Syntax Adds To Record With Trentham Stakes Win

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27874, 24 January 1956, Page 4

Syntax Adds To Record With Trentham Stakes Win

RACING

(From Our Own Reporter)

WELLINGTON, January 23. Syntax added another notable win to a champion’s record in the Trentham Stakes on the final day of the Wellington Cup meeting toHe led for the last half mile in his seventh successive win, and beat the leading South Island three-year-old. Ark Royal, by a neck. It was a first-class race, for which Hot Drop was partly responsible by setting a strong pace. Syntax had to run a course record of 2min 16sec for 11 furlongs to record his tenth win from 13 starts for the season. His three-year-old stake winnings are now £14,489. Ark Royal was Syntax’s only challenger in the last furlong. The strong pace suited Mr G. J. Barton’s colt, which gamely met every call made on him. but could not manage to defeat Mr S. H. Walker’s brilliant chestnut. The closeness of today’s finish has whetted the appetite of New Zealand racegoers for the next meeting between Syntax and Ark Royal. That will probably take place in the New Zealand St. Leger in March. The Wellington Cup winner, Fox Myth, did best of the older horses in the Trentham Stakes. He was third, a little more than three lengths behind Syntax, but was closer from the home turn to the furlong. Fox Myth was the second favourite in the sevenhorse field.

Pinnacle Ridge completed a good sprinter-stayer double for the meeting by winning at a mile and a half in the Summer Handicap, the first leg of today’s double. In a grand finish, Pinnacle Ridge got up in the last stride Io beat Rangitau, whose chances looked bright when she sped clear going to the furlong. Roka, the veteran of the field, put in a dogged run from the ruck for a close third, just beating Lingual.

Pinnacle Ridge was ridden by the leading horseman, R. J. Skelton, who also won the Metropolitan Handicap on the Foxton-trained mare on Satur-

day. Pinnacle Ridge, which was second favourite in a field of 13, paid £6 13s fid for a win, £2 9s 6d for a place, and carried 20,831 J 10s tickets in a doubles pool of £80,243 15s. The on-course double pool was £21,437.

Arganda, one of the smallest, and certainly the plainest sprinter in the field, rounded off the day’s double with a well-earned win in the City Handicap. He ran third in the Telegraph Handicap on Wellington Cup day. and sixth in the Metropolitan Handicap on Saturday. Holders of the 2327$ 10s tickets on the Pinnacle Ridge-Arganda combination received £56 19s 6d for £l. The totali sator handled £195.427, compared with £226,624 last year, a decrease of £31.197. The total for the meeting was £608.222, compared with £644,148 last year, a decrease of £35,926. Challenge Met Syntax took a short lead from Hot Drop at the half-mile in the Trentham Stakes, led for home by a length, increased that margin going to the furlong. and then stalled off a stout challenge from Ark Royal by a neck. The three-year-olds had the finish to! themselves. Some good handicap horses struggled home behind them. Syntax was alongside Hot Drop in front at the end of a furlong, but the latter went clear inside the next furlong. With a mile to run, Syntax was trailing Hot Drop by a length and a half. Idaho was next, a length back, with similar margins separating Ark Royal and Deceptive. Fox Myth was at Deceptive’s girth, and Lovely Bouquet was tailing the field a length and a half back. Fox Myth moved through to the trailing position when Holland took Syntax up to Hot Drop going to the half-mile. Ark Royal and Idaho were close by, just ahead of Lovely Bouquet and Deceptive. Syntax led round the home turn by a short length from Fox Myth. Ark Royal was just behind the Wellington Cup winner, and was working forward to mount his challenge. Hot Drop was already beaten and had been passed by Lovely Bouquet. Syntax held Fox Myth without much trouble, and widened his lead going to the furlong, but he had little, if anything, in reserve when Ark Royal approached him. Ark Royal could not peg back the champion, but he showed rare gameness to run him as close as he did. Fox Myth, three lengths back, third, was a length clear of Deceptive. Idaho was an undistinguished fifth, two lengths back, and was followed in by Hot Drop and Lovely Bouquet. Brilliant Late Run A brilliant late run by Pinnacle Ridge cut Rangitau out of first place in the Summer Handicap in the last stride. Roka and Lingual were almost in line in a spectacular finish. Pinnacle Ridge was in one of the trailing positions early following Writer and Lingual. After Writer pulled his way to the front at the seven furlongs, there were some changes in the running. Rangitau moved forward to follow Writer to the half-mile. Cambridge and Lingual were next, and Tesla was alongside Pinnacle Ridge. The favourite, Calcutta Sweep, was tailing the field a length and a half behind the second to last runner. Writer held his lead to the home turn, but he had pulled himself out and Rangitau ran past him with ease. Cambridge, Tesla, Pinnacle Ridge, Isisford, and Sonnetary were next into line and Calcutta Sweep was now second to last and wider out on the track.

