MINOR RACES AT TRENTHAM

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

MINOR RACES AT TRENTHAM

OVERDUE WHS TO DESPERADO (From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, January 23. Desperado recorded his first win in more than three years in the Thorndon Handicap at Trentham today. He finished boldly and beat his former stablemate, Pack Drill, the top-weight and favourite, by a nose. Desperado was bred by Pack Drill’s owner, Mr H. D. Greenwood, and won the Wellington Racing Club’s Thompson Handicap and the James Hazlett Gold Cup in his colours, but is now owned by Mr J. F. Lockington and trained at Riccarton by J. L. Barr. Desperado was about the middle of the field at the half-mile, and was no closer to the lead on the home turn. A strong run carried him into fourth place behind Nelson’s Blood, Pack Drill, and Yoho at the furlong, and into a slender lead in the last stride. Pack Drill had a hard chase to catch Nelson’s Blood from the home turn, and had just battled into a short lead when Desperado mastered him. The little-fancied Nelson’s Blood did well to hold on for third, a neck back, after setting a strong pace to the straight. She had only half a head to spare from Yoho, which had to put in a t long run after beginning slowly. Shaun did bast of the others, but was a length and a half back fifth, after having every chance. Next were Monogram, Siphon, Tricorne, the weakening Lachlan, Cornflake, Matchlock, Glenlee, and Lord Milling.

Bernard Wins Again

Bernard the surprise winner of the Mungaroa High-weight on Saturday, was again at good odds when he won the corresponding race today. He was vigorously ridden by A. G. Waddell into the lead half a furlong out, and won drawing away by two and a half lengths from Maquana, which shaded Maire. Bernard was six places back at the halfmile, and was no closer on the home turn, but he closed on Horatius, Maire, and Kamala going to the furlong and kept up a strong gallop to win decisively. Maquana had the run of the race two places back on the inner, behind Horatius and Kamala. He had those two' beaten inside the furlong, but was clearly outstayed by Bernard. Maire was well up after two furlongs, further back toward the middle of the field, half a mile out, but handy again behind Horatius, Kamala, Maquana, and Flying Dragon on the turn. He made his run on the inner going to the furlong, where he was second, but faded slightly doser to the post. Horatius held on for fourth after pacemaking and swinging out on the turn. The top-weight. Prince Spi, shaded Kamala for fifth.

Takanini Stable Successful The Takanini stable of F. and G. W. Smith supplied the winner and third place-getter in the Hopeful Stakes. Passive was a hot favourite and finished solidly for a rather unlucky third, less than two .lengths behind his stablemate. Barobar, which carried the colours of F. Smith. They were separated by Fancy Dress, which Barobar mastered with ease inside the last furlong.

Barobar started wide out and did not get close to the rails. She was more than half-way back through the field when the race was half over, but moved fast into second place behind Fancy Dress going to the furlong, and had the race won soon after. Fancy Dress, which was in front with Akatarawa leaving the chute, held on for second from the faster finishing Passive. Passive was in the ruck until close to home, and galloped the last two furlongs with great dash, improving several lengths. Fourth, but beaten off, was the Riccarton-trained Tarbillon. Cherboug made up ground from near the tail of the field for fifth, two lengths clear of Raglan. Peony was close by a long way ahead of Akatarawa, which delayed the start and was taken to the outside. Pennant, another Riccarton youngster, was in front for a time, but dropped out io finish at the rear.

Favourite Beaten The hot favourite, Ripon, was beaten by Rheingold in the Kaitoke Handicap. Ripon ran clear early in the run home after disputing the lead to the straight, and was holding Merrimayes and Genre safely inside the furlong, but Rheingold dashed through on the inner and won soundly by half a length. Bugle Boy was alongside Ripon from the start, and Rheingold was alongside Genre behind them from the half-mile to the home turn. Merrimayes, one of the slowest to begin, joined in coming to the furlong, and Rheingold challenged from a handy position on the inner. Rheingold did best in the last halffurlong, and won decisively. Merrimayes ran Ripon to a neck, but Genre was a weakening fourth. Gold Peril was running on for fifth ahead of the weakening Bugle Boy. Nicotian was next in a gap ahead of Grand Effort, Ditched, and Mt. Etna.

Second Win at Meeting Jimmy Flash ran clear early in the run home in the Kelburn Handicap, and his second win for the meeting appeared to be within his reach until the last few strides. He went under to a brilliant challenge from Bexhill, which had 13 runners in front of him at the half mile and was well back through the field on the home turn.

Jimmy Flash was about four places back at the half mile, but ranged up on the outside of the leaders near the home turn, ran past Moilynn outside the furlong, and just failed to hold his lead. Grand Bank was running on for third, a length back, ahead of Perfect Peach, which was fifth on the home turn and third at the furlong. Stylish Milling just beat Lochie for fifth and showed speed to do so after a slow start. Lochie dwelt slightly at the start, but sped into a handy position on the inner, inside the first furlong, although he was awkwardly placed when several of the others improved their positions on the outside, running to the turn. He battled on gamely under his weight and with more racing room might have reached one of the places. The favourite. Amble, was badly placed behind Lochie coming to the straight, and could not find racing room behind a wall of horses going to the furlong. He was eleventh.