Harleston Wins Kildare Hurdles

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27632, 13 April 1955, Page 4

Harleston Wins Kildare Hurdles

The Trentham - trained. Harleston led for the last mile in the Kildare Hurdles, for which he was a hot favourite, at Riccarton yesterday. His strongest challenger was the Washdyke-trained Brown Baron, which responded gamely under a hard ride, and ran the Trentham horse to a long neck.

Harleston, a five-year-old gelding by Columcille, also sire of the runnecup, has now raced three times oveY hurdles for two wins and a second. He jumped neatly all the way, trailing for a time, and then going on in front with Conrad.

Exchequer and Grey Valley were in close attendance with Brown Baron closing the gap to them at the half mile. Exchequer moved forward to join Harleston going to the last flight, but Harleston was clear on landing, and able to hold Brown Baron, which ran in towards the rails, inside the last furlong.

Exchequer was a weakening third, two and a half lengths back, four lengths clear of Grey Valley and Conrad, which the camera could not separate. • Jolly Miller was next in a gap, well clear of Wealthy. Superdowa finished at the rear. The second favourite, Some Bounder, ran off at the jump near the nine furlongs when with the leaders. Passchenedaele’s Strong Run Passchenedaele was a little too good for his nine opponents in the Tasman Handicap. He ran the race out strongly for a handy win in a firstclass race, in which any of 10 runners appeared to have a winning chance at the furlong. Passchenedaele was in the third line from the five furlongs to the half mile, where Gold Trend and Decipher were pacemaking, and Iroquoi, Saba, and Assembly were trailing. Passchenedaele ‘moved forward one place when Assembly was sent forward to join the leaders on the home turn, and he sustained a solid challenge in a great tussle over the last furlong to win by half a length, going away. Princess Neptune, one of the slowest to find her feet from a good start, beat Mundus by a neck for second. Mundus was last into the straight, and shaped like an early winner. He cut Decipher out of third place by half a length. Decipher shared the pacemaking with Gold Trend to the straight, and was still one of the leaders at the furlong. Gold Trend was practically right in hne, fifth, after attempting to lead all the way. Saba was practically on terms with him, and Iroquoi was close by on the inner, ahead of Cioque, I’m Alone, and Assembly. Magnificent Finish Five horses provided a blanket finish to the . Christchurch Handicap. Meteorologist gained a nose decision after a great struggle with Tulagi, Sherpa, Great Tom, and Calcutta Sweep, which the camera placed in that order. Meteorologist. a three-year-old Whistling Wind gelding from D. J. O’Connor’s Riccarton stable, had five runners in front of him ’at the half mile, and closed on Sherpa and the weakening Lady Lothian going to the furlong. There, Calcutta Sweep, Great Tom, and Tulagi were working into the picture, and fortunes changed rapidly right to the finish. Meteorologist just held on. Tulagi finished brilliantly for second, after being slow to find his feet. i Sherpa, runner-up to Great Tom in the corresponding race on Monday, had the run of the race in one of the

trailing positions. He fought on right to the finish, his performance being a pointer to an early win.

Great Tom had 10 runners in front of him at the half mile, but Calcutta Sweep was, always closer to the front.

Berwick, Miss Castlemaine, and Kiaree Beau were in a gap behind the first five, and were clear of Gallant Peter and Cassamanda. Tess Shows Gameness i Tess made a successful first appearance at the meeting in the Autumn Nursery Handicap. She was the leader from the start to well into the straight, and her gameness was tested when Persia headed her inside 1 the last furlong. Persia was weakening slightly, and Tess responded again to get up for a half-head victory.. With the race half over, Tess led by half a length from Beau Chat and Renegade. Persia was making up ground alongside Pretend after meeting trouble early, and Montrose was following two lengths back. Renegade and Persia were closest to Tess going to the furlong, and soon afterwards Persia appeared to be on his way to victory. But he was shortening stride at the half furlong, and Tess was able to recapture the lead when the post was very near. Montrose was running on in third place two and a half lengths back, and a length and a half clear of Pretend. Renegade and Beau Chat were practically on terms next in a gap. Ditched and Le Roi were at the rear.

Michael Brierly Wins Michael Brierly recorded his first win for his Riccarton owner, J. S. Shaw, in the Wigram Handicap, the race for apprentice riders. Michael Brierly, a creditable fourth in the Opawa Handicap on Monday, challenged solidly from a handy position, but just lasted to beat the fasterfinishing Spike Jones. Spike Jones drifted to the tail of the field early in the race. Had he been closer on the home turn, he would have given J. R. Currie a winning start as a race rider. Those who invested £2664 10s on The Stove had an early setback. The big Mosgiel-trained Super gelding was last away, rushed up to third near the six furlongs, but became unmanageable, ran off the course at the five furlongs, and was pulled up. Dahlia dropped Jesse James early in the run home, and led to the furlong, but Michael Brierly and Spike Jones finished much too strongly for her. Ultra was only a neck behind Dahlia, but had been closer to the lead at the furlong. Chellene, one of the tailenders on the home turn, was half a length back, fifth. Demijour’s Success Demijour won the Shirley Handicap under 9-1 with as much ease as he won the Autumn Plate with 81b less on the first day of the meeting. He followed Macduff and Silver Trumpet oast the mile, but J. W. Harris eased him slightly to take a rails position when Beau Ray and Cornflake closed on Silver Trumpet after passing the five furlongs. He joined Macduff in front in a few strides, after straightening up. and won as he liked. Macduff, which had displaced Silver Trumpet-in front going to the mile, was not troubled to hold on for second. Goldwyn, which was at the tail of the field for the first half of the race, finished strongly on the inner for third, beating the weakening Cornflake by two lengths. A North Islaqd horse, Beau Ray, was half a length back, fifth, two lengths clear of Silver Trumpet. Then there was a gap to San Antonio, which was clear of Pat’s Treasure and Fleur.