EASY WIN FOR FALSE STEP IN METROPOLITAN STAKES

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28057, 27 August 1956, Page 4

EASY WIN FOR FALSE STEP IN METROPOLITAN STAKES

False Step, beaten by Te Koi on the first day of the meeting, outclassed the field in the Metropolitan Stakes at Addington on Saturday. False Step began safelv from 48 yards, but was well back in the field for the first six furlongs. Phantasy set a

sound pace, and several horses were feeling the strain with five furlongs to run. False Step began to improve ms position three sulkies wide with six and a half furlongs to run, and ne moved up until he was in second place with three and a half furlongs to run. He was moving up to Phantasy racing to the straight, where he was four lengths in front of the tiring Ricochet and Aldora, with lour lengths to Bracken Brae. Starwise and Glint. False Step’s superior stamina became evident early in the run home, and he won with something in hand by six lengths. Phantasy showed gameness to hold second place after forcing all the pace. Her effort suggested an early win

when she reverts to handicap racing She was a length and a half in front of Aldora, which had been just m front of Ricochet and False Step with one mile to run. He finished on well eight lengths in front of Ricochet, with a length to Glint and two to Adoration and Starwise. Glint, Maxwelton and Suzendy gave ground at the start. Highland Air in Form Highland Air completed a double for the meeting in the Wildwood Handicap, but he had to be shaken up to hold off Spring Walk over the last half-furlong Golden Marino, Distant Star, Scottish Brigade, and Stadium Chief took turns at pacemaking over the first mile. Highland Air broke at the start, but the slow pace enabled him to move into second place with six furlongs to run. Stadium Chief was leading Spring Walk at the straight entrance, with Highland Aiv Gay Lad. Scottish Brigade, Captain King. Count Grattan, and Distant Star handy. Spring Walk soon took the measure oi Stadium Chief and then Highland Air challenged along the inner. Highland Air finished gamely, and won by a neck. Spring Walk, which also lost ground at the start, showed that she was near her best again by talking second place. She was two lengths in front of Distant Star, which had to change course in the straight. Stadium Chief was only a head back fourth, ahead of Count Grattan, Scottish Brigade, and Mighty Fine, which were almost in line. Narrow Win Lady Cook, the favourite, finished on to gain a narrow decision over Dourglo, one of the outsiders of the field, in the Queen Mary Handicap. Lady Cook had a perfect run, and was never further back than fifth. Straight Eight made all the pace, but Con Scott went through on the inside after passing the half-mile to take the lead with Lady Shona a furlong further on. Dourglo rushed to the front from well back in the field with two and a half furlongs to run, and turning for home he was two lengths in front of Con Scott, Lady Cook, Lady Shona, Kelso, Bobby Brigade, and Dresden Lady. At the furlong Dourglo seemed likely to win easily, but Lady Cook caught him in the last few strides. Dourglo should soon win. Dresden Lady, which was awkwardly placed most of the way, finished fast along the inner for third, ahead of Bobby Brigade, which also made up ground. Con Scott was a useful fifth, followed by Kelso. Vapour Trail, Marshall Foi. and Bedivus. Easy Win for Light Nurse Light N.urse returned to her best form with a decisive win in the Improvers’ Handicap. She wes a little slow at the start, but the leisurely pace set by Kilcullen allowed her to work into a handy position without much, effort. Invicta followed her all the way and was just be-

hind her when she took the lead with two and a half furlongs to run. This pair were clear of Kilcullen, Barcola, Frontiersman, and Hyperbole at the straight entrance. Invicta could make no impression on Light Nurse in the straight, and the latter won by five lengths.

Invicta raced right up to his effort of the first day of the meeting, and he took second place four lengths in front of Gay Cobra, which had been in the last three for most of the race. He finished strongly, half a length in front of Frontiersman, with Tehana and Arriba right up next just ahead of Black Rose, with Barcola and Hyperbole following. Frontiersman, Hyperbole. Tehana. and Parable broke in the first furlong.

