FAVOURITES BEATEN ON MUDDY WINGATUI TRACK

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27683, 13 June 1955, Page 4

FAVOURITES BEATEN ON MUDDY WINGATUI TRACK

RACING

Favourites were routed all along the line at Wingatui on Saturday when the Dunedin Jockey Club's winter meeting ended. None of the win favourites reached a place: first-day form was practically valueless under racing conditions that could have hardly been worse. The rain kept off during the day, but after many days of rain and some snow the track was an expanse of mud and slush on which some horses, reputedly mudlarks, slipped and slithered, and could not do themselves justice. In a trying day for jockeys and horses notable features were Chief Light’s improvement in form to win the Otago Hurdles for his Invercargill owner-trainer, Mr W. E. Hazlett: Blackfellow’s clear-cut win in the Provincial Handicap; and Gold Mine s strong gallop through the mud for an easy victory in the Members’ Handicap. The nine-year-old Gold Mine was three times as old as some of his opponents, but he is an out-and-out mudlark, and mud is a great leveller. Chief Light was the eleventh favourite of 12 in the Otago Hurdles, and was much too good for the others. He ran right away in the straight to >-in by 30 lengths from Brutus. Chief Light had a much shorter lead going to the second last hurdle when Brown Baron was at the height of a strong run, but victory for him seemed certain when the favourite fell A six-year-old gelding by Royal Chief from Aurora Australis, Chief Light won the Jumpers’ Flat Handicap at the last Grand National meeting, but jumped badly and was beaten early in the Grand National Hurdles. He made little impression in his two races over hurdles at Invercargill last month, but his whole record indicates that he can return to his best form almost overnight. Blackfellow was sent out eighth favourite for the Provincial Handicap, and was at false odds for such a strong mud galloper. He carried top weight of •st lib, but ran right away from the others to win by six lengths from the Invercargill-trained Bafflng Eyes. The eight-year-old Diablo was a fair third, but the others were beaten off. Gold Mine easily beat the Riccarton ©air, Adversary and Accountant, into the minor places in the Members’ Handicap, a race Accountant was attempting to win for the second time. Gold Mine was runner-up in the Winter Handicap over the same distance on the first day of the meeting, but was four and a half lengths behind Kasr-el-Nil. This time Kasr-el-Nil was one of the first beaten, finishing at the rear. Holders of 419 10s tickets on the Blackfellow—Gold Mine double combination received £l3l Is 6d for £l. Ballast and Kasr-el-Nil were the respective favourites. The doubles pool was £33.226. £28.523 coming from off the course. Chasemint, whose earlier form over country had been nothing to enthuse about, won. the Wingatui Steeplechase in the colours of the Wingatui trainer, J. A. Wilson. He led most of the way, and came again after being headed by Irish Glance at the five furlongs. Chasemint provided a well-deserved success for the industrious Riccarton jumping rider, J. W. McDonald. Attendance and betting figures slumped on Saturday. The on-course totalisator turnover for the day was £38.929, compared with £57.536 last year. « The total for the two days this year was £100,768. Last year the turnover for three days was-£181,448 10s. Otago Hurdles Chief Light moved from a trailing position to run clear near the three furlongs in the Otago Hurdles. He widened his lead from the home turn, and won by 30 lengths from Brutus, which outstayed Bright Race. Chief Light had five horses in front of him starting the last mile. There Sivite had joined Bright Race in front four lengths dear of Exchequer. Brutus ancT'Ciilton were following at length intervals. There the favourite. Brown Baron, was about nine lengths behind Chief Light The field closed up going to the half mile. Brown Baron moving through on the inner alongside Reformed and behind Bright Race and Sivite, Chief Light and Brutus. M H. Hillis allowed Chief Light to go through to the lead soon after and • he was soon widening a lead that none of the others could close.

Hopes for the favourite Brown Baron crashed when the Columcille gelding fell at the second to last jump when galloping strongly. Biutus was little troubled to hold on for second, the position he held on the home turn, from Bright Race, the outsider of the field.

