Gloaming Stakes Easily Won By Syntax

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27873, 23 January 1956, Page 4

Gloaming Stakes Easily Won By Syntax

PACING

(From Out Own Reporter)

WELLINGTON, January 22. Syntax upheld his reputation as tne champion three-year-old at irentham on Saturday by winning *“. e Gloaming Stakes with ease. His effortless galloping carried him clear m the straight and on to victory by three lengths from Ark Royal. Coleridge beat Anzio for an undistinguished third. Mr S H. Walker’s chestnut Count Rendered colt was at Gloaming odds for this race, which perpetuates the name of that champion, and his win and place dividends were £1 3s and £1 2s I v. In a win pool of £9027 the Te Rapa champion carried £6446. He carried £2053 . the Utal place pool of £0684 10s. This was Syntax’s sixth successive win and his ninth from 12 starts this season. Syntax has already carried his record to a stage where attempts are being made to evaluate his worth in comparison with former champions. He is clearly the best of his age, he races equally well in falsely or soundly-run races, and he has not struck a weak year for three-vehr-olds.

The end of his run of successes does not appear to be in sight for some time, if his three-year-old racing is confined to New Zealand, as now seems likely. On Saturday, Syntax’s jockey, N. B. Holland, was in trouble for a minute when the colt was checked going to the mile. Holland lost his grip. Syntax gave ground, but was quickly into his stride again and galloping in the clear at the quarters of the pace-making Anzio. The pace set by Anzio was slow, and when Holland asked Syntax for more speed in the straight, the response was immediate, and the efforts of the others to keep him within range were completely inadequate. A big acrowd. many of them attracted to Trentham by Syntax, also saw the South Island jockey, R. J. Skelton, bring off a double worth £207 4s by riding Field Chief and Pinnicle Ridge to victory in the Wellington Racing Club and Metropolitan Handicaps. There were 987 10s tickets on the successful combination. In a pool of £123.726 15s on the first leg. Field Chief carried 34,845* 10s tickets.

The time for the Wellington Racing Club Handicap, one mile and a half, was 2min 32|sec, the slowest in the race since Desert Fox's year, 1948. Field Chief was within two lengths of the pace-making Writer from the nine furlongs to the turn, and the Royal Chief gelding did not have to overtax himself to deal with those closest to him at the post. He had a handy winning margin of threequarters of a length. Field Chief has been a very good campaigner at Trentham for his Christchurch owner, Mr D. McFarlane, and his Wingatui trainer, A. E. Didham. Last time he was taken there in October, he won the Pearce Handicap.

Less than an hour after Field Chief won, Lochie carried Mr McFarlane’s colours to victory in the £lOOO Douro Jubilee Handicap. Lochie wffs top weight when Ripon dropped out of the field* but mastered 9st 21b competently and courageously. He could not get racing room for a time after passing the half mile, and then had to be switched sharply from the rails near the furlong to keep up his run. Lochie is trained for Mr McFarlane by M. Ryan, one of the youngest trainers at Riccarton.

This Callander colt was Mr McFarlane’s third winner at the meeting, Ma Reine having won the Telegraph Handicap on Wellington Cup day. The combined earnings of Mr McFarlane’s three horses so far at the meeting are £4785, including a gold cup worth £7O for Lochie’s win. Pinnacle Ridge Wins

The hot favourite, Rise and Shine, could not reach the first half dozen in the Metropolitan Handicap. Fair Chance did best of the well-backed horses, and finished fast but too late to peg back Pinnacle Ridge and Baraden, two little-fancied runners. Pinnacle Ridge was the 10, 9 favourite, and paid £3O 7s for a win.

This solid five-year-old mare by North Island from Triple Crown is trained by V. E. Bryant at Foxton for his wife. This was her first start since she won the Nathans Memorial Handicap at Ellerslie on January 3. On that day too, Skelton distinguished himself by riding the winners of the double, Pinnacle Ridge and Baby Dakar. Skelton widened his lead on the jockey’s list by winning the Ruapehu Handicap on the Riccarton hack Jimmy Flash. Jimmy Flash was the fourth South Island winner on the

Pack Drill started the southern successes with a well-earned win in the January Handicap for Mr H. D. Greenwood. The weather was fine and warm. The track was fast The on-course totalisator turnover was £200,432 10s. including £22.495 10s on the double, compared with £196,236 10s last year. Syntax was alongside Anzio in the lead after two furlongs in the Gloaming Stakes, but Holland allowed the letter to go on ahead at a slow pace. Starting the last nine furlongs, Byway joined Syntax near the mile, and Coleridge followed, two lengths back, with the same margin to Ark Royal. A check imbalanced Syntax and his rider very soon after this, and Syntax accelerated to be a clear second going to the half-mile at Anzio’s quarters, and a length clear of Coleridge which was just shading Byway and Ark Royal. Closer to the home tu T’* S Z l i^ ax ran up alongside Anzio, and Ark Royal moved into third place. Ark Royal mastered Anzio after straightening up, but R. J. Skelton was soon snaking him up in what proved a a | tem Pt to catch Syntax. furlong out, Syntax, galloping r'HLi n ? aclune -hke ease, had estabiL s “? d a , w,n ning margin ot three lengths. Ark Boyal’s second placing was not endangered. Coleridge passed furtong, and was a length behind the Wingatui colt BvTL a ? <? r ° K P S d right ou t in the straight and finished at the rear in a long fap

Field Chief Not Extended Field Chief was at the quarters of the pacemaking Writer from the half mile to the home turn in the Wellington Racing Club Handicap. He took the lead outside the furlong, and held to him f °K^ l b y ’ Kobinson got closest Was of a ~,S a l cutta Sweep made a brilliant late TVrfefl ?> n unlucky third, just cutting °ut of the position Reigning King was half a length back, fifth, and practically in line with him Goto Jto?toi tary T. Roka - Writer, and finish Sp g ’ K was a magnificent Writer pulled his way to the front g ? lng f? lh . e furlongs, and led to fr°g? Field Chief, Finite. Ra ‘ gn i n s. K “ e ' ,9 old Spring. Sonnet--s°omson. Master Proven. Roka, S&r t Grev PlaCed> ' ® kel A on had Field chief at tmn w?u arters runnmg to the home yturn. Writer could not hold his lead

much further, and Field Chief took charge running to the furlong, with Gold Spring, Sonnetary, and Robinson leading the chase after him. Tesla had made a short-lived challenge on the inner, and Master Proven was joining R. J. Skelton did not have to get the best out of Field Chief to beat Robinson by three-quarters of a length. Calcutta Sweep cut Master Proven out of third place in the last stride. Reigning King battled into fifth place, half a length back; then there was a nose to Sonnetary. a head to Gold Spring, a head to Roka, a head to Writer, and a head to Tesla. Next were Man o’ Mars, Steel Grey. Scuppered, Finito and Hamiltonian. Neat Win Pinnacle Ridge made a successful first appearance at the meeting in the Metropolitan Handicap. She mounted a strong run from the middle of the field and it carried her to a neat and meritorious win over Baraden. which just ?£ at w h ? faster-finishing Fair Chance, ine Wake, also running on, was a nose away, fourth, a neck in front of Rio Negro. Pinnacle Ridge was one of five to lose ground at the start, but she went fast over the ’’first three furlongs, and had only four in front of her at the half-mile. The hot favourite. Rise and Shine, was alongside her there, and Arganda was pacemaking from Gonfanon, Baraden, and Isaac Bian Pinnacle Ridge made no further improvement until they reached the straight, but R. J. Skelton brought her along with a well-timed run that carried her to victory by half a length from Baraden, which had the run of the race. Fair Chance finished boldly ™ r ° u £ h a P? ck ed field for third. The Wake’s run into fourth place was also a strong one. Rio Negro made a late appearance for a close and creditable fifth. She was one of the slow beginners.

Arganda felt the pinch in the last furlong, and weakened to sixth, just in front of Rise and Shine, which was in trouble early in the run home. Copenhagen was next, ahead of Lachlan. which did not get a good run from the turn after starting slowly. Gonfanon weakened to tenth after being alongside Arganda in front of the home turn. Next were Isaac Bian. Intuitive, John Gilpin, Gay Pride and Monogram.

Results:— MUNGAEOA HIGH-WEIGHT Of £750. One mile and three furlongs. 14. 14— BERNARD (7) by Gold Stand —Lady Achilles 9-6 .. W. Reid 1 7. 9—Kamala (9) 9-5 .. H. Ferrall 2 13. 13—Shoeshine Boy (6) 9-7 J. T. Shaw 3 5. 5 Prince Spi; 6. 3 Maquana; 3, 4 Maire; 2.2 High Gold; 4, 3 Flving Dragon; 9, 10 Horatius; 9, 11 Fleur; 1, 1 Gold Path: 12, 12 Checkmate; 15, 15 Dollar Area; 8. 7 St. Anthony; 11. 8 The Bet also started. Length; neck. Flving Dragon was fourth. Time. 2min 19Jsec. Dividends.—Win: £47 Is 6d. Places: £l2 2s 6d, £5 4s. £lO 10s. JANUARY HANDICAP, Of £l5OO. One mile. 6. 6—PACK DRILL (5) by Defaulter —Battle Dress 9-1 .. J. W. Harris 1 1- I—Zariba (16) 8-0 W. J. Broughton 2 3. 3—Hot Drop (2) 9-4 C. H. Mackie 3 2.2 Clinker (fell); 4, 5 Watch and Wait; 5, 4 Shaun; 13. 13 Nelson’s Blood; 9. 9 Siphon; 8, 8 Tricorne; 11, 11 Desperado: 12, 14 Macduff; 15, 15 Assemblv; 14. 12 Lord Milling; 7, 7 Cornflake; 10, 10 Matchlock also started. Three-quarters of a length; half a head. Desperado was fourth. Time, imin 372 sec. Dividends.—Win: £ll 16s. Places: £3 6d. £1 19s, £2 10s 6d. GLOAMING STAKES, Of £2500. Three-year-olds. One mile and a half. 1. I—SYNTAX (6) by Count Rendered—Night Girl 8-10 n „ • N. B. Holland 1 2. 2—Ark Royal (2) 8-10 _ _ , R. J. Skelton 2 3. 3—Coleridge (5) 8-10 J. W. Harris 3 5, 5 Anzio; 4, 4 Byway also started. Three lengths; length. Anzio was fourth. Time. 2min 34isec. Dividends.—Win: £1 3s. Places: £1 2s 6d, £1 10s 6d. WELLINGTON RACING CLUB HANDICAP, Of £3750. One mile and a half. 3. 3—FIELD CHIEF (5) by Royal Chief—Janefield 8-8 R. J. Skelton 1 12. 12—Robinson (9) 8-2 B. J. Clements 2 2. 2—Calcutta Sweep (10) 8-1

4, 4 Tesla; 9. 11 Finito; 7, 8 Master Proven; 1, 1 Sonnetary; 6. 5 Writer; 10, 9 Roka; 8, 7 Gold Spring; 5, 6 Steel Grey; 15, 15 Scuppered; 13. 13 Hamiltonian; 14, 14 Man o’ Mars; 11, 10 Reigning King also started.

