DECISIVE WIN FOR MIDDAY

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27441, 30 August 1954, Page 4

DECISIVE WIN FOR MIDDAY

METROPOLITAN STAKES AT ADbINGTON

I Midday, which is raced by the presi- - dent of the New Zealand Trotting Conferenpe (Mr A. L. Matson) and th© Yaldi hurst trainer, A. Holmes, showed game- , ness at Addington on Saturday to win , the Metropolitan Stakes in a tight finish . with Hyperbole. Driven by his trainer, Holmes, Midday began well, and he . wks soon handily placed behind the stablemates Hyperbole and Lucky Spot, with Caduceus right up. Midday had lost a place or two racing to the straight, where he was not far behind Hyperbole, Caduceus, Lucky Spot, and Gay Lad, with Buccaneer and Invicta next. Hyperbole was clear at the. furlong, but Midday, responding gamely, finished slightly the better to win by a long neck. Hyperbole broke at the start, but he soon made up ground to be in front at the end of two furlongs. He did well to hold on for second, and will have bright prospects when next he reverts to handicap racing Gay Lad, which was always handily placed,' added to his consistent record by finishing third, two lengths behind Hyperbole, with three lengths to Lucky Spot, which just shaded Buccaneer and the favourite, Caduceus. The last-named found the tajk of conceding up to 48 yards to some smart pacers too much for him on the day. Invicta and Martini followed Caduceus. Brahman and Con Scott broke at the start. Moray stood on the mark, and Local Light ran into him, losing his , driver, T. Webster, who was not injured. Favourite Wins Scottish Note justified the solid support accorded him on-course after it had been announced that M, * Holmes would drive him in the Improvers’ Handicap by win- - ning .narrowly from Silver Circle. Scot- ] tish Note was second to last with one mile and a. quarter to run, but his driver ! then moved him up several places. He appeared to tangle slightly at the two- 1 furlong_ post, and at the straight entrance ’ he was behind Camdon, which had made < all foe pace, Mighty Falla, Silver Circle, Reko, Sedate, and Esquire, with Bronze i Indian handy. Scottish Note put in a great burst in the straight, and, although he ran in. he held on to beat Silver 1 Circle by a head.

Silver Circle had a perfect trail all the way, and ran on well once she got clear in foe straight. The pacemaker, Camdon, held on gamely in foe straight to dead-heat for third with Mighty Falla, which had never been very far away. Esquire ran a sound race for -fifth, ahead of the disappointing Sedate, with Lodestar. Bronze Indian, ana Royal Robin following. Accident Mars Race An accident at the end of half a furlong marred the Queen Mary Handicap. Beau Marie, which had broken at the start, fell, and Crafty Guy and Fair Annette went over foe top of her. Tribal Song had to be pulled up to avoid the fallen horses.

Rowan Star was the leader after the accident, but she was passed by Chandelier with nine furlongs to run. Chandelier still had the lead at the straight entrance, followed by Rowan Star and Lady Jane (together). Gay Heritage and Roy Grattan (together), and Ice Drift. Rowan Star was pulled out to challenge Chandelier just inside the furlong, but she could make no impression, and Chandelier won convincingly by .two lengths. Rowan Star was a surprise 2, 3 favourite,. and she showed improvement on her effort of the previous week to take second place, clear of Roy Grattan, which finished on for third, half a length in front of Gay Heritage, with gaps to Lady Jane and Ice Drift.

■ Beau Marie, Flagship, Chandelier, Tribal Spng, and Fair Annette lost ground at foe

Seaforth Wins Narrowly Seaforth, after forcing the pace for most of foe race, held off Ecosse by half a head in foe Addington Handicap. Seaforth began best, and at the end of two furlongs Demimonde took over. At the end of one mile Seaforth and Pylon were on terms with Demimonde, but further ¥ Bt 7. n *l? ed worked clear again. S^°£ th took . the measure of Demimonde with four and a half furlongs to run, and racing to the straight he was joined by W^ h R . eda l e - Creek, Demimonde, Morning Mist/ and Executivhandy. Seaforth appeared likely to have » ntil a few brides from the Post.- where Ecosse was doing slightly the better. Ecosse was just beaten. Ecosse raced soundly for his placing and, again ’ he should soon Cre c k - one of the backmarkerx trotted excellently for third, a length behind Ecosse. His 4min 21 2-ssec for the two miles was a smart effort. Bfter breaking early in the e t ?Ei g^und for fourth, ahead Jlver ale ’ t De mimpnde and Quick-

Mdai^ Grattan , Wai d , Pylon werf among those to . “istakes and Quick Silver broke with three furlongs to run.