RACING Scorpion Surprises In Otago Hunt Steeplechase

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27441, 30 August 1954, Page 5

RACING Scorpion Surprises In Otago Hunt Steeplechase

(From Our Own Reporter)

DUNEDIN, August 29. The Riccarton-owned and trained ccorpion caused a mild surprise by inning the Otago Hunt Club Cup Steeplechase at the Otago Hunt Club’s annual meeting at Wingatui on SatL. Austin’s veteran Sky Pilot gelding led for the last mile, and L won unchallenged, though the favourite. Sentinel, had joined him momentarily near the half-mile. Scorpion, the eighth favourite in a geld of 10. gave L. French, of Riccarton. a good ride. He jumped evenly all die way. and dashed right away from a tired lot over the last three furlongs Corona Fox opened her winning record in open company in the Wingatui Handicap, the first leg of the double. A powerful late run gave this half-sister to Akbar a narrow win over another light-weight, Strato, tfhose two previous appearances had produced wins in hack races at Washdyke and Riccarton. Corona Fox is trained at Wingatui by A. E. Didham for Mr H. G. Mcieod. of Ranfurly. The Didham stable also represented in this field by the better-backed Mighy Dollar, which fourth, about a length behind the Peony Royal recaptured form after a lapse by winning the Tally-Ho Handicap, the second leg of the double. Her only challenger from the furlong was Pleasure Bent, Riccarton’s only representative. Pleasure Bent’s finishing run was a strong one. but it just failed to carry her past Peony RovaL The Corona Fox-Peony Royal combination carried 45 tickets, and paid £95 7s for £l. E. G. Low, of Riccarton, had one of his best days for some time. He rode three winners—Peony Royal, Ocean Flight and Wayren. The weather was fine, the track dead, and the attendance fair. The on-course totalisator turnover was £37397, compared with £34,133 10s last year.

Scorpion’s Easy Win Scorpion shook off a challenge from Sentinel with ease near the half-mile in the Otago Hunt Club Cup Steeplechase, and drew away to beat the favourite by 50 yards. Sentinel and St Train had a good tussle for second from tfie last fence, and a length separated them at the finish. The others were beaten off. Scorpion led for the last mile. Sentinel led the chase after him from the seven furlongs, and, though he hooked the second of the double in the back straight, he went up to the Riccarton horse at the post and rails near the half-mile. Sentinel was going well enough to win there, but after another furlong W. J. Hillis was riding him hard and Scorpion was drawing away to a good lead. Scorpion further increased his lead from the last fence,. and won unchallenged. First Spin fell at the first fence, and Yankee Modesta went down at the fourth fence.

Strato made a bold bid to lead all the way in the Wingatui Handicap, but was caught in the last few strides by Corona Fox, which challenged from near the tail of the field. Royal Birthday and Mighty Dollar, the latter a stablemate of the winner, were close up in an interesting finishMighty Dollar and Chief Mate were the slowest away. After two furlongs. Strato and Irish Wings were together in front, and Mighty Dollar had rushed through to join Gold King in the trailing position. Next, in line, were Mijiji. Royal Birthday, and Persian Gulf. Strato had a clear lead on the home turn, and looked like holding it until a few strides from the post. Corona Fox’s late challenge was a strong one, and it gave her the narrowest of wins. Royal Birthday, which had chal-

bMk ed thi!-H he was half a len ?t h acK, third, and there was a similar was^rurnTinp D ° Uar ’ Chief MatG and , two 1GI >B ths Kln 8 weakened to be the win favourite, beat on y one home, but he should be a much improved colt for the race. Peony Royal in Form Roy .al Challenged from a close ear v ft, P? sltlon to reach the front the ?J th . e rUn bome, and she ran fmLS™ 0 ™ eamely to beat the faster™sl n ? Ptoasure Bent by a neck. These two had the finish to themback S ' „ Ta,> <th , ir d> was four lengths S a s*> , COl 2ing from the tail of the John„ tO c fi place in front °f Johnny Peep. Wait a Bit and DissencleaJ W of e thI actlCi L Ily rigl S up in Une - Clear of the weakening Royal Mail. »„™ rana . c and Royal Mail both had Pace-making for the first ii?hJP l e - . Royal Mail then estab- ? shght lead, and increased it u?2?i 8 i. tC ; j tl i. e three furlongs. Royal Uall , held tos lead round the home aim from Johnny Peep, Peony Royal. Saranae, and Wait a Bit, with Pleasure out comin ® ’ n *° the picture wider

Peony Royal mastered Royal Mail with ease before they reached the furtong, and established a lead that Pleasure Bent reduced but* could not close. The fast-finishing Taj cut Johnny Peep out of third place near the post. j-i°te n - y Pee P had every chance. So did Wait a Bit and Dissenter, which were in front of Pleasure Bent all way to the straight. There was little merit in the performances of any of the others. Results:— SEA VIEW HACK AND HUNTERS’ HURDLES, Of £350. One mile and a half. 6. B—EXODUS 9-0 .. R. O. Cairns 1 L 1 Brutus 9-8 .. D. Dawson 2 8. 7—Composition car. 9-1

. . B. R. Thomson 3 o 4 Wealthy; 2,2 Tenner; 9, 9 Delayed; 3, 3 The Tongs; 5. 6 First Wrack; 11. 10 Spanish Chief; 15. 14 Urbina: 12. 12 Knight Abbot: 10. 11 Legal Note: 14. 12 Thruster: 7 5 Black Briar; 13, 13 Glenure also started.

Neck; same. Black Briar was fourth. Time. 2min 45sec. Dividends.—Win: £l3 3s 6d. Places: £4 Ils, £1 8s 6d, £3 18s 6d. TRIAL STAKES, Of £225. Six furlongs. 1. I—OCEAN FLIGHT 8-1 J E. G. Low 1 4. 4—Minto Girl car. 8-10 J

_ _ J F. H. Skelton 2 3. 3—Seadune 8-10 .. R. J. Skelton 3 9. 10 Gay Mood: 10, 9 Wee Sue; 15, 16 The Fluke; 7, 7 Royal Way; 5, 5 Negus bracketed Periapt; 13, 12 Pat’s Flame: 8. 8 Bonny Prim; 16, 15 Pinasco; 6, 6 The Bruiser; 11. 11 Super Night; 13, 12 Stratus; 12. 14 Totrabar; 2,2 King’s Lace also started. Five lengths; nose. Bonny Prim was fourth. Time, Imin 15sec. Dividends.—Win: £1 11s 6d. Places: 18s. £2 6s, £1 17s 6d. OTAGO HUNT CUP STEEPLECHASE, Of £6OO. Two miles and a haff. 8. B—SCORPION 9-2 .. L. French 1 1. I—Sentinel 10-1 .. W. J. Hillis 2 2. 2—St. Truin 9-0 A. Cowan 3 9, 9 Miro Chabo; 7, 6 Six Cylinder; 5, 4 Survivor; 3, 3 Chief Stuart; 6, 7 Yankee Modesta; 4, 5 Hasty Bill; 10, 10 First Spin also started. Fifty yards; length. Survivor was fourth. Time, smin lOsec. Dividends.—Win: £l2 12s. Places: £3 13s, £1 10s 6d, £2 Is. WINGATUI HANDICAP, Of £4OO. Six furlongs. 5. S—CORONA FOX 8-0 .. J. Didham 1 4. 3—Strato 8-0 .. R. J. Skelton 2 8. 7—Royal Birthday 8-8 J. M. Cappie 3 3, 1 Persian Gulf; 7, 8 Gold Strike: 2, 4 Mighty Dollar; 6, 6 Irish Wings; 9, 9 Gold King; 1,2 Mijiji; 10, 10 Chief Mate also started. Nose; half a length. Mighty Dollar was fourth. Time, Imin 14 2-ssec. Dividends.—Win: £8 13s. Places: £2 6s 6d, £1 15s, £6 Us. B. S. IRWIN STEEPLECHASE. Of £250. Two miles. • 8. B—WILSHIRE 11-0 Mr J. G. Mulvena 1

3. 4—-Erin’s Smile 12-0 o Mr E. R. Curtis 2 a 9. 9—The Grange 11-0 v Mr B. D. Collins 3 5, 5 Six Cylinder; 2,2 Mentor; 1, 1 £ Gabriel’s Gully; 4. 3 Dim Light; 7, 7 Can- s zona; 6, 6 Pity also started. ( One hundred and 50 yards; four g lengths. Time, 3min 47sec. - Dividends—Win: £22 18s. Places. £3 15s, £2 2s. £4 19s 6d. ( TALLY-HO HANDICAP, c Of £450. One mile. ' t 1. 2—PEONY ROYAL 9-1 E. G. Low 1 I 3. 3—Pleasure Bent 7-13 G. W. Mein 2 f 10. 10 Taj car. 8-11 •• F. H. Skelton 3 i 5, 4 Royal Mail; 6, 6 Johnny Peep; 4. 5 ( Wait-a-Bit; 7, 7 Dissenter; 11, 11 Algiers: 1 2, 1 Saranac; 9, 9 Gold Token; 8, 8 Chief ( Light: 12. 12 Royal Chinna also started, j Neck; four lengths. Johnny Peep was fourth. Time, Imin 42sec. Dividends.—Win: £5 12s. Places: £2 3s, £2 ss. £4 Ils. VAUXHALL HANDICAP, Of £3OO. Seven furlongs. 5. 4—WAYREN 8-9 .. E. G. Lox.’ 1 7. 7—Russley Lad 8-0 .. J. Didham 2 1. I—Sure Swift 8-12 .. R. J. Skelton 3 1 10, 10 Sir Miladieux; 4, 5 Mulberry; 3. 3 i Armando; 2.2 Red Ringe; 6, 6 The Boss: 9. 9 Haughty Step; 8, 8 Twin Jet also : started. Length and a half; half a head. Armandp was fourth. , Time, Imin 29sec. Dividends.—Win: £9 7s 6d. Places: £2 8s 6d. £3 18s 6d. £1 7s 6d. TAIERI HANDICAP, Of £325. One mile and three furlongs. 2.4— RUDOLPH 8-11 W. D. Skelton 1 8. B—Royal Simper 8-3 .. E. G. Low 2 6 7—Soumai 8-0 .. B. J. Anderton 3 4. 3 Evening Shoes; 3. 2 Abbot’s Choice; 9. 9 Waffles: 7. 6 Culton; 5. 5 Square Dance; 1, 1 Gypsy Tap also started. Two lengths: one length. Abbot’s Choice was fourth. Time, 2min 22sec. Dividends.—Win: £4 10s 6d. Places: £1 17s, £3 18s 6d. £3 17s.