Three-quarters of a length; half a neck. Master Proven was fourth. Time, 2min 321 sec. % Dividends.—Win: £6 11s 6d. Places: £2 5s 6d, £9 6s, £2 3s. DOURO JUBILEE HACK HANDICAP, Of £lOOO and trophy valued at £7O. One mile. 1- I—LOCHIE (2) by Callander—Te Anau Lady 9-2 .. N. B. Holland 1 2. 3—Amble (17) 8-0 .. W. L. Aitken 2 9- 11—Bexhill (5) 8-12 .. A. T. Haitana 3 13, 13 Nicotian; 7. 8 Rheingold; 19, 19 Genre; 5, 5 Nile Valley; 12, 10 Special Edition; 11, 9 Royal Pledge: 18, 17 Grand Bank; 3,2 Moilynn; 21, 20 Hilili; 4, 4 Noumea; 6, 7 Demolition; 14, 15 Iroquoi; 20, 21 Gay Student: 22, 22 Merry Andrew; 15, 18 Oscar; 8, 6 Merrimayes; 16, 14 Bomere; 10, 12 Super Corn; 17, 16 Gilt; 17, 16 Dingaan also started. Half a head; two lengths. Grand Bank was fourth. Time. Imin 38jsec. Dividends.—Win: £4 19s. Places: £2 7s 6d, £3 13s 6d. £6. NURSERY HANDICAP, Of £BOO. Two-year-old colts and geldings. Six furlongs. 5. S—LORICA (4) by King’s Counsel—Dainty Shoes 8-11 A. E. Skinner 1 6. 6—Akatarawa (9) 7-11 W. D. Skelton 2 2. 2—Yes Please (1) 9-10 W. J. Broughton 3 1, 1 Mediterranean; 3, 3 Taboo; 4, 4 , Nine Days; 7, 7 Pennant; 11, 11 Tarbillon; | 12, 12 Royal Gilt; 10, 10 Caribbean Gold; 8, 8 Raglan; 9, 9 Royal Target also started. Length and a quarter; two lengths and a half. Raglan was fourth. Time, Imin 123 sec. Dividends.—Win: £l4 15s. Places: £3, £3 16s. £1 Ils. METROPOLITAN HANDICAP, Of £2OOO. Seven furlongs. 10. 9—PINNACLE RIDGE (6) by North Island —Triple Crown 8-6 R. J. Skelton 1 9. B—Baraden (4) 8-8 .. J. W. Harris 2 2. 3—Fair Chance (1) 9-11 A. Morton 3 6, 6 John Gilpin; 3,2 Copenhagen; 11, 11 Gay Pride; 12, 12 Isaac Bian; 5, 5 Lachlan; 13, 13 The Wake; 7, 7 Gonfafinon; 8, 10 Monogram; 4, 4 Arganda; 1, 1 Rise and Shine; 15, 15 Intuitive; 14, 14 Rio Negro also started. Half a length; half a head. The Wake was fourth. Time, Imin 24£sec. Dividends.—Win: £3O 7s. Places: £6 7s 6d, £5 19s, £2 3s. RUAPEHU HACK HANDICAP, Of £9OO. One mile and three furlongs. 12. 10—JIMMY FLASH (14) by Pictavia—Kinship 7-13 R. J. Skelton 1 7. 7—Gold Ace (7) 8-8 C. H. Mackie 2 2. 2—Highlander (6) 8-10 W. L. Aitken 3 5, 6 Perfect Peach; 8, 3 Coral’s Son; I, 1 Sovereign’s Oscort; 6, 8 Beau Song; 10, 9 Marsden; 3, 5 Portgual; 15, 16 Lochgair; 16, 15 Royal Velvet; 9, 11 Royal Tryst- 4, 4 Can-Can; 13, 13 Ocean Lore; J?’ J* Jenny Bank; 18, 18 Fashionable; 11, 12 Goldwyn; 19, 19 Linden; 17, 17 Strada also started. Length and a half; neck. Marsden was fourth. Time, 2min 18Jsec. Dividends.—Win: £l9 2s. Places: £5 2s, £4 9s 6d, £3 9s 6d. HAVE you studied BARRIER DRAWS? If not write now, enclosing stamped addressed envelope for sample copy Winners i ecorded under different track conditions and distances for all meetings (gallops). Write: s BARRIER DRAW, U P.O. Box 355. Timaru. u-