RACING CHALLENGE STAKES AT RICCARTON

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27636, 18 April 1955, Page 4

RACING CHALLENGE STAKES AT RICCARTON

Tamrin Triumphs In Great Finish

AMERICUS NARROWLY WINS SOCKBURN HANDICAP

Tamrin equalled the race record of Imin 24 l-ssec when , he heat his younger rivals, Avenge and Ray Ribbon, into the minor places in the 63rd Challenge Stakes on the concluding day of the Canterbury Jockey Club’s autumn meeting at Riccarton on Saturday. The Challenge Stakes finish was a notable one at a meeting marked by close finishes and first-class racing. _ Tamrin, the runner-up to Kingship in the Great Easter Handicap five days earlier, gamely recaptured a slender lead from Avenge in the straight and beat the Awapuni two-year-old by a head. Avenge was the favourite. Ray Ribbon made a bold bid to complete the Great Autumn Handicap—Challenge Stakes double. One of his characteristically sound performances carried him up for - third, only half a head'from Avenge. For Tamrin it was a first success in seven starts this season for his Dunedin owner, Mr A. N. Smith, but three seconds and one third from his six other starts kept him high in : public opinion. He was second favourite. Americus rounded off his autumn campaign by winning the Sockburn Handicap narrowly but well from Royal Voyage and Sir William. Americus won the Dominion Handicap and was third in the Great Autumn Handicap earlier at the meeting in the colours of Mr and Mrs H. C. Kidd, who raced him on lease. On Saturday he had his first race for his owner, Mrs L. K. Page, for whom Melinda Jane won the Gimcrack Handicap later in the day.

G. R. Felling had trained Americus for four earlier successes on his home track. The Booby Trap gelding passed into the stable of V. D. Clutterbuck after the second day of the meeting, and it was a fortunate start for his new trainer in having a smart young , stayer at the peak of his form. Suphero, a winner against the hacks - at the Riverton Easter meeting, made - an- impressive start in open company . by winning the Waltham Handicap for ; ms .Southland owner, Mr W. Swale. Suphero is trained at Invercargill by - F. W. Ellis, who has had a high percentage of wins among horses he has brought to Riccarton for the Canterbury Jockey Club’s autumn meetings in particular. It was a race of quickly-changing fortunes in the straight, but right on the post the struggle rested with Suphero and the Wingatui-trained Mighty Dollar. The combination of the AmericusDemand bracket with Suphero paid £231 17s «d for £l. There were 840 winning 10s tickets, 599 off-course. * Americus carried 8594 tickets (7311 off-course). Easterbrook was a firm - favourite with 35,366 tickets. r ' : The final day of the meeting was »' held in fine weather. The track was 9 fast The totalisator turnover on-course was £92,888 10s, including £8214 10s on tiie double, compared with £62,616 10s handled on a wet day last year. The total for the meeting was ** £267.902 10s. Last year’s total was £254395 10s.

Suphero, and Lord Rowallan was close by. Others came into the picture coming to the furlong where 10 or 11 horses were right in the thick of the struggle, though some of them were not finding racing room, especially Declare and Clinker.