Culton got up near the post to beat the weakening Reformed for fourth Felicitous and Redlo closely followed Reformed home clear of Sivite, Emperor. and Exchequer. Algaro fell at the first hurdle. The First Leg Blackfellow ran past the tiring pacemaker. Solstice, early in the run home in the Provincial Handicap and drew away to win by six lengths from the Southlander Baffling Eyes, which beat the eight-year-old Diablo by a length. Blackfellow was in one of the trailing positions all the way behind Corona Fox, Wise Belle, and Solstice which raced on terms. He ran past them with ease, drawing clear in a few strides, and opening up a gap none of the others could bridge. Baffling Eyes was towards the rear starting the last half-mile, but did not leave the rails to get into a position close behind the leaders going to the half-mile. He was close to Blackfellow as they made the straight, but could not match the top weight for finishing speed. Diablo made a fairly solid run under M hard ride from the middle of the field for third a length behind Baffling Eyes. He was well clear of a tired lot led home by Solstice. Cheerio was well back, fifth. He had the run of the race, but was beaten •well out. Next were Wise Belle, Wait-a-Bit, Lovelock, Ptarmigan, Corona Fox, and the favourite, Ballast. Ballast was one of the first beaten. Balviene and Lucky Bill fell near the three furlongs. The falls were accidental.

Veteran’s Win Gold Mine easily beat the Riccarton sprinters Adversary and Accountant anto the minor places in the Members’ Handicap, second leg of the double. The nine-year-old Man’s Pal gelding trailed most of the way, and mastered Accountant after & short struggle early in the run home, drawing out to establish a winning margin of three and a half lengths. Accountant was in front from the start. He had Kasr-el-Nil and Red Admiral alongside him early, Red Admiral then taking a trailing position. Accountant had the measure of Kasr-el-Nil before the straight was reached, but Adversary beat him for second by three lengths. Adversary was two lengths behind Gold Mine at the half-mile, but got no closer. The others were led home by Defame, but she was 13 lengths and only a neck in front of Royal Warrant The favourite, Kasr-el-Nil, tired very badly in the ground and finished ala Wa lk. Ma Reine slipped and feu when towards the rear near the three furlongs. There was no interxerence. Steeples. to Chasemint x,S? a “7 ln £ and Irlsh Glance had a of . C 2 la^& ng fortunes to themTri?h‘rii‘ he y ingatu > Steeplechase. chance looked bright tt- 7e» h H e part Chasemint into flve furl ongs, but he V p a ga P and the Wild Sliding headed him going to liked 3 going ° n to w * n took ov S r the Pacemaking early in the race and led into the last round byls lengths from Irish Glance Arg T?^ and Belgravia, which uere clear of The Grange.

