RACING Easy Win For Ironside In Otago Steeplechase

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27678, 7 June 1955, Page 4

RACING Easy Win For Ironside In Otago Steeplechase

(From Our Own Reporter)

DUNEDIN, June 6. Ironside outclassed a weak field in the Otago Steeplechase at Wingatui today when the Dunedin Jockey Club held the first day of its winter meeting. Mr J. M. Sutherland’s Nightmarch gelding gave Canterbury stables a long-overdue win in the race. The Washdyke trainer, F. Trilford, had Ironside in first-class order for a searching three-mile test on a very heavy track, and the six-year-old was clearly superior to the others in class and stamina, and his jumping could hardly be faulted. Ironside was one of the youngest horses in the field. He has had set-backs during hi* career, but has only to avoid them to take top ranking. The former North Island galloper. Good Abbot, gained his third successive win for his Invercargill owner, Mr A. Eunson, in the Birthday Hpndicap. Good Abbot had won a double at Invercargill in May, and a rise in weights did not trouble him. He challenged strongly from a good position behind the leaders, and drew clear inside the furlong. Ballast put some fresh interest into the finish when he challenged wider out, but he could not make Good Abbot exert himself. The recently promoted hack, Kasr-el-Nil, rounded off the day’s double by leading all the way for an easy win in the Winter Handicap. He shook off a challenge from Brooke early in the run home, and won by four and a half lengths. Kasr-el-Nil was ridden by W. D. Skelton, whose brother, R. J. Abbot* 1 * W ° n fl*" B * 011 Good

The Good Abbot-Kasr-el-Nil combination carried 248 tickets and paid £174 15s 6d for £l. The on-course totalisator turnover was £61,839, including £6622 oir the double, compared with £70,207 last year. Ironside’s Win Ironside galloped strongly past Free Gift to reach the lead about half a mile from the finish in the Otago Steeplechase and he coasted home well clear of a tired lot of stragglers. Free Gift was stopping almost to a walk in second place, but was still 12 lengths clear of Colonel Argosy. The favourite, Sivite, did not carry the hopes of his backers very far. He crashed at the second fence, the sod wall leaving the straight. This fence also tripped Scuttle. Belgravia went out tw’o fences later at the small sod wall near the junction with the back straight At this stage Emperor had drawn clear by six lengths from Free Gift, which was 10 lengths clear of Ironside and The Grange. Free Gift ran through to' the front before the end of a round, and Colonel

Argosy was taken forward to join Emperor in second place. Starting the last round Ironside was J 5 lengths be* hind Colonel Argosy and Emperor, but he easily closed that gap to them going towards the back straight. Ironside pecked on landing over the second of the double in the back straight, but was quickly back into stride, and ran into second place going to the board fence about five furlongs from fn™ 6 ’ ¥ ter &O. Cairns allowed the Washdyke jumper to run along into a clear lead. He jumped fences neatly, and won as he liked. _Apart from the minor place-getters. The Grange and Emperor were the only two to finish. Parsifal, winner of this race last year, was pulled up before a round was covered. Igiri was pulled up soon < The Denbigh dropped out in the last round. th ® easily y Birthday Hanballast by *-r a iength and a half. Ballast for*.£?nd Ji ' traine ' 1 “ re?- * lad Good Abbot handy to Sate lafaSaiX, fglowad Tffi.ng Eyes » ready weakening). Wait-a-nt* nna

"™ening), Wait-a-Bit and Diablo boreal ’ a ” d m * st * r « d »»» rehri'*™? “ nde I r * hard ridt was a the Invercargill five-year-tart j? 1? rafely covered. Bdi•tarti™ ? & orit of mm half-mile and six ahead the h ? me tUm - Wh ' r ' Bal2 n h l . c,ear and raising hopes f ° r 3 ««nd suited . Watt-a-Bit was one of the early leaders gueSSiS. whichwas close behind Balth* half-mle, was running on for for a time - Cheerio, the favoirite. was an