Mighty Dollar pushed through on the inside close to the post and a win for the Wingatui sprinter seemed likely, but Suphero closed brilliantly on him and beat him narrowly, but going away. Lord Rowallan ran the last furlong strongly wide out to get up for third a length and a half back. Then there was a neck to Rio Negro, which had Strato and Okaruru almost in line with her. Declare, with no room to work in, was just behind Rio Negro, and Adversary, Field Chief, Clinker, and Lord Fort were almost abreast close by. Thai finished Scotch Gift, Major Neptune, Pack Drill, Johnny Peep, Russleigh, Saranac, Royal Warrant, and Accountant. Results:— PEERSWICK HURDLE RACE, Of £5OO. About one mile and threequarters and 60 yards. • 3. 2—C. H. James’s br g HARLESTON (1) by Columcille—Accomplace syrs 10-8 .. R. Forward 1 4. 5—A. S. Elworthy’s Conrad (8) 7yrs 9-6 A. Cowan 2 2. 3—J. M. Samson's Some Bounder (6) 4yrs 9-9 .. L. G. White 3 6, 4 Exchequer; 5, 6 Boyhood; 11, 10 Wealthy; 1, 1 Brown Baron; 10, 11 Jolly Miller; 8, 8 Reformed; 7, 7 •Felicitous; 9, 9 Grey Valley; 12, 12 Superdowa also started. Half a neck; four lengths. Wealthy was fourth. Time, 3min 15 3-ssec. Winner trained by R. W. and W. G. Hawthorne, Trfeht&aifi. Dividends.—Wifi:' £5. Places: £1 13s 6d, £3 0s fid, £1 17s fid. SIXTY-THIRD CHALLENGE Of £lOO. Weight-for-age with penalties. Seven furlongs. 2. 2—A. N. Smith’s br g TAMRIN (4) by Sabaean—Dunmurry 4yrs 9-0 A. J. Stokes 1 L I—Hon. W. S. Goosman’s ch c Avenge (6) by Ruthless—Eager Loch 2yrs 7-8 .. B. P. Wood 2 3. 3—C. R. Newman and C. Pateman’s b c Ray Ribbon (1) by Perilous—Lady Y elverton 3yrs C. McDonald 3 8, 8 Gold Scheme; 7, 7 Lord Fort; 5, 5 Watch and Wait; 6, 6 Motueka; 4, 4 Seven Seas also started. Head; half a head. Watch and Wait was fourth. Time, Imin 24 l-ssec. Winner trained by J. C. Tomkinson, Riccarton. Dividends.—Win: £3 2s fid. Places: £1 Bs, £1 6s 6d, £1 9s. YALDHURST HANDICAP, Of £4OO. One mile. 13. 12—Mrs G. H. Murfitt, Jun.’s b f SMUGGLES (12) by Treasure Hunt —Tan Lady 3yrs 7-12 car. 7-5 B. W. McDonald 1 2. 2—R. L. McCormack’s Mundus (8) 3yrs 8-1 .. N. Eastwood 2 • 3. 3—S. R. Johnson’s Tulagi (1) 3yrs 8-13 .. .. J. W. Harris 3 1, 1 Spike Jones; 8, 8 Meteorologist; 20, 20 Tassin; 7, 7 Sherpa; 18, 17 Fleur; 9, 9 Spinning Maid; 4, 4 De Bracey; 11, 11 Kiaree Beau; 15, 16 Gazette; 5, 6 Lyndel’s Choice: 5. 6 Calcutta Sweep; 12, 15 Gallant Peter; 22, 22 Lo Night; 21, 21 Alb;

Game Response Headed momentarily in the straight ’ by Avenge, Tamrin came again to shade Avenge and Ray Ribbon in a ( thrilling finish to the Sixty-third Challenge Stakes. Tamrin’s game response under a hard ride gave him victory < over Avenge by a head, and Ray Ribbon was only half a head back, third. Lord Fort Tamrin, and Avenge were three of the smartest beginners, and they raced in line past the six furlongs, with Avenge three out Motueka had dwelt slightly at the start but was soon in one of the trailing positions with Watch and Wait and Gold Scheme, Ray Ribbon, and Seven Seas were following. Lord Fort dropped out early in the I run home, and Ray Ribbon came strongly on the outer to range up to ' Tamrin and Avenge. ; A furlong or so out Avenge appeared to have Tamrin’s measure, but the Riccarton sprinter responded strongly under the whip, recaptured a slight lead, and held it to the finish. Avenge just managed to beat" Ray Ribbon. Then there was a gap of five lengths to Watch and Wait which was a length and a half clear of Motueka. The weakening Lord Fort was four lengths back, sixth, and well clear of Gold Scheme and Seven Seas. The First Leg Americus and Sir William moved through from handy positions on the home turn' to lead the chase after Royal Voyage to the furlong in the Sockburn Handicap. Americus, always going a shade better than Sir William. was successful in his chase, getting up to beat the long-priced Orari stayer by a head. Sir William was a neck back, third. The Hob ran clear after a furlong and led the field to the end of the first half-mile in 54 2-ssec. There he was clear of Royal Voyage and Solstice. Next were the bracketed pair. Americus and Demand, just ahead of Sir William and Fictitious; then Zingabo and Abbot’s Choice in a gap. There were few changes of any note for the next half-mile, but The Hob was beaten before the straight was reached and Royal Voyage reached the lead on the turn, where Americus and Sir William were moving through, and Solstice was dropping back wider out. Royal Voyage held his lead to the furlong and gamely met the challenges of Aihericus and Sir William. Americus responded gamely when K. Nuttall made a renewed effort inside the last 50 yards and got up to win by a head Sir William, a creditable third, was not challenged for the position. He was two lengths clear of Toparoa, which was five places behind him on the home turn. The favourite. Easterbrook, was running on from well back for a dose fifth. He was towards the rear for most of the way, and his finish lacked the dash he showed to finish second in the Great Autumn Handicap. Fictitious, the other North Island stayer in the field, was sixth almost in line with Easterbrook, dear of Wait a Bit, wnich was followed in by Bosky, Solstice, Demand, Abbot’s Choice, Zingabo, The Hob, and Half-a-Crown.