el Belgravia fell at the small sod wall n near the mile, the fence that also r tripped him in the Otago Steeples. n After another two furlongs Irish y Glance had reduced Chasemint’s lead r to three lengths and in another furlong e he was in front. Irish Glance was tired, though, and t the more lightly-weighted Chasemint e headed him again coming to the last i fence. Chasemint landed with a slight ;. lead, and quickly drew away to win j by 20 lengths. s Irish Glance beat The Grange by five lengths for second. Free Gift, beaten 1 well out, ran past the weakening Colof nel Argosy for fourth. None of the 1 • others finished. 1 m ri , was P l:lled up and Scuttle fell . ] on the last round. ?i The Tongs Wins s 1 .. T* ie Tongs, fourth when favourite fori the corresponding race on the first dav. was much too good for the others in the Kosljn Hack Steeplechase. He jumped to the front at the second of the double 5 about six furlongs from home, and came 5 w 2 n by 20 le ngths from tby ?2 leiSthsf’ Which beat Hau ghty Step » but two of the eight runners got 1 round, which was good going under the . atrocious conditions. Silent Sol, the pacemaker for about a mile and a quarter, > U° H. wb ® n bea t e n at the boards near flat half-mile, and Gypsy Boy fell on the i fla 4.u afte / J um Pmg the last fence. at Tbe f av o ur jte, Contended, was unsure 1 r most of his fences and was beaten 1 a . from home, finishing at the I th^ r Hasty Bill 25 lengths behind Since horS€ ’ Laeus- which had his ! was a long overdue win for The ■ sev en-year-old gelding by Sieg- ' jT ied from Trivet and a half-brother to • Auckl and Cup winner. He i r» aS r» bl li£i by and did his early racing for d’ h. Wilson, and is now owned by Mr “ J \.F ross . ? nd trained by 11. a. Ander- » ton. Wingatui. ; « . P as y For Gazette ’ ♦, ze tte joined Mirador in front going to the nalf-mile in the Novice Handicap, ran clear’soon after, and won as ae “£f d by f £ u . r] engths from Netherhali, which was third to the straight. .. Ne therhall retjueed Gazette’s lead over the last furlong and a half, but never J ! kely to make a race of it with I?® ~t fauIte V four-year-old, which car- ”” < i? Io » u . of the Christchurch McFarlane. t . There was nothing noteworthy about ;the performances of any of the others. Ir «,2^ re . weil tled up in the Boing. some of _“’em stopping almost to a walk 20 lengths from Netherhali. was Mirador. which was one of the best beginners but weakened badly over the fu rlongs. Then there was a gap m f =. Ur 1 5 n f’ hs to The Fluke, and a neck to Search Party. Su Per Slipper was sixth, two lengths Infield e i{ avourite . Allan, was tenth hi • Won By 14 Lengths followed the pacemaking Par- i lJ>u?hhv n N?° tbe „ wo furlongs in the WilHand ’cap, went clear oy , four lengths on the home turn, and drew rignt away to win by 14 lengths i s beat Participation just atrout as easily for second. , Before the race was half over half the J struggling along in the mud . giving the leader impossible starts Par- 1 the P s a m?t n 'hX'rt h ‘ Ch H had b u e " in front fro,n ! tne start, had a diminishing lead of three- 1 KaiY-mne Expor ‘ a ‘ ; soon after. ra " past him 1 fourth - six lengths from Par- i third i2 ;h^ as never further back than 1 tft jro ln the running. « 2-1 favourite, was next £ ■Ap wi?? a lo "* g down the track. I rhe win favourite, Roi du Bois weak- ' ened under his weight over the last halfmile. finishing eighth. n. « i. m Finish urinate. appeared to have a first-class f winning chance of carrying S-4 to victory * ln the Southern Handicap, but he was t cut downi inside the last furion? b? ‘ the k^hin St ind‘ Dutch Fla S responded to r StTrk uliJ Ca U ie a £ ain - b ut Hickorj 1 finish - him u ln the only close 1 gramme the major hon °urs on the pro- I one °f the best begmorv^StVek^J 0 the h s me turn ’ but Hick " ’ VEt , nev ® r f flr away from him. < it aonearTri Btn 8 tn nt lnt ° - a lear lead - ana 1 in tv£. ea ed t° a winning lead, early i in the run home. He appeared to be but ng Hi<*orv e or 8J 1 to win comfortably, 5 ?nde?a k h£d S £Se. game ’ y Came at hlai in^!te k °i r h. S V Ck , gain ' d a slight lead well ! S furlong and held it, though s “ =trfd«. red ucing it in the last : the others home, but 1 hi lengths back. He was with the leadthe rtart. but the Canterbury c h Wav™ n aw j y J rom him in the straight! £ ’ u .S hlCh ha l shared the pace- , tenShf’o, 1 moderate fourth four 5 lengths further back clear of Fault £ ,^ The favourite. Friendly Lad. imnroved 1 SSh P bnt eS w frOm ,he , hom “ turn™'? rSJ; bu ‘ v?’ never in a challenging r PC Th ° ™ did best of the others. c rii h t am rr’„ SUp B? rt S d B ”cey dropped t Ute te?l enS?te° me tUr ° a " d Bnished J Results:—

ROSLYN HACK AND HUNTERS’ o# A STEEPLECHASE, 3 and a quarter. cTLliir TC^ GS (4) - hr g 7yrs bv Siegfried—Tnvet 9-6 J 5- s—Spanish Chief (9), Tbornson 1 2. 2-H.ughty Step <t) J ' 9 5 2 arrlng ‘ on 2 4 ? 4 6 llcu. nt s Ol l <r c n I'cSltOTted? Hatty^S- al g o’stSK y B ° y 8 - 8 teJwH nt V engt . hs: 12 tengths. Lacus was fo“rth. Tune smm 52sec. Winner trained by H. A. Anderton. Wingatui. £? l S de i d l S & Wln: £6 1S - Places: £1 14s. NOVICE HANDICAP, a o Seve n furlongs. ' Z -5S MoighlS" by Deld‘ 7 _ Mte h d rha < l l \ < i l6 ’’ 8-8 G I w n Me'i'n 2 r E Sn° r^; B l s I' Ala J n ; Sk 4 e pSer*’ 9 6 'u Sli PP er: 2 - 3 Gallant 11 Muss ste P: 10 . 10 Agio; 14 14 Chief View; 13. 13 Dart Awav; 5 5 LeealI 2 S^ rch or? arty a,so started. Four lengths; 20 lengths. The Fluke was fourth. Time, Imin 44sec. Winner trained by A. E. Didham, Wingatui. 2S «!Ss dS £4 W £ ; 6d £19 U “• P ’ aCM: £5 OTAGO HURDLES, ~ £lOOO. Two miles. H. 11—CHIEF LIGHT (3) b g 6yrs by Royal Chief—Aurora Australis 10-0 a ♦ ~v M. H. Hillis 1 4—Brutus (11) ch g 7yrs by Ruthless—Ozel 9-0 .. d. Dawson 2 I™Brieht 1 ™ Brieht Hace (10) b B «yra by Tiderace—Bright Lance 9-0 I S t sHAl«aro 5 H A1 « aro < fell) : 7 6 R?dim' 2 S 2 n cui’tom o Baron (fell); 3. 3 Felicitous; ». 10 Exchequer; 6, 7 Sivite; 10, 9 EmReformed also started. Thirty lengths; 15 lengths. Culton was tow 1 ' E 2?;i 5 n in 9sec - Winner trained D3 L E - Hazlett, owner. Invercargill £33 12s 6d. Places' £7 2s. £2 Ils 6d. £l7 15s Places. PROVINCIAL HANDICAP, Of £6OO. One mile and three furlongs 8. B—BLACKFELLOW (1) blk g 7yrf by Boswell—Te Monanui mare 9-1 2 9 P- Pankhurst 1 2 ' Ey S (15) br e 6yrs bv Baffles—Boa Eyes 7-12 7. 7—Diablo (2) br g Byrs J 2 a r S /L v 2. r Cana ,' 8 ,- 10 ■• R - J - Skelton 3 TrMtv Ct in i? : r. l, 1 Ba r . last : 3, 3 Naval . 10 A 1 , 1 Corona Fox; 4,4 Walt-a-Bit, 6. 5 Balveme; 15, 15 Formal: 12 12 «J. eI o C o : Luck y Bill; 13, 13 Ptarmigmjh 3 Solstice; 11, 9 Wise Belle also Six lengths; length. Solstice was fourth S m n' Z K, ,n 49sec ' Whiner trained by J W Pankhurst. Wingatui. y -JHjtoends-—Win: £l4 12s. Places- £4 111 6d. £1 19s 6d, £3 18s 6d. rw NG A_ TUI STEEPLECHASE. « « miles and a half 5. S—CHASEMINT (5) b g 9vrs bv Wild Chase-Zoro car. 9-1 J y ■» t • w W. McDonald 1 1 TH?»T iS i h G!anc ® I 2 ) b g 9yrs by Insh Lancer—Lady Cherry 9-13 c a rm. ■J- Klemick 2 6. 4—The Grange (8) b g Byrs by Royal Style—Solanau 9-0 , , _ - J. D. Pankhurst 3 1, 1 Free Gift: 4. 6 Belgravia (fell); 2,2 Colonel Argosy; 8, 8 Igiri (pulled up); 7, 7 Scuttle (fell), also started. Twenty lengths; five lengths. Free Gift was fourth. Time, 6min 29sec. Winner trained by H. J. Powell and J. A. Wilson, Mosgiel. Dividends.—Win: £9 6s 6d. Places: £2 ss, £1 15s. £2 3s 6d. WILLOUGHBY NORRIE HANDICAP, Of £450. One mile and three furlongs. Amateur riders. 7. 7—EXPORT (8) b g 7yrs by Lo Zingaro—Queen Beth car 10-11} e . t v Mr G. H. Philp 1 5. s—Admiral’s Keep (2) car 11-21 , . _ .. , , Mr J. G. Mulvena 2 4. 4—Participation (11) 10-7 , „ _ , „ Mr A. T. Burnett 3 1. 2 Roi du Bois; 8. 6 Pathe; 10. 10 Royal 2 -- 1 Fiery Cr eek; 9. 9 Bonniboy; u - 12 Cassius; 8. 8 First Spin; 12. 11 Treason; 3, 3 The Sloucher also started. Fourteen lengths; 10 lengths. Bonniboy was fourth Time, 2min 55sec. Winner by . H - Anderton. Wingatui. Wm: £l5 7«. Places: £3 as M, £3 0t 6d, £2 18s.

