RACING Tenth Consecutive Win To Somerset Fair At Trentham

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27565, 24 January 1955, Page 4

RACING Tenth Consecutive Win To Somerset Fair At Trentham

(From Our Own Reporter)

WELLINGTON, January 23. The top-class Ellerslie colt, Somerset r air. recorded his tenth successive unn on Saturday, when he comfortably beat Eay Ribbon and outclassed the two other runners in the Gloaming Stakes.l one imte ar * d a half - at Trentham. The big Fair’s Fair colt, another bar-' gam from a New Zealand sale ring, i carried £4279 10s in a pool of £6772. and paid £1 3s. As expected, Ray Ribbon had enough | ability to put a runaway win for Som-! erset Fair out of the question. Ray 1 Ribbon gamely challenged on the inside early in the run home, and kept! the race alive until the end. Three-. quarters of a length separated them at the post, but G. F. Hughes did not have; to ride the big Ellerslie bay out to ■ held that advantage. * •] “Somerset Fair is undoubtedly a champion: any horse that can win 10 races on end must be a champion.” said Sydney’s leading trainer, T. J. Smith, after the race. Smith, who has been here for the National Yearling Sales, said that any Australian campaign that might be undertaken with Somerset Fair would arouse great in-; terest in his country. Somerset Fair is trained by a young Aucklander. J. C. Bagby, for Messrs B. A L. Millen and J. E. Williams. On his last visit to Trentham, he won the! Wellington Guineas, Ray Ribbon also being runner-up that day. Finite Wins The Wellington Racing Club Handi-; cap was won in sound style by Finito,' which had finished fifth in the Wel- : lington Cup a week earlier. He was sixth favourite in a field of 17. Finito is trained at Woodville by E. Ropiha! for a Trentham owner. Mr P. S. McColl.

Tcparoa. another Woodville-trained stayer, closed brilliantly on Finito inside the last furlong, but the six-year-old Finis gelding won comfortably. Woodville also supplied the third horse. Golden Galleon, which made a bold bid to be the first to complete the Wellington Cup-Racing Club Handicap double. Finito carried 14.292 doubles tickets in a pool of £114.939. and 897 were redeemed on Fair Chance, which narrowly and rather luckily beat the game Wingatui-trained and Christchurchowned Ma Reine in the second leg, the Metropolitan Handicap. Ma Reine wa’fe steered away from the rails in an attenjpt to find a gap in the straight, and gave Fair Chance the run through. Ma Reine still had trouble. getting clear, and the ground she lost there would have given her victory.

The hot favourite, Tamrin, was beaten off, third, but he did well to get into the money after bounding into the air and losing ground at the start. Fair Chance is a four-year-old chestnut gelding by Fair’s Fair from Irish Chance, trained by his owner, G. C. Tucker, at Takanini. Mr Tucker's colours were carried to victory earlier in the day by Glenreagh, the outsider of a field of nine in the Ruapehu Handicap. Trentham had a light shower or two during the day, but the track remained hard and fast. The oncourse totalisator turnover was

£196.236 10s (double £21,504 10s) against £198.922 for the second day last year. The Finito-Fair Chance double combination paid £2ll 16s for £l. The Gloaming Stakes The Riccarton-trained Ray Ribbon made a race of the Gloaming Stakes when he ran up to Somerset Fair early in the run home. Somerset Fair was always master of the situation, but the Southern colt gamely battled on and was only three-quarters of a length back at the finish. Somerset Fair ran into a lead of a length and a half over the first furlong, but Watch and Wait, pulling, had joined the champion in front going to the mile, where Ray Ribbon was trailing a length back and two lengths clear of Glenlee. Somerset Fair moved through on the inside to join Watch and Wait in front again when the race was half over, and they raced that way to the home turn, where Ray Ribbon was still in the trailing position, clear of Glenlee. Watch and Wait had ended hf'r run on straightening up, and W. D. Skelton immediately called on Ray Ribbon for his effort. The response was good, and the South Island’s best staying three-year-old pushed through on the inside, but his jockey pulled the whip on him going to the furlong. G. F. Hughes had just to keep Somerset Fair going to hold his lead. Glenlee ran past Watch and Wait in the straight to get third money, seven lengths behind Ray Ribbon. Finito challenged strongly from a handy position in the Wellington Racing Club Handicap, and, after working clear inside the furlong, he won with a good deal to spare, if only by half a length, from the fast-finishing Toparoa. Golden Galleon was half a length back, third. Finito had eight runners in front of him with a mile and a quarter to run, but he moved forward a few places to have only Poetical and Golden Galleon in front of him starting the last half-mile. He held that position to the home turn, ran past Golden Galleon after a short tussle just inside the furlong, and won with his jockey (M. C. Robinson) sitting still on him. Toparoa was near the rear when the field settled down, but made progress in the long run down the back straight to the half-mile. There he had nine horses in front of him, and on the home turn he was following Poetical, Golden Galleon, Finito, King’s Lady and Lucky Cast. He ran the last two furlongs with characteristic gameness, but challenged too late to trouble Finito. Golden Galleon ran much the same race as he did in the Wellington Cup. He joined King’s Lady in front sever furlongs from home, but got a rur behind Poetical from the seven furlongs to the straight. For a moment he looked likely to complete a difficult double when he went clear momentarily, but Finito mastered him ir a few strides. Lucky Cast was under the whip from well up the straight, and his fourth was the result of a game performance. He was a length fron Golden Galleon at the finish, and threequarters of a length clear of the weakening Poetical. The Wake, running on. was a nose back sixth, and twe and a half lengths clear of the wir favourite Idaho, which had his chance The Lum was eighth, without ever appearing to be going like a winner Sugar Bowl was next in a gap, and was followed in by King’s Lady, Swift Gold. Field Chief, Golden Arch, Gold

Quality, Hutton, Half a Crown, and Bosky. Fair Chance Succeeds Fair Chance and the Wingatuitrained Ma Reine had a tough battle for the honours in the Metropolitan Handicap, the camera giving Fair Chance victory by half a head. Had Ma Reine received a better run over the last furlong and a half, the placings would probably have been reversed, but there was a good deal of merit in the performance of Fair Chance, which came fast from the ruck. Tamrin. a hot favourite, bounded in the air at the start and lost valuable ground and a good chance to secure a good position. Nelson’s Blood, Denounce and Ma Reine were three of the fastest early. Foy sped through to join Denounce in front going to the half-mile. Baby Dakar and Ma Reine were in the trailing positions, and Lucrative, Nelson’s Blood, Tamrin, Strato, Hot Drop, Fair Chance and Beau Sol were next. There were few changes of any significance in the next two furlongs, but Foy was beaten soon after they rounded the turn. Ma Reine had difficulty getting _ through to challenge outside the furHaH hetfpr fnr- . . . AND <

Fair Chance made the deciding stride in a thrilling two-horse finish.

Tamrin finished too well for the !others, and reached third place by half a length from the fast-finishing Three | Step. ; Lucrative was a length and a half back, sixth, and there was another l length and a half to the weakening Denounce. Next were Rio Negro, Hot Drop, Nelson’s Blood, Foy, Beau Sol, Strato, Baby Dakar, and Sports Post. Results:—

MUNGAROA HIGH-WEIGHT, !Of £750. One mile and three furlong.-.. 2.2— JUTLAND 9-9 .. R. J. Turnwald 1 ; 1. I—Travesty 10-10 A. G. Waddell 2 I 10. 10—The Bet 9-0 .. R. Forward 3 5, 5 Relinquish: 3, 4 Probator: 4, 3 : Maire; 8, 6 Arigead; 7, 9 Baithen: 6, 7 Keynote; 9, 8 Royal Tryst also started. Half a length: five lengths. Relinquish was fourth. Time. 2min 19sec. Dividends.—Win: £4 5s 6d. Places: £1 14s, £1 13s 6d, £7 13s. JANUARY HANDICAP, Of £l5OO. One mile 2. 2—REDCRAZE 8-9 .. V. J. Sellars 1 1. I—Sir William 8-4 .. C. McDonald 2 8. B—lncomparable 7-12 T. S. Carbin 3 5, 6 Lingual; 11. 12 Taringaroa; 4, 5 i Corona Fox; 10, 10 Baraden; 3. 3 Pharoah’s , Castle; 7, 7 Declare; 6. 4 Zizette; 9, 9 Chatjtan; 12. 11 Diadema also started. Three-quarters of a length; half a length. Pharoah’s Castle was fourth. Time, Imin 37%sec. I Dividends.—Win: £6 Is. Places: £2 2s, I £1 Ils. £3 16s 6d. GLOAMING STAKES iOf £2500. Three-year-olds. One mile and a half. [ I—SOMERSET FAIR 8-10 G. F. Hughes 1 ;2—Ray Ribbon 8-10 .. W. D. Skelton 2 14 —Glenlee 8-7 .. .. C. A. Bowry 3 3 Watch and Wait also started. Three-quarters of a length: seven I lengths. Watch and Wait was fourth. Time, 2min 31Jsec. Dividend.—Win: £1 3s. WELLINGTON RACING CLUB HANDICAP, Of £3750. One mile and a half.

6. 6—FINITO 8-3 .. M. C. Robinson 1 4. I—Toparoa1—Toparoa car. 7-6 .. B. P. Wood 2 9- 9—Golden Galleon 8-7

W. J. Broughton 3 15, 16 Hutton; 3, 7 The Lum; 1. 3 Idaho; 10, 10 The Wake; 7, 5 Lucky Cast; 8, 8 Field Chief; 16, 15 Bosky; 2. 4 Swift Gold, 5,2 Half-a-Crown; 12, 12 King’s Lady; 11, 14 Poetical: 13, 13 Gold Quality; 17. 11 Golden Arch; 11. 11 Sugar Bowl also started.

Half a length; same. Lucky Cast was fourth. Time. 2min 29sec.

Dividends.—Win: £ll 9s. Places: £3 14s, £2 12s, £4 17s.

RUAPEHU HACK HANDICAP, Of £9OO. One mile and three furlongs. 9. 9—GLENREAGH 7-121 •• A. Morton 1 3. 3—Americus 8-9 .. C. McDonald 2 1. I—Shaun 8-4 .. C. H. Mackie 3 5, 6 Annexe; 4, 4 Demijour; 7. 7 Bon Soir; 2,2 Pictavia Nigger; 8, 8 Trion; 6, 5 Dividend also started.

Neck; three-quarters of a length. Pictavia Nigger was fourth. Time. 2min 221 sec. Dividends.—Win: £l3 6s. Places: £7 9s 6d, £1 19s 6d. £1 15s.

NURSERY HANDICAP, Of £BOO. Two-year-old colts and geldings. Six furlongs. 1. I—AVENGE 8-10 .. J. W. Harris 1 3. 2—Zariba 7-12 .. W. J. Broughton 2 5. 7—Blue Count 8-5 C. McDonald 3 2, 3 Luckydale; 6, 6 Great Seal; 8, 8 Pyrrhus; 4, 4 Grand Bank; 9, 9 Fireball: 7, 5 Nicotian also started.

’Length; two lengths and a half. Lucky dale was fourth. Time, Imin HJsec.

Dividends.—Win: £3 13s. Places: £1 9s 6d, £1 15s, £3 ss. METROPOLITAN HANDICAP, Of £2OOO. Seven furlongs.

4. 6—FAIR CHANCE 8-12 A. Morton 1 3. 2—Ma Reine 7-12 .. R. J. Skelton 2 1. I—Tamrin 8-0 A. J. Stokes 3 11, 11 Baby Dakar; 8, 9 Strato; 2, 3 Hot Drop; 6, 5 Nelson’s Blood; 12, 10 Foy; 10, 14 Denounce; 13, 12 Rio Negro; 14, 13 Beau Sol; 5, 7 Three Step; 7. 4 Lucrative; 9, 8 Sports Post also started. Head; three lengths. Three Step Was fourth. Time, Imin 23Jsec. Dividends.—Win: £l2 2s. Places: £3 15s, £2 9s, £1 9s 6d. DOURO HACK HANDICAP, Of £lOOO. One mile. 2. 2—DECISIVE 8-6 .. C. A. Bowry 1 8. a—Cornflake 7-10 .. W. D. Skelton 2 3. 3—Gold Trend 8-6 C. McDonald 3 fer 5 Nottingham; 9, 9 Galileo; Ux' 4 C%a's Revenge; 4, 7 Historic ll, 11 Hickory Stick; 19, Lady Help; 20, 20 Beau Ray; 10, 10 Josiah; 17. 17 Rose O’Grady; 14, 14 Tar we; 7. 6 Mac Duff; 13, 13 Carnmore; 8. 8 Strada bracketed Cornflake; 16, 16 Siphon bracketed Lingus; 18. 18 Iroquoi: 6, 4 White City bracketed Damper; 15, 15 Gay Student bracketed Hilili also started. Half a length; length. Nottingham was fourth. Time, Imin 37Jsec. Dividends.—Win: £7 14s. Places: £2 17s 6d, £4 9s, £3 3s 6d. . \ -

MINOR EVENTS AT TRENTHAM

HIGH WEIGHT WON BY JUTLAND (From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, January 23. A South Island horse. Travesty, was perfectly handled by A. G. Waddell in the Mungaroa High-Weight, for which he was favourite, at Trentham yesterday, but he'found Jutland a shade too good at the weights. These two had an interesting finish to themselves, and the Te Awamutu five-year-old ran on gamely for a half-length* victory. Jutland, after delaying the start, lost four lengths at barrier rise, but was soon trailing. R. J. Turnwald took him forward to join Probator in front near the ■ six furlongs, and after another two furlongs, he went clear by a length from Travesty. That was how they raced to the straight, but Travesty was alongside before they reached the furlong. Jutland's response was a game one, and he was master of the situation over the last 50 yards. The Bet, after being checked early and well towards the rear at the half mile, got up for third, but five lengths back. Just behind him was the Riccartontrained Relinquish, which challenged from an awkward position on the inner. Royal Tryst was a weakening fifth. Rede raze in Form Redcraze, the Pahiatua Cup winner, a fortnight earlier, made a successful first appearance at the meeting in the January Handicap, for which he was second favourite. He was hard ridden some distance out, but after getting to the front going to the furlong, he won handily by three-quarters of a length from the fastfinishing Sir William, the favourite. 1 Redcraze was in one of the trailing posii tions from the start, but Sir William was . not so fortunately placed when the rush for positions had ended. Redcraze was hard ridden to master Incomparable early in the run home and he established a • lead that Sir William could not bridge. Well back on the inner starting the last half mile, Sir William made some progress when he moved out from the rails going to the three furlongs. He found a 1 gap through the middle of the field on ■ the turn, but did not really start to make L much progress until near the furlong. His , finishing run was a bold one, and it carried him pest the others with a rush near ; the post. Incomparable, running on better now i than earlier in the season, was half a length back, third, and Pharoah’s Castle (running on), Baraden, and Lingual were close by. Chattan, one of the slow beginners, was a head back, seventh, and Taringaroa was close up, eighth. Then there was a gap to Zizette and another to Corona Fox and Declare, which were both slow away. Ontsider Wins

Glenreagh, the outsider in a field of nine, put a big break on the field more than half a, mile from home in the Ruapehu Handicap, and he beat the fast-fin-ishing Americus by a neck. Americus made a bold bid to win his second race for the meeting, but had to give Glenreagh too big a start from the half mile. Glenreagh got to the front near the nine furlongs, and went to the half-mile five lengths clear of Shaun, Dividend and Pictavia Nigger, which were closely followed by Annexe and Bon Soir. Americus was two lengths back, and two lengths clear of Trion and Demijour. Glenreagh was still four lengths clear on the home turn, and led to the furlong from Shaun. Americus came fast on the scene wider out, but the post came a few strides too soon. Shaun, the favourite, was three-quarters of a length back, third, and a neck in front of Pictavia Nigger. Annexe was right up. fifth, two lengths clear of Demijour which did not gallop with much freedom on the hard track. Dividend *was three lengths back, seventh, two lengths ahead of Bon Soir, which beat only Trion home.

Ayenge’s fourth In the Wellington Stakes on the first day of the meeting made him favourite for the Nursery Handicap, and he won solidly under top-weight of 8-10 for Mr W. S. Goosman, for whom he is trained at Awapuni by J. T. Muir. i AveP*»- one of the best beginners, was ■ one ' leaders all the way, and had in front of him crossing the 3H ; the course proper. Zariba ——' ( VUUI ;

held to his lead to near the furlong, but Avenge responded well for J. W. Harris, and won going away by a length. Zariba was unchallenged' for second. He

was two and a half lengths clear of the only South Island runner. Blue Count, which was running on a length and a half clear of the weakening Luckydale. Great Seal was three-quarters of a length back fifth. Then there was a nose to Pyrrhus and a length to Nicotian. The others were well out of it.

Cornflake Unlucky The Oamaru-trained Cornflake appeared to be a shade unlucky to lose to the second favourite. Decisive, in the Douro Handicap. Cornflake had difficulty in getting clear outside the furlong, and, hard ridden, he gave the Otaki hack a Strong chase near .the post and got to within half a length. Gold Trend, which had taken over the going to the furlong, was weakening slightly in third place, a length back, two lengths clear of Nottingham.

Cornflake was one of the best beginners in the big field, and was one of the leaders over the first furlong, alongside Rock, Galileo and Tarwe. Decisive was just behind them with Gold Trend about three places back. Gold Trend galloped keenly to the front soon after, but gave way to Siphon going to the half-mile. Damper moved through into one of the trailing positions, and Decisive was two places back. Cornflake had drifted a few places, and he had the Riccarton filly, Iroquoi. alongside him. Siphon was done with early in the run home, and Gold Trend worked clear momentarily, but he was soon tackled by Decisive. Decisive had the mastery in- , side the furlong, but had to be kept going i when Cornflake got out of an awkward pocket and closed on him. Nottingham did well to carry top weight ■ of 10-0 into fourth place. He came from a long way back, and had to go very wide on the turn. Tarwe was next in a gap. Then there was a head to Beau Ray, half a length to Iroquoi which could not an opening early in the,run home, > a nose to the weakening Siphon, half a length to Josiah, and a nose to Rock, Strada and Hilili were two of toe slow- : est beginners, and Macduff drifted to the rear inside the first 50 yards. Hororata Club Acceptances (racing), Withdrawals (trotting) for the Hororata Racing Club's , meeting to be held at Hororata on Saturday. January 29, 1955, close at 4 p.m. today, January 24, 1955. with the secretary, P- J. Byrne, 193 Cashel street, Christchurch. Advt. , Akaroa. zsanks r-piunauia, I