10, 10 Barrow Boy; 10, 10 Coin’s Edge: 6, 5 Decipher; 6, 5 First Fiddle; 16, 13 I'm Alone; 17, 18 Majuba Hill; 17, 18 Mango; 14. 14 Miss Castlemaine; 14, 14 Pinnacle; 19, 19 Search Party; 19, 19 Surabaya also started. Nose; neck. Kiaree Beau was fourth. Time, Imin 39 3-ssee. Winner trained by G. H. Murfitt, jun., ‘ Riccarton. I Dividends.—Win: £32 Is 6d. Places: £7 . 10s, £2 9s. £2 15s fid. SOCKBURN HANDICAP, Of £ISOO. One mile and a half. , 5. s—Mrs L. K. Page’s b g AMERI- > CU9 (7) by Booby Trap—Cherry Gundi 4yrs 8-0 .. K. Nuttall 1 11. 11—Estate late M. H. Houston and L. McDougall’s b g Royal Voyage ! (3) by Royal Chief—Mauretania i fiyrs 8-4 .. .. D. J. Thistoll 2 5 4. 4—E. N. Fitzgerald's br g Sir Wil- , liam (9) by Geld Nib—Silver Coin : 4yrs 7-9 .. D. F. Coombe 3 1 7, 7 Bosky; 8, 8 The Hob; 1, 1 EasterI brook; 3, 3 Toparoa; 9, 10 Zingabo; 5, 5 . Demand; 2,2 Half-a-Crown; 13, 13 » Abbot’s Choice; 10, 9 Wait-a-Bit; 6, 6 Fictitious; 12, 12 Solstice also started. ’ Head; neck. Toparoa was fourth. Time, 2min 33sec. Winner trained, by V. D. I Clutterbuck, Riccarton. t Dividends.—Win: £ll 16s. Places: £2 . 14s 6d, £l2 Ils, £2 2s 6d. 5 Bracket: Americus and Demand. RICHMOND HANDICAP, Of £SOO. Two-year-olds. Six furlongs, i 4. 4—G. R. Macdonald’s br f TESS 1 (5) by Ruthless—Rahine 8-10 A. J. Stokes 1 : L I—G. J. Barton’s Persia (6) 8-2 • R. J. Skelton 2 i 1. I—G. J. Barton’s Ark Royal (6A) 8-9 ..J. W. Harris 3 3, 3 Skylight; 3, 3 Montrose; 2,2 West 1 Indies; 5, 5 Blue Count; 7, 8 Red Peak; 1 6, 6 Jewel Royal; 8, 7 Beau Chat also i started. Half a length; two lengths. Blue Count > was fourth. Time, Imin 12 3-spec. Win- . er trained by J. E. Shaw, Riccarton. 5 Dividends.—Win: £7 2s. Places: £1 ’ 18s, £2 2s 6d. Bracket: Persia and Ark Royal. MEBIVALE HANDICAP, I Of £SOO. Hack conditions. One mile and a quarter. 1. I— r. WUlamrai's b f DEMIJOUR (1) by Sun King—Glow 1 Light «yra 9-11 .. J. W. Harris 1 ’ 8. 7—W. B. Grade and R. Young’a The Bruiser (8) 3yrs 8-3 B. J. Skelton 2 • 3. 4—3. B. Douglas-Clifford’s Scuppered (.) 9yr* * 4,2 Macduff; 4, 3 Poilu; 14, 14 San > Antonio; 2,2 Goldwyn; 6, 6 Paschene- ’ daele; 10, 10 Inspire; 5, 5 Saba; 7, 8 Ultra; 11. 11 Cloque; 13, 12 Belle Nuit; > 12, 12 Royal Glade; 9, 9 Tarantella also , started. ’ Nose; thi iii nitlldhi of a length. Gold1 wyn was fourth. Time, 2min fisec. Winner trained by R. E. Johnstone, Riccarton. t Dividends —Win: £2 6s fid. Places: £1 . Ils. £5 14s. £2 ss. > WALTHAM HANDICAP, Of £IOOO. Seven furlongs. ; 3. 4—W. Swale’s b g SUPHERO (20) 1 by Super—Heroic Girl 4yrs 7-0 • N. Eastwood 1 5, 6—J. H. George’s b h Mighty . Dollar (10) by Treasure Hunt—t Bonne Nuit 4yrs 7-10 D. N. Hadfield 2 f 9. 9—M. J. Wadley's ch h Lord Row--1 allan (•) by Tiderace—Natty syrs 8-2 .. C. T. Wilson 3 8 1, 1 Clinker; 2,2 Field Chief; 10, 10