tte* are™? X™ Win *er Handicap. , . .i, 0 * ‘b' doub le. He ran the race, and lad to ton * E rforTr !anee under the big weight of S-13 bad much merit. s -ejgnt A?XtSSft^tdv^i^ u K , ‘ x liensth‘ 1 i en s th ‘ TAHVNA BACK AND BUNTERSfare " 0 • half. «. 3—Contented fel J A C 1 «. 7—Haughty Step *-n Cowan 3 Spanish Chief 11 ii gTSL T S>v ' 1?' 1$ «oSk Tm ’ < * PUc “ : « , ”^^ ta S£k.. 4 st wi i 13 s .££ » Vn ea r-T n . ; A. 7 s’ew: ?•/ Clarion, W .’> 10 C* l ** Danee; 1, 1 Hasht. 1 Legalise; 16. U Mirador: 20 20 d. u ’ 15 Party: 15,’ 13 B®“ Ledi; 15, 13 Cashmere; 19 19 Down 2E? e &Jted 17 MahUvane ; 18 - Maidan . Length and a half; neck. Cashmere was fourth. Time, Imin 25sec >P i £ dei L < If-^ W £. : 13a Places: cz ifs. £6 2s 6d, £4 4s. Eastern Star bracketed with Chat Dance. GREENFIELD HURDLES, „ .°f £4OO. One mile and a half 9. 4—FELICITOUS 10-2 .. G. W. Mein 1 4. 6—Brown Baron 10-7 R. O. Cairns 2 !• I—Brutus 9-11 .. D. Dawson 3 3.,4 Johnny Peep; 12. 12 Grey vSuey; 8 T 8 Bay; 5, 3 - I ®’ dock: 14, 15 Re7 Snuffbox; 13, 13 Escalado: it la S’ 19 Bar None : wS* 1 ??’ 16 » 17 Nanos; 17, 16 Miss V<>Calile: U> 11 Whit ® Satin M.”*' £3 BIRTHDAY handicap Of £lOOO. One mile anA * ’half X »—GOOD ABBOTM*”® a'U 7 Botety^y; 7 '!,, L-nnt and' a half : two e .? ,aa . tou rtb- Tirne. Imin Ksec: «. *• Ma

OTAGO STEEPLECHASE, Of £l5OO. About three miles. 3. 3—IRONSIDE 9-5 .. R. O. Cairns 1 2. 2—Free Gift 10-9 M. H. Hillis 2 4. 4—Colonel Argosy 9-8 . A. L. Ballock 3 6, 6 Parsifal: 7, 7 Belgravia: 9, 8 The Denbigh; 1, 1 Sivite; 10, 11 Emperor: 8, 10 Igiri; 11, 9 Scuttle; 5, 5 The Grange also started.

Seventy-five yards; 12 lengths. The Grange was fourth. Time, 7min 30sec. Dividends.—Win: £4 18s 6d. Places: £2 3s 6d, £1 17s, £2 ss. BRIGHTON HANDICAP, Of £4OO. Seven furlongs. 10. B—APHELION 8-1 .. L. W. Hare 1 6. 6—Friendly Lad 8-4 are , J. M. Dempsey 2 !7 !B—Gahrctic 8-0 .. B. E. Kennedy 3 ,o 9 ’al° Putch Flag; 1, 1 Direct Passage; 13, 12 Athenry Fair; 2,2 Wayren; 7, 7 The Boss; 16, 17 Admiral’s Keep; 19, 19 Royal Simper; 8, 9 Fault; 8, 9 Rich Wind; 6, 6 Benger Chief; 4, 4 Pat’s Treasure4, 4 Big Ben; 10, 8 Ascolta; 5, 5 Coinalot; 5, 5 Carnival; 15, 15 Captain Flint; 12, 13 Dawn Light; 14. 14 Girleen; 14. 14 Golden Canal; 18, 18 Meadow Gold; 18, 16 Night J. 1 f ßoyal Way ; 119 11 Struggle; 3 1 ?*• Ninian; 2, 3 Waaco Bill also started.

Half-length; two lengths and a half. Benger Chief was fourth. Time, imin 39sec. Dividends.—Win: . £l9 16s 6d. Places: £5 10s 6d, £3 IBs 6d, £l9 17s 6d. Brackets: Aphelion and Ascolta, Friendly Lad and Benger Chief. WINTER HANDICAP, , Of £5OO. Severn furlongs. 5. S—KASR-EL-NIL 8-0 • , . W. R. Skelton 1 13. 13—Gold Mine 8-3 .. F. H. Skelton 2 7 ;. B ~’ B £P°ke SM3 ~ W. F. Ellis 3 • re 1?! I® Dashing; 4, 4 Jxjrd Rowallan; 17, 17 Delayed; 11, 9 Danger Point; 1, 3 Adversary; 2,2 Accountant; 14, 15 Mara 6 Rio Ne 8 r °: 8. 7 Sure Swift; 15. 14 Defame; 16, 16 Rathkeale; 3, 1 Canasta; 12, 11 Dahlia; 18, 18 Gold King; 9, 10 Major Neptune; 10, 12 Royal Warrant also started.