MEMBERS’ HANDICAP, Of £5OO. Seven furlongs. 4. 3—GOLD MINE (8) ch g 9yrs by Man’s Pal—Gold Flight 8-7 F. H, Skelton 1 6 6—Adversary (6) b g syrs by Royal Commission—Competition. 8-9 A. J. Stokes 2 2- 2—Accountant (7) br h 4yrs by Treasure Hunt—Reshuffle car 8-7} C. McDonald 3 12. 12 Dashing: 7, 7 Ma Reine; 3, 4 Red Admiral; 1, 1 Kasr-el-Nil: 5 5 Sure Swift: 8 8 Canasta; 10. 9 Defame; 9, 11 Royal Warrant; 11, 10 Rathkeale also started. Three and a half lengths; three lengths. Defame was fourth. Time, Imin 43sec. Winner trained by T. M. Timpany, owner, Invercargill. Dividends.—Win: £7 3s 6d. Places: £1 17s, £4 14s, £1 12s. SOUTHERN HANDICAP. Of £4OO. Seven furlongs. 2 4—HICKORY STICK (5) br g 4yrs by Equipped—Schoolgirl 9-1 D. N. Hadfield 1 7. 6—Dutch Flag (2) 9-4 C. T. Wilson 2 6. 7—Spring Night (12 8-5 J. M. Cappie 3 4, 3 Direct Passage; 18. 18 Athenry Fair; 10, 10 Wayren; 5, 5 Aphelion; 15, 16 Landon: 1, 1 Friendly Lad; 8, 8 Suncrest; 12. 12 Fault bracketed Reprehend: 14. 14 Benger Chief; 3. 2 De Bracey; 11. 9 Galactic; 9, 11 Camaval; 16. 16 Glenpark; 19. 19 Girleen bracketed Golden Canal; 13. 13 Meadow Gold bracketed Struggle; 17, 17 Snow Boots also started. Nose; 10 lengths Wayren was fourth. Time. Imin 43sec. Winner trained by K. E. Wilson. Washdyke. Dividends.—Win: £7 16s 6d. Places. £3 4s 6d, £3 14s 6d, £3 16s. OAMARU WINTER MEETING. ACCEPTANCES FOR ALL EVENTS FOR OAMARU WINTER MEETING ON SATURDAY NEXT, JUNE 18, close at 5 p.m. Today. Handicaps in this morning’s "Press.” ’Phone 1693, OAMARU. 5193