The last mile was run in Imin 38 3-ssec. and the last half mile in 48 1 ssec Sn p hero » g Strong Run Although there was a length and a half between second and third little more than six lengths covered the first 10 home in the Waltham Handicap, the second leg of the double. Fortunes changed rapidly in a spectacular lastfurlong finish and in the end victory went to the strongly-finishing Suphero, which got up to beat Mighty Dollar by a head. Mighty Dollar challenged on the inner from a handy position. Suphero came strongly on the outer from a little farther back. Russleigh was caught in the tapes at the start and lost her chance. Clinker and Accountant were slow to move. After a furlong Pack Drill. Johnny Peep, and Strato were leading Scotch Gift, Mighty Dollar, Adversary, Declare, and Major Neptune. Racing to the home turn Pack Drill. Johnny Peep, and Strato were almost in line with Major Neptune trailing a length back and a length clear of Scotch Gift, Mighty Dollar, Adversary, and Rio Negro. Just behind them was

and Blue Count. There Jewel Royal and >■ Montrose were at the rear, with Beau Chat just in front of them. West Indies and Red Peak dropped out beaten well outside the furlong, where ; Tess was going strongly in front. Persia, hard-ridden, partly closed the gap to her, but was safely held. Ark Royal beat the faster-finishing Blue Count by three-quarters of a length for third. Beau Chat was four lengths back fifth, a length clear of Skylight. Sky- , light’s bracketed mate, Montrose, was seventh, ahead of Jewel Royal, Indies, and Red Peak. Le Roi broke away from the barrier before the race and was withdrawn, investments being refunded. Demijour Wins Again Demijour had to be good to carry top weight of 9-11 to his third successive win for the meeting in the Merivale Handicap. He scrambled home by a nose from The Bruiser, but would have been desperately unlucky to have been beaten after being disappointed for an opening early in the run home. Demijour and The Bruiser were both close behind the leaders, Passchenedaele 1 and Poilu, on the home turn, but a gap closed when J. W. Harris was asking him for an effort. Harris switched to the inner, gained a slight lead near the half furlong, and just managed to cope with a stout challenge from The Bruiser. Scuppered shaped like an early winner in finishing third, three-quarters of a length back. She was one of the slowest beginners, but kept up a solid run that carried her into a challenging position going to the furlong. She battled on for her placing three-quarters of a length clear of the faster-finishing Goldwyn, ! which was last but one at the half mile. The weakening Poilu was fifth, a length I clear of Passchenedaele, which had held ; his lead to near the furlong. Inspire was next a length and a half > back, and next were Cloque, Saba, San Antonio, Macduff, Ultra, Royal Glade, t Tarantella, and Belle Nuit. Melinda Jane’s Success , Melinda Jane, which had been away L from racing since the Wellington Cup meeting in January, recaptured winning

i Lord Fort; 7, 7 Pack Drill; 6, 5 Strato; 8. 8 Declare; 18, 17 Accountant; 16, 14 Johnny Peep; 12, 11 Rio Negro; 11, 12 Okaruru; 13, 13 Adversary; 15, 16 Major Nepi tune; 19, 19 Royal Warrant; 4, 3 Russleigh; 17, 18 Saranac; 14, 15 Scotch Gift: also started. • Head; length and a half. Rio Negro was fourth. Time, Imin 25 2-ssec. Winner trained by F. W. Ellis, Invercargill. I Dividends.—Win: £7 15s. Places: £2 15s fid, £3 6s 6d, £7 7s 6d. GIMCRACK HANDICAP, ’ Of £5OO. Hack conditions. Seven furlongs. ’ 5. s—Mrs L. K. Page’s ch m MELINDA JANE (4) by Cassock— Manahau 4yrs 8-12 car. 8-5 B. Parsons 1 6. —C. Marsh and Mrs T. J. A. Ogilvie’s Cheliene (7) 4yrs 7-13 car. B. P. Wood 2 8. B—J. B. Douglas-Clifford’s Assembly (3) 3yrs 8-12 .. D. J. Thistoll 3 3,2 Princess Neptune; 2, 3 Dahlia; 1, 1 Honest John; 7, 7 Roi du Bois; 10, 10 : Shaiba; 4, 4 Iroquoi; 12, 12 Airscol; 11, 11 Barbara Dare; 13, 13 Dartaway; 14, 14 Silent Friend; 9, 9 Golden Shoes also started. I Length; half a length. Dahlia was fourth. Time, Imin 25 3-ssec. Winner trained by V. D. Clutterbuck, Riccarton. > Dividends.—Win: £ll 13s. Places: £3 * 7s 6d. £4 0s 6d, £4 Ils 6d.