Four lengths and a half; half-head. Accountant was fourth. Time, Imin 36sec. Dividends—Win; £ll Os 6d. Places; £3 15s 6d, £8 48, £4 12s 6d. ST. CLAIR HANDICAP, » 45 °- One mile and three furlongs. 12* DU BOIS 8-5 .. G. W. Mein 1 15. 15—Spring Night 8-0 J. M. Cappie 2 4 - , Fi ®ry Creek 8-0 J. M. Dempsey 3 7 ®», li Garaloch; 6, 6 Swayalong; 3, 5 Coins Edge; 7, 7 Lolita; 2,2 Pathe; 9, 8 B, 9 Participation; 14, 10 Culton; 1, 3 13. 14 Gallant Peter; 12, 12 Royal Command: 16. 16 Reprahand: IL 13 l7, 17 Thank You also

ree lengths. Fleur was fourth. Time, 2mm 46sec Win: i 9 ®* “• Mates: £J 14s 6d, £lO 9s 6d, £2 19s 6d.

HANDICAPS FOR SECOND DAY

“Th* Press" Special Service wv ~ DUNEDIN, June 6 Handicaps for the second day of the wrday dl^re J — key Club ’ s meeting on SaiROSLTN HACK AND HUNTFRS’ STEEPLECHASE, of two muS fnd Ga y Fenian 10-d; Ipn 10-3; The Grange 10-2; Wilshire 9-13; 9^l2 na w«H n h„ H 5 ste P- Chivalrous Fort Marshall 9-10; Silent Sol 9-9; Full Tilt 9-7: The Tones Contented 9-6; New World 9-4; Lacus 9-1-Consolaise, Dad’s Pal, Gypsy Boy’ w?lh en v i ? rb, e Hast y HUI. Iniidel. Kind Wish, Pity, Scuttle, Spanish Chief 9-0 NOVICE HANDICAP, of fSo' B £ ven ■«Jv a ?m te 8 ; 19: , ’ Ale nuka 8- 9 g. a ,£” t?,: S fc er J Jp n « - Su n« supper S'>u«nt Fetor 6-7; Hashish. Miss Step. On CMef'vSS° S r.'i B_6; Agio ' Boiesier Boy. Awy, GoMeS SS Xnareeprook, Sir Dale, Search -OMolS? Ate“y U lO 8 <> * Ata’ 0 ® 1 ‘ W ° “““ Tn Arfosy 10-8; Algaro, Belgravia B Ti lovelock, Pnde ' Soumal . Vocalize, .£H“i A ?P I .•’BBM-KCHASB, of £M». • ° - SteurbW £4Sm X ° UG^? T NORBIE HANDICAP, of uS KS 0 C?es’“ d “ *°‘ 9:

MEMBERS’ HANDICAP, of £5OO- seven AdSe^’ 11: »j°T na r ? x - Kasr-el-Nil 8-9; MiSSSS 42. 4«»un«*nt Gold Mine 8-71 »?• 9 w : . M, S Ne «”> »-»: Sure Swift twin. Canasta. Defame, fd a ~ Passage. Gold King. GlowLZi. "? yal Warrant. HathWayren 8-0. seven *u™*ESv-S«sti<» 9-U; Dutch Flag 9-4; g.XS^^ C £^ D 7 a . 9 V ; *T au,t ’ B ® n «er Chief 8-4; SSL,Z reaa ™4 Bracey 8-3; «-l: Allan, Best Bet, r VL n CoUnt - Glenpark. iStav T?? , S en rk. Canal 4 OaEett ®. Hashish, i£^ y ..^ W f I \ l r Le £ aliBe - Mfas Castlem* Master Cent, Meadow Gold, Mv Rel^ leth€ S ha U- Odile - Foor David, Pnnce Consort Royal Command. RepreSSli 5?. y ’ St * Nin * an - xR ow Star Chief, Steve. Super Slipper, The Fluke. Waaco Bin 8-0.