Winner from Gore The Gore-trained Cabra, an unlucky third in a similar race the previous week, finished too solidly for the others in the Addington Handicap. The only surprising feature of his win was his dividend of £l2 19s. Daybreak was the early leader but with seven furongs to run Quitt Contrary took over. She still had charge racing to the straight entrance, where she was being challenged by Cabra. which had moved up wide out in the back straight Centennial Star, Daybreak. Suredale, Sure Phoebe, Prestbury. Madam Grattan, and Silver Son were handiest of the others Cabra took the measure of Quite Contrary earlv in the run home, and was not troubled to win by a length and a half Daybreak, which had every chance, made up some ground in the straight for second, without ever appearing likely to trouble the winner. Quite Contrary fought on for third, a length in front of Suredale, with Silver Son, which broke at the start, right up fifth, clear of Sure Phoebe and Prestbury. HANDICAPS NEW BRIGHTON CLUB Handicaps for the New Brighton Trotting Club's spring meeting next Saturday HANDICAP, of £525; 3min 29sec class; one mile and a half.— Bracken Brae. Coronation Hall. Danceaway, Empyrian. En Evant, Gold Mist, Gold Moana, Jungle Lord. Lady Belmer. Lille Bolero, Quite Probable. Rachael, Reveille, Sister Shona. Spiral scr; Adoration. AH In. Charlotte Bell. Vhn Dyke 12. OXFORD HANDICAP, of £400; trotters; 3min 34sec class; one mile and a half.—Elate, Kilmartin. Ladas, Native Cord. Onawe, Our Jane. San Jacinto. Twin Power. Vincere, With You, Worthy Boy scr; Dan’s Choice. Supervise 12; Assure, Astrakhan, Durban Chief. Highland Glen, Jaquine, Legislate, Little Dictator, Russell Grattan. Serenelli 24; Sure Pip 36: Beehive 48

AVON HANDICAP, of £675; 3min 25sec class; one mile and a half.—Coincident, Fiona, Glint, Gold Light, Hinepo, Kerrystar. Lochlea, Welsh Heir scr; Parable. Scotch Paree (T.). Tehana 12. Ineligible: Aldora. CAMBRIDGE HANDICAP, of £400; 3min 33sec class; one mile and a half.— Battle Fling. Bonnie Castle, Candidate, Cobina. Daisy Grattan, Dalewen, Dan Derby, Dominion Monarch, Egyptian Queen. Finestra, Flaroma, Golden Leader, Kyle Nurse, Lord Kinnola, Manunda, Maxwelton, Mount Lebanon, My Gold, Next Time, Night Owl, Night Wind, Orient Walla, Phantasy. Pibroch. Placid Girl, Reason Why, Red McGregor. Shantung Siberia, Somerset Lad. Springvale, Starwise, Wee Sam scr.

JOHNS’ HANDICAP, of £1000; 4mm 36sec class; two miles.—Barcola. Kilcullen, Martini, Real Class. Silver Circle scr; Arriba, Black Rose, Bronze Indian. Double Talk Lady French 12; Gay Cobra. Invicta 24; Bobby Brigade, Dresden Lady. Fervent Scott. Lady Shona, Ruth Again 36; Light Nurse 48; Marshall Foi 60. SPRING HANDICAP, of £675; trotters; 3min 30sec class; one mile and a half.— Beehive. Lancewood scr: Fifth Brigade, General Lee, Glengallan. Quite Contrary. See All, Suredale 24; Deportment. John Sydney. Sure Phoebe 36; Centennial Star 48: Prestbury 72. H. E. GOGGIN HANDICAP, of £7o0; 3min 21sec class; one mile and a half.— Bobby Brigade. Dresden Lady. Fervent Scott. Kelso, Lady Shona. Rosiere. Ruth Again, Straight Eight, Unite scr; Bedivus. Con Scott. Doradel. Dourglo. Light Nurse. Lady Cook. Esteem. Lady Jane. Loraine. Marshall Foi. Merry Gold. Vapour Trail 12. Ineligible: Silver Circle. ELECTRIC HANDICAP, of £775; 2min 45sec class; one mile and a quarter.— Black Douglas, Captain King. Count Grattan. False Step, Gay Lad. Golden Marino. Lynbernd, Mighty Fine. Scottish Brigade. Super Nurse, Thunder scr; Excelsa, Ohio, Our Kentucky. Secure 12. WELLINGTON CLUB (New Zen.'ano Pte.ss Association > WELLINGTON. August 26. Handicaps for the first day of the Wellington Trotting Club's spring meeting next Saturday are.— INTRODUCTORY HANDICAP, of £400; trotters; 3min 51sec class; one mile and five furlongs.—Arch Duke, Breeze. Gay Spirit, Happy Sandy, Lubra, Trigo, Vanguard scr; Rangi’s Pride 24; Todman 36. SEPTEMBER HANDICAP, of £400; 4min 49sec class; two miles.—Lady Augusta. Master Bexley, Pedlar. Rambling Wren scr; Black Gem. Earl Louise, Edinburgh, King Star. Night Owl. Streamliner 12. WELLINGTON THREE - YEAR - OLD STAKES, of £400; special' conditions; one

mile and a quarter.—Castellen, Crimson Star, Red Michele, Scottish Command scr; Dove Dale, Dune, Good Fellow, Guiseppe 12. MASTERTON HANDICAP, of £650; 3min 44sec class; one mile and five furlongs.—Adan, Albert Hall, Autumn Fair, Blacksmith, Deveron, Johnny Gilbert, Quo Vadis, Showdown, Simon scr; Captain Star. Derry Browne, Loyