RACING NGAPUNAWAI NARROWLY WINS GERALDINE CUP

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27466, 28 September 1954, Page 4

RACING NGAPUNAWAI NARROWLY WINS GERALDINE CUP

Although his form background was weak, Ngapunawai was favourite for the Geraldine Cup at Orari yesterday and a powerful run from a long way back carried him io victory in the last few strides. His hard struggle with Solstice and Cloudy View inside the last furlong was a feature of the Geraldine Racing Club’s first spring meeting, held in showery weather before a good attendance. Ngapunawai, a six-year-old gelding by Palfrey from Irrigation trained at Riccarton j>y R. Wilson for Mrs H. C. Manaton and Mr J. Cunneen, yesterday recorded his first win in 17 starts since the Westport meeting in October of last year. By a coincidence, Pleasure Bent had her first success since the same meeting at Wingatui on Saturday.

Place supporters of the Fulgent— Pack Drill bracket lost 2s 6d in the £ when Pack Drill won the Squatters’ Handicap, the open sprint on the programme. This was Pack Drill’s first run in open company and it gave him his third win from as many starts for the season.

Pack Drill had to be switched from the rails to challenge in the straight and the post was near when he mastered Strato, the Orari sprinter, being only half a neck back, with The Lum running on strongly for third close by.

Pack Drill is trained by K. J. Thomson, Riccarton. for Mr H. D. Greenwood. He will probably ra.ce next at the Wellington spring meeting. Dutch Flag won a rather tame contest for the Raukapuka Hack Handl-, cap, the second leg of. the double. He was in front all the way and only Scotch Gift could keep him within challenging distance, these two drawing out in the straight. Dutch Flag’s winning margin was half a length. The Ngapunawai—Dutch Flag combination carried 822 J tickets, including 684$ off-course on the double, and returned £52 17s for £l. The double pool was £26,303 10s, off-course betting amounting to £23,591. The on-course totalisator for the day was £32,799 10s, compared with £27,048 last year.

Geraldine Cup Chief Mate lost several lengths at the start of the Geraldine Cup. Archbishop, Cock Crow, and Modern Times racing in line through the straight for the first time from Chowder and Tyro. There was-a gap of three lengths to Solstice, a length to Trinidad, a length to Cloudy View, then Ngapunawai racing in a gap with only Chief Mate behind him. Archbishop was eased into the trailing position behind Modern Times near the seven furlongs and Chowder Went back a few places on the inner in the next furlong. At the six furlongs Solstice was taken forward to be almost on terms with Modern Times, ahead of Tyro and Archbishop. Trinidad, Cloudy View, Cock Crow and Chowder were next, four lengths clear of Ngapunawai, which did not appear to be galloping freely at that stage. Ngapunawai improved his position going to the half mile, moving up to be on the outside of Chowder and Cock Crow, but he still had six horses in front of him.

Solstice led round the home turn from Modern Times, Tyro, Cock Crow, and Archbishop. Cloudy View and Ngapunawai were doing best of the others there.

Ngapunawai kept up a strong run in the middle of the track and mastered Solstice and Cloudy View just short of the post, a head and a neck separating these three horses. Chowder did best of the others, making up ground for fourth three lengths back. Trinidad was fifth, and next to finish were Tyro, Archbishop, Chief Mate, Modern Times, and CockCrow. Pack Drill’s Success

Pack Drill made a winning debut in open company in the Squatters’ Handicap. Mr H. F. Greenwood’s smart Defaulter gelding had the run of-the race in the trailing position to the straight, but his supporters had an anxious moment when he could not get through on the inner outside the furlong. N. Eastwood then pulled Pack Drill out to challenge on the outside of Strato and Royal Symbol, and he wore the former down near the post to win by half a neck.

Strato led early, and after trailing Royal Symbol for a time disputed the lead round the home turn. He held on for second by half a length from The Lum, which finished strongly on the inner from the home turn.