A furlong out, Rangitau appeared to have victory safely within reach. She was a length and a half clear and was going strongly, but there was an exciting late development. Pinnacle Ridge stoutly kept up her run from second at the furlong and her very last stride to the post gave her a head victory. Nine-year-old Roka made a strong late appearance for third only half a head back. He nosed Lingual out of that place. Sonnetary was a length back, fifth, beating Isisford by half a head. Then there was a neck to Master Proven: Calcutta Sweep was eighth; and next were Reigning King. Tesla. Writer, Cambridge and Man o’Mars. City Handicap

John Gilpin considerably reduced but could not close Arganda’s lead from the furlong in the City Handicap. The Matamata-trained light-weight lasted to win by a neck. The top weight and favourite. Fair Chance, finished boldly for third, a length back Paulette Motueka, and Arganda formed the leading division early. Earaden was close behind and John Cilpm was second to last Arganda and Baraden were in front at the three furlongs with the southerners, Paulette Motueka, and Dahlia, close benina. Arganda ran clear outside the furlong and established a lead of Jo A n Gilpin gave chase strongly, but could not beat Arganda. ran the last furlong well a n gth back. Lucrative was a good fourth and was followed in by

Baraden, Great Seal, Paulette, Rio Negro, Dahlia, King’s Trial, and Motueka. Results:— WALL ACE VILLE HIGH-WEIGHT, Of £750. One mile and a half. 9. B—BERNARD by Gold Stand—Lady Achilles 10-0 A. G. Waddell 1 3. 3—Maquana 9-11 .. J. W. Harris 2 1. I—Maire 9-9 S. A. Waddell 3 11. 11 Prince Spi; 6. 9 Gay Mood; 12. 12 Royal Pledge; 5, 7 High Gold; 4, 4 Kamala; 8, 6 Shoeshine Boy; 7, 5 Flying Dragon: 2,2 White City; 10, 10 Gay Student; 13, 13 Horatius; 15, 15 Canopus: 14, 14 Dollar Area also started. Two lengths and a half; half a length. Horatius was fourth. Time, 2min 31Jsec. Dividends.—Win: £l3 15s 6d. Places: £4 Is 6d, £3, £2 2s. HOPEFUL STAKES, Of £lOOO. Two-year-olds. Six furlongs. 4. S—BAROBAR by Fair’s Fair—All Square 9-2 .. ..A. J. Stokes 1 2. 2—Fancy Dress car. 8-1 W. J. Broughton 2 1. I—Passive 8-12 .. W. J. Mudford 3 7, 8 Cherbourg; 2.2 Peony; 3. 3 Akatarawa; 9, 9 Pennant; 8, 7 Tarbillon; 6, 6 Hill Fem; 5, 4 Raglan also started.’ Length and three-quarters; neck. Tarbillon was fourth. Time, Imin 11 l-ssec. Dividends.—Win: £8 12s 6d. Places: £2 6s 6d. £1 Ils 6d, £1 7s 6d. Bracket: Fancy Dress and Peony. TRENTHAM STAKES, Of £2500. Weight-for-age. One mile and three furlongs. 1- I—SYNTAX by Count Rendered— Night Girl 8-2 .. N. B. Holland 1 6. 3—Ark Royal 8-2 .. R. J. Skelton 2 2. 2—Fox Myth 9-3 .. D. J. Wyatt 3 3, 4 Deceptive; 5, 6 Idaho; 4, 5 Hot Drop; 7, 7 Lovely Bouquet also started. Neck; three lengths. Deceptive was fourth. Time, 2min 16sec (track record). Dividend.—Win: £1 6s 6d. Places: £1 4s 6d, £3 4s. SUMMER HANDICAP, Of £3OOO. One mile and a half. 2. 2—PINNACLE RIDGE by North Island—Triple Crown 8-10 - _ _ R. J. Skelton 1 4 - —Rangitau 8-9 .. .. J. Garth 2 12. 12—Roka 7-13 W. L. Aitken 3 9, 11 Tesla; 7, -7 Isisford; 6, 6 Master Proven; 5. 4 Lingual; 3, 3 Sonnetary; 1, 1 Calcutta Sweep; 8, 8 Cambridge; 11, 10 Writer; 13, 13 Man o’ Mars; 10, 9 Reigning King also, started. Head; half a head. Lingual was fourth. Time, 2min 30$sec. Dividends.—Win: £6 13s 6d. Places: £2 9s 6d, £2 18s 6d. £8 4s 6d. KAITOKE HACK HANDICAP, Of £750. Seven furlongs. 4 - 4—RHEINGOLD by Pherozshah— Niebelung 8-12 .. J. W. Harris 1 1- I—Ripon car. 8-13 o , . D. N. Hadfield 2 2. 3—Merrimayes 7-12 .. A. J. Stokes 3 5, 6 Nicotian; 3,2 Bugle Boy; 6, 5 Genre; 7, 8 Ditched; 9, 9 Gold Peril--10, 10 Mt. Etna; 8, 7 Grand Effort also started. Half a length; neck. Genre was fourth. Time, Imin 24isec. Dividends.—Win: £8 6s 6d. Places: £2 2s, £1 7s. £2 Is 6d.

