Macduff Has Overdue Win At Riccarton

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27631, 12 April 1955, Page 4

Macduff Has Overdue Win At Riccarton

Macduff, a disappointment in several of his 15 earlier races this season, recaptured winning form for his Wellington owner, Mr G. A. Lang, in the Opawa Handicap at Riccarton yesterday. He was closest to the pacemaking Silver Trumpet to the straight, ran past the Washdyke horse with ease going to the furlong, and won decisively by a length. The struggle for the minor places was a keen one. Trustworthy and Felicitous, both strong finishers, got up for second and,third, just shading Michael Brierly, which had been closer to the front coming to the straight. Trustworthy had only on runner behind him at the half-mile and did not come into the picture until near the furlong, where he was at the height of a strong run on the outer. He went strongly right to the finish, but eould not trouble Macduff.

Felicitous had seven runners in front of him starting the last half-mile and came on the scene at the same time as Trustworthy. Michael Brierly had his chance, and his effort was a fair one, pointing to an early win in this class for the Riccarton trainer, J. S. Shaw.

The weakening Silver Trumpet was three-quarters of a length back fifth, and a length and a half clear of Passchenedaele.

Passchenedaele was the tall-ender until the haH-mile. He challenged on the inner and got close to the leaders near the home turn, but could not sustain his run. He was two lengths clear <of Harleston and Decipher; the others were beaten ofi. \ Harleston was fourth at, the halfmile, making up ground 'then after being slow away, but his finish was weak. Great Tom's Win Sherpa worked clear early in the Courtenay Handicap and made a bold bld to lead all the way. Great Tom, his only challenger, ran the race out too strongly for him, beating him decisively by a length. De Bracey and Fm Alone both finished strongly for third and fourth respectively. Super Find was left, Expendable dwelt from wide out in the big field, and Dartaway was squeezed back in the first few strides. Sherpa and Lo Night were two of the best beginners ana led to the half-mile from Royal Glade, Marette, Gazette, Smuggles, and Great Tom.

Lo Night dropped out near the home turn, and soon after Great Tom was alongside Sherpa. These two were clear and raced to the furlong on terms. Great Tom was master of the

Smuggles made up ground on the inner for fifth behind De Bracey and I’m Alone. Royal Glade was next clear of the fast-finishing Expendable, which was in line with Gazette, Dartaway, and Marette. y The favourite Tulagi was never able to get Into a challenging position after starting wide out He finished in the middle of the field. So did Ripon Wood. Royal Quest broke away before the start of the race and the field was sent away without her. Great Tom is trained at Riccarton by F. A. Roberts for Mr E. Steele, of Sydney.

Skylight Holds On The Southland-owned, Riccartontrained Skylight opened his winning record for Mr W. E. Hazlett in the Russley Handicap. He was a good favourite, but had to work hard to justify his position in the face of a bold challenge from the Wlngatuitrained Persia.

Skylight was in front from the start, but had Wendy Ways close by after two furlongs. There Pltter Patter was third, just ahead of Persia, Nehru, Ditched, and Hay Time, which were racing in line ahead of Perisan Melody. Cardinal King, one of the slowest beginners, was starting to recover bis position next Persia moved out from the rails to lodge his challenge as they came to the course proper and was alongside Skylight going to the furlong. C. T. Wilson had to get the very best out of the top weight to take a nose victory. The fast-finishing Cardinal King was three lengths back third and Nehru was a fair fourth a length back. Then there was a length and a half to Wendy Ways, and three-quarters of a length to Hay Time, which was followed in by Jewel Royal and Ditched. Persian Melody was next, in a gap. Deenljour Too Good Demijour made a successful first appearance from R E. Johnstone’s Riccarton stable in the Autumn Plate. He followed The Bruiser and Beau Ray all the way to the straight, shot clear going to the furlong and won as he liked by four lengths from the North Islander, Beau Ray, which shaded Cornflake. » After half a mile The Bruiser led by half a length from Beau Ray, with

Demijour, Roi du Bois and Cornflake in line and Solstice close by. There was little change in the next three furlongs, except that Scuppered improved her position going to the halfmile.

Demijour followed The Bruiser, Beau Ray, and Cornflake into line, but dashed past them in a' few strides. None looked likely to get near him after that Beau Ray ran the race out a shade better than Cornflake. Scuppered was running on for fourth two lengths back, beating Spike Jones by a neck. Goldwyn, the favourite, was running on another neck back sixth, ahead of Inspire, Solstice, Rol du Bois and Ptarmigan. North Island Winner

Honest John, the only North Island hack in the field, was much too good for his opponents in the Papanui Handicap. He showed speed to take the trailing position behind Golden Shoes inside the first two furlongs and held that position to the home turn. He ran clear -outside the furlong and won soundly by two lengths and a half. Princess Neptune did best of the -South Island hacks. She was never far from the front, following Golden Shoes and Honest John into line. She was a clear second from the furlong and beat the favourite. Gold Trend, by a length and a haft for second. Gold Trend, a firm favourite, had seven horses in front of him starting the last half-mile and made his run in the middle of the track. He was a clear third, with a length and a half to spare from Iroquoi, which had to be switched away from the rails to mB J ce „progress in the straight. Alrscol and Teko led the others home. Royal Charm and Ideal Robe were slowest away. INQUIRIES HELD AT RICCARTON The lpHowing reports were issued by the atipemdiary steward. Mr W. Freeman, at Riccarton yesterday:.Between toe four and five furlongs in toe Great Bester Handicap, Copenhagen, ridden by W. Hanlin, suffered a check and at least two lengths. This was c ®u*ed by Strato, which was pulling hard, 3 e *Jb3g on the heels of horses in front and having nowhere to go. The Incident was accidental, and no blame was attachable to F. H. Skelton, toe rider of Strato. A sWab was taken from Kingship, the winner of the Great Easter Handicap, as

xz. A£ S? r Pee® l ®* toe five-furlong post In the Courtenay Handicap, Calcutta Sweep, ridden by C. T. Wilson, did not take the turn immediately, and caused Tulagi (C. McDonald), Berwick (E. G. Low), and Search Party (J. M. Dempsey) to lose a little ground. The incident was accidental, and no further action was warranted. Super Find stood flat-footed at the start Courtenay Handicap, and {ailed the

Expendable (W. D. Skelton) suffered a gash on his off foreleg at the starting post before the Courtenay Handicap, but the injury was not sufficient to warrant the horse being withdrawn from the race. Royal Quest (G. D. Lee) bounded through the barrier before the start of toe Courtenay Handicap. She broke the tapes, dislodged her jockey, completed a round of toe track, and took no part in the race.

ROTORUA INQUIRIES

(New Zealand Press Association) ROTORUA, April 10. At the end of the Tarawera Hack Hurdles at Rotorua on Saturday, Loyal Sheila (S. Weheipihana), collided with a riderless horse about 50 yards beyond the post. When Weheipihana left the casualty room he was weighed in and made correct weight. Under the provisions of Rules 205 1 (A) and 271, the stewards accepted Weheiplhana'B weight. The incident was found to be accidental. After the second division of the Ohinemutu Handicap, an inquiry was held into the falling of Our Sun (J. Williamson) after about a furlong. A charge was laid against P. Braithwaite, rider of Ferntree. 7716 committee heard the evidence of the stipendiary steward, the patrol steward, and L. O. Jarvis, rider of Touchdown. Braithwaite was found guilty of crossing and was suspended till April 23 inclusive. Before the third race the mare. Farm Girl dropped dead just after being brought on to the course. The stewards ordered a post-mortem. Routine swabbing was carried out after toe sixth race, won by Barnsdale. The club initiated a special check on the performances of favourites on Saturday, and a club steward was assigned to thia duty. The reports were confirmed by the observations of the patrol and stipendiary stewards, after the jockeys concerned had been questioned. AMBERLEY RACING CLUB INCORPORATED Entries for all events at the Annual Meeting to be held at Amberley on Saturday, April 30, 1955, close at 4 pan. on Thursday, April 14, with the Secretary, B. W. Nurse, c/o. S. P. Godfrey and Co., 184 Hereford street, Christchurch. Telephone: 60-494, P.O. Box 323. —Advt.