensational turn in the middle stages when Durham Chief opened up a lead of 10 lengths, but he had reached the end of his run at the three furlongs A. J. Stokes always had Ballast well placed in the bunch chasing Durham Chief. Only Traffic Cop and Bowater were in front of him on the home turn, but he had them beaten outside the furlong, where he was starting to draw clear. He won by two and a half lengths from Annexe, which just shaded Bowater and Traffic Cop. The favourite, Beaverbrook, was fifth a length behind Traffic Cop. He improved a few places from the ruck over the last half-mile, but never looked likely to win. The others were beaten off. High Street led them home, but he was 20 lengths behind Beaverbrook. Indian Sue and Royal Invader were seventh and eighth. South Canterbury Hunt Acceptances Handicaps for the South Canterbury Hunt Club’s meeting will now appear on Tuesday, and acceptances will close at 4 pjn. that day. Advt.