MINOR EVENTS AT WINGATUI

CHIVALROUS HAS EASY WIN (From Our Own Reporter) ' DUNEDIN, June 6. t_, Ch lY al , ro^ B recorded his first win for his Christchurch owner, Mr A. T. Cartin the Tahuna Hack and Hunters’ SteeplyhWß at Wingatui today. He led *®r ®*oat of the last round and Won unchallenged by four lengths, but he was lame with a aprung tendon. Haughty Step, which, led over the first round and was alongside Chivalrous for a time on the last round, weakened in the last three furlongs, allowing Contented to struggle home for second, four lengths ahead of him. The Tongs, which was sharing the lead starting the last round, tired in the mud and was beaten off. His jumping deteriorated towards the end of the race. Lacus plodded home ahead of the others, but 20 lengths back and half a furlong in front of Spanish Chief Sol and Wishire followed at interv Is and Full Tilt, a very tired horse, w .Iked to the post. Gypsy Boy fell at the seco-id fence. Wealthy, the second favourite, fell, and Kind Wish lost her rider at tf.e post and rails near the half-mile the- last time round. ’ —■ Persia In Form’ Persia, a place-getter in two-year-old races at the Canterbury Jockey Club’s autumn meeting was much too good for his small army of opponents in the Trial Stakes. He was in front all the way. shook off the co-paßemaker, Legalise, near the W ° n he Ukod by a len S th ■Mtern Star mjm from a fairly handy PMRton for second, beatmg Waiau Bill by a neck. Waiau Bill was close behind t u*J eade i a A an J the w ®y and was lmchaHenged for third, two lengths dear, of war a Weakening fifth, and N^th^nS 011 by Search Party, tKai?**HutElm to FeUcltou* 91 A«hburton thrte •tart. earUer, Improved a good record

over hurdles by winning the Greenfield Hurdles from Brown Baron' and the weakening Brutus. Brutus’s chance looked bright when he galloped strongly to reach the lead alongside Vocalize on the home turn, but Felicitous challenged going to the last hurdle and then ran into a short lead, which the faster-finishing Brown Baron could not close. Felicitous was never far from the leaders, but Brown Baron came from well back with a stayer’s run, which will bring him into favour for the Otago Hurdles next Saturday. BrutuS. which was feeling the effects of a leg injury last week, galloped strongly on the heavy track. He had to cover a good deal of ground to reach the lead, and weakened only in the last halffurlong. Vocalize faded to fourth, six lengths from Brutus, and clear of a WOll- - lot led home by Lawrence. Reformed lost his rider at the second last hurdle when close to the leaders. Manos, after jumping badly earlier, lost his rider at the jump near the six furlongs. Aphelion Wins Well Aphelion, which did his early racing from Riccarton, won the Brighton Handicap for his Invercargill owner, Mr J. H. Crooks, who raced the steeplechaser Mandeville fairly successfully a few seasons back. Aphelion’s only challenger inside the last furlong was the Invercargill hack, Friendly Lad, which ran him to half 'a 'length. Friendly Lad changed his ground when challenging, and the ground he lost in doing so was much more than the margin of his defeat. Aphelion was fairly close to the lead all the way. He followed Galactic, The Boss, and ’Benger Chief round the home turn, and had to battle fairly hard to get to the front. Friendly Lad was further from the lead starting the last- halfmile. He galloped powerfully through the mud. but his failure to keep straight was costly. Galactic, which had led from the start, just lasted for third, from Friendly Lad’s bracketed mate, Benger Chief. Admiral’s Keep was fifth in a gap, and the Riccarton-trained Dutch Flag was running on for sixth, ahead of the favourite, Direct Passage, which had her chance. St. Clair Handicap Roi du *Bois trailed to the straight in the St. Clair Handicap and wore down Spring Night inside the last furlong to win by half a length. These two had the finish to themselves. Fiery Creek following them, three lengths back. Spring Night was alongside Roi du Bois practically all the way, but took ov£r from the pacemaking Suncrest on the bkome turn. Roi du Boig had to . work herd to weir down the invercargfil hack inside the last furlong- Fiery Creek came from the middle of the field for third, ha*? t also running on, but never looked likely