Harleston Does Best Of Hurdlers At RIccarton

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

Harleston Does Best Of Hurdlers At RIccarton

Harleston carried top weight of lOst 81b to a narrow win in the Peerswick Hurdles qn the final day of the Canterbury Jockey Club’s meeting at Riccarton on Saturday. This made tjim the top-flight hurdler at the meeting as he had also won the hurdles four days earlier. His record from four starts as a hurdler is three wins and a second. A great finish appeared likely when Conrad, Harleston, Some Bounder, and Brown Baron raced to the last jump almost abreast. But Brown Baron, which was being hard ridden, made a bad leap and bumped R. O. Cairns from the saddle. Some Bounder, which had been pacemaking, weakened slightly and Harleston just headed Conrad inside the last furlong and held a slight lead for the last 100 yards. His winning margin was half a neck. Harleston was second early and was eased back a few places going to the nine furlongs. With Brown Baron and Conrad he, closed the gap to Some Bounder going to the half mile and his stamina pulled him through. Soane Bounder was a weakening third, four lengths from Conrad, which was well up all the way. Wealthy ran past beaten horses for fourth another four lengths back, and a length and a half clear of Exchequer. Felicitous was next in a gap ahead of Reformed, which lost several lengths with a bad leap at the mile. Smuggles at Good Odds Smuggles, a creditable fifth in the Courtenay Handicap on the first day of the meeting, won the Yaldhurst Handicap at good odds for Mrs G. H. Murfitt, jun., wife of her Riccarton trainer. The second favourite, Mundus, had the race won in the last furlong at every stride but the last, going under by a nose. The consistent Tulagi was a neck back third, beating Kiaree Beau by a nose. Coin’s Edge and Spike Jones led the others home. , „ Smuggles worked into a challenging position behind Mundus and De Bracey on the home turn and led the chase after Mundus to the furlong, where Tulagi, Coin’s Edge, Kiaree Beau, and Spike Jones were joining in. She kept up a strong run to the end, and Mundus just failed to stall her off.

Mundus was in the trailing position going to the five furlongs, and got to the front on the home turn. He met every challenge with gameness, but the post arrived a shade too late. Tfiagi was closer than usual to the leaders from the start to the home turn. He had to come fairly wide to lodge his challenge, and had to be content with anc’her minor placing. Kiaree Beau was running on, shading Coin’s Edge (fifth) for finishing speed. Spike Jones, sixth, did well to finish so far up after beginning slowly. Led All the Way • Tess came through the meeting unbeaten in two starts when she led all the way in the Richmond Handicap. Persia got closest to her, but she beat the Wingatui youngster handily by half a length. Persia’s bracketed mate. Ark Royal, failed to make the expected improvement on his third in the Champagne Stakes. He filled that position again, two .lengths behind Persia. With the race half over Tess led by half a length from Red Peak. The North Islander, West Indies, was another halflength back, with Persia just in behind, a length clear of Ark Royal, Skylight,

form in the Gimcrack Handicap. She followed the tearaway Golden Shoes to the straight, ran clear outside the furlong, and won decisively by a length from the West Coast hack Cheliene, which beat Assembly by half a length. Melinda Jane was one of the best beginners, and Golden Shoes all the way. On the home turn she was gallopihg strongly clear of Airscol, Cheliene, Iroquoi, and Dahlia, and Princess Neptune and Assembly were riot far away. Melinda Jane ranged alongside Golden Shoes soon after straightening up, and ran clear going to the furlong. She was not troubled to hold her lead. Cheliene, Assembly, and Dahlia had a keen tussle for the minor places. Dahlia, which challenged on the inner and was second going to the furlong, faded slightly, and Assembly beat her by a neck for third. Shaiba did well to finish fifth after beginning slowly. Iroquoi and Airscol were in line next, ahead of Princess Neptune. The favourite. Honest John, was squeezed back in the first few strides He came into the picture wide out outside the furlong, but weakened to tenth