KELBURN HACK HANDICAP, Of £BOO. One mile. 4. 3—BEXHILL by Fete de Neuilly— Marble Fox 8-13 .. A. T. Haitana 1 2. 2—Jimmy Flash 8-10 „ R. J. Skelton 2 6. 6—Grand Bank 8-7 „ W. J. Mudford 3 3, 4 Lochie; 5, 5 Perfect Peach; 7, 7 Special Edition; 1, 1 Amble; 11, 10 Moilynn; 10, 12 Iroquoi; 8, 8 Noumea; 15, 15 Stylish Milling; 13, 11 Bomere; 9. 9 Strada; 14, 14 Dingaan; 12, 13 Greenwood also started. Half a head; length. Perfect Peach was fourth. Time, Imin 38Jsec. Dividends. —Win: £7 0s 6d. Places: £2 9s, £2 7s, £3 4s 6d. CITY HANDICAP, Of £1750. Six furlongs. 3. 3—ARGANDA by Hello Peter— Venezia 7-11 .. A. Skipper 1 4. s—John Gilpin 9-6 W. J. Broughton 2 1. I—Fair Chance 9-13 .. A. Morton 3 5, 4 Lucrative; 2,2 Baraden; 8, 8 Paulette; 6, 6 Dahlia; 7, 7 Rio Negro; 11, 11 Great Seal; 10. 10 King’s Trial; 9, 9 Motueka also started. Neck; length. Lucrative was fourth. Time, Imin 92sec. Dividends. —Win: £6 9s 6d. Places: £2 4s, £2 12s 6d. £1 16s. THORNDON HANDICAP, Of £l4OO. One mile. 3. 2—DESPERADO by DefaulterTrapeze 8-0$ .. R. A. Jenkins 1 1. I—Pack Drill 9-6 .. P. W. Harris 2 10. 10 —Nelson's Blood 8-1 C. H. Mackie 3 4, 5 Lachlan; 8, 8 Shaun; 9, 9 Monarch; 11, 12 Siphon; 6, 7 Yoho; 2, 3 Tricorne; 13, 13 Glenlee; 5, 4 Cornflake; 12, 11 Lord Milling; 7, 6 Matchlock also started. Nose; neck. Yoho was fourth. Time, Imin 37$sec. Dividends.—Win: £7 Bs. Places: £2 6s. £2 3s. £5 9s.