The Lum lacked the early speed of some of her rivals and was hurried along to get into a challenging position. Her powerful finishing run would have probably given her victory over another furlong. Gold Tip improved from the turn for fourth a length back. Then there was a gap to Ngapunawai, which lost three lengths at the start. The weakening Royal Symbol led the others home. The Second Leg Dutch Flag got to the front early in the 1 Raukapuka Hack Handicap, and stayed there, shaking off a determined challenge from Scotch Gift, which had led the chase after him throughout. Half a length separated them at the finish, which they had to themselves. Freddy followed Dutch Flag and Scotch Gift to the half mile, and Doctor Pippin, Dahlia, Airscol, Silver Chat, and Silver Trumpet led the others. Silver Trumpet moved into third place after passing the three furlongs, but he was beaten on the home turn. Dutch Flag and Scotch Gift put a break on the others going to the furlong, and the former held on for a half-length win in a battling finish. Roi du Bois was four lengths back third, and three lengths clear of Freddy. Next, practically in line, were Adversary, Airscol and Dahlia.

Adversary did well to finish so close after dwelling slightly at the start. Silver Trumpet was next, with Royal Oak alongside him. Results:—

RAN GIT AT A HACK AND HUNTERS HURDLES, of £200; one mile and five furlongs.—l, 1 Mrs E. W. Rosewame’s b g EXCHEQUER by Royal Chief—Moneylender aged 10-3 G. G. Hampton 1; 2,2 Escalado aged 9-2 J. W. McDonald 2; 6, 5 Beeline aged 9-0 car. 9-4 D. Dawson 3. 3, 3 Full Tilt; 4, 4 Johnny Peep; 8, 7 Tammy Troot; 9, 9 High Time; 7, 8 Prosecutor; 5, 6 Jolly Miller also started. Six lengths; three lengths. Jolly Miller was fourth. Time, 3min 2sec. Winner trained by E. W. Rosewarne, Riccarton. Dividends.—Win: £2 Bs. Places: £1 6s, £1 13s, £3 7s.

OHAPI STAKES, of £150; seven furlongs.—s, 5 P. Ivey’s b m FLYING OWL by Finis—Owl’s Nest syrs 8-7 A. L. Good 1; 1, 1 Bonny Prim 4yrs 8-7 R. J. Skelton 2; 9, 7 Bargain 3yrs 8-7 W. D. Skelton 3.

6, 8 Alb; 8, 9 Arosa; 3, 3 Brilliant Right; 13, 12 Tassin; 14, 15 Cosmic; 15, 13 Fearless Flossie; 10, 11 Lady Defaulter; 2,2 Locksmith; 7. 6 Pat’s Treasure; 12, 14 Puccini; 11, 10 Radiant Lad; 16, 16 Show Place; 4, 4 SUn Up; 17, 17 Treasure Bond also started.

Head; half a length. Tassin was fourth. Time, Imin 29sec. Winner trained by L. H. Pratt, Orari.

Dividends.—Win: £l4 5s 6d. Places: £3 10s, £1 9s. £5 9s 6d.

GERALDINE CUP, of £400; one mile and a quarter.—!, 1 Mrs H. C. Manaton’s b g NGAPUNAWAI by Palfrey—lrrigation 6yrs 7-7 ear. 7-8 J A. J. Stokes 1; 6, 6 Solstice syrs 7-0 B. McDonald 2; 5, 5 Cloudy View syrs 7-11 W. D. Skelton 3.

3, 3 Archbishop; 4, 4 Trinidad; 8, 7 Cock Crow; 9, 9 Modem Times: 10, 10 Tyro; 2,2 Chowder; 7, 8 Chief Mate also started.

Head; neck. Chowder was fourth. Time, 2min 6sec. Winner -trained by R. Wilson, Riccarton.

Dividends.—-Win: £4. Places: £1 9s 6d, £3 6s, £2 7s 6d.

DOMAIN TROT HANDICAP, of £190; one mile and a quarter.—4, 4 C. V. May’s b g NIPALONG by Young Bob—Bright Nip 4yrs .scr owner 1; 1, 1 Colin Grattan aged scr W. R. Butt 2; 2,2 Scottish Fair 4yrs scr D. C. Watts 3. 16, 16 Derry Air; 14, 15 Dinnie Daly: 12, 12 Hurricane; 13, 13 Palmarie; 7, 8 Princess .Peterson; 5, 6 Queen’s Coronet; 8, 5 Shemard; 10,-10 Sir Roger; 11, 11 Stylish Lynda; 6, 7 Super Light; 9, 9 Synchronise; 3, 3 'Waitaki Joe; 15, 14 Young Blade also started. Neck; same. Super Light was fourth. Times—2min 51sec; 2min 51 l-ssec, 2min 51 2-ssec. Winner trained by owner, Methven. Dividends.—Win: £9 Bs. Places: £2 15s, £1 10s, £1 14s 6d.

RAUKAPUKA HACK HANDICAP, of £200; seven furlongs.—2, 2 C. Kain’s b g

DUTCH FLAG by Peak Halyard— Guilder 4yrs 8-11 W. D. Skelton 1; 4, 5 Scotch Gift 4yrs 8-9 A. J. Stokes 2; 3, 3 Roi du Bois syrs 7-12 R. J. Skelton 3. 6, 4 Royal Oak; 9, 10 Doctor Pippin; 12, 12 Royal Kara; 1, 1 Silver Trumpet; 8, 8 Shiver; 10, 11 Sheriff; 5, 6 Dahlia; 7, 7 Airscol; 14, 14 Adversary; 11,9 Freddy;. 13, 13 Silver Chat; 15, 15 Plassowa also started.

Half a length; four lengths. Freddy was fourth. Time, Irnln 27sec. Winner trained by L. H. Pratt, Orari. f Dividends-.—Win: £5 8s 6d. Places: £1 15s 6d, £3 2s, £2 3s 6d. SQUATTERS’ HANDICAP* of £245; Six furlongs.—l 1 H. D. Greenwood’s b g PACK DRILL by Defaulter—Battle Dress 4yrs 7-1 N. Eastwood 1; 2,2 Strato syrs 7-3 car. 7-7 W. D. Skelton 2; 4, 4 The Lum aged 8-4 R. J. Skelton 3. 10 ( 10 Count Defaulter; 9, 8 Royal Syrrfk bol; 1, 1 Fulgent bracketed winner; 3, 3 Gold Tip; 7, 7 Modern Times; 5, 6 Ngapunawai; 8, 9 Debenture; 6, 5 Easy Way also started.

Half a neck; half a length. Gold Tip was fourth. Time, Imin 13 3-ssec. Winner trained by K. J. Thomson, Riccarton. Dividends.—Win: £2 3s 6d. Places: 17s, 6d, £1 7s, £2 15s. BELFIELD HACK HANDICAP, of £210; nine furlongs.—l, 1 Mrs W. P. Pateman’s br c PORT BOY by Beau le Havre—Lady Alison 3yrs 8-1 A. J. Stokes 1; 12, 12 Prince Crusader 5-yrs 7-10 car. 7-10 J D. F. Coombe 2; 7, 7 The Bruiser 3yrs 7-10 car. 7-10 J W. D. Skelton 3.

3, 3 Weewyn; 6, 6 Argive; 10, 10 San Antonio; 8, 8 Ptarmigan; 4> 4 Goldywn; 2,2 Joss; 5, 5 Superdowa; U, 11 Passchenedaele; 9, 9 Steadfast also started. Length and a half; half a length. Weewyn was fourth. Time, Imin 51sec. Winner trained by E. J. Ellis, Washdyke. Dividends.—Win; £2 18s 6d. Places: £1 Bs, £23 ss, £4 Is.

ORARI TROT HANDICAP, of £210; 2min 56sec class; one mile and a quarter.—4. « Miss H. M. and B. H. Flynn's b g SIGNET RING by Direct Heir—Finery syrs 36 J. L. Behrns 1; 6, s New Idea 6yrs scr L. C. Frost 2; I, 1 Lynbeme 4yra 12 D. G. Nyhan 3.

3,2 Banbury bracketed First Class; 7, 7 Coronation Hall; 9, 9 Flying Pilot; 11, 10 Jenny Grattan; 10. 11 Sandra Kay; 5, 5 Nona Grattan; 2, 3 Scottish Song; 3, 8 Rapid Rival also started. Length; four lengths. Rapid Rival was fourth. Times—2min 44eec, 2mln 47 2-ssec, 2min «sec. Winner trained by J. D. Behrns, Chertsey. I X lde 2‘? s ~ Wln: £B *»■ Places: £2 Is. £2 7s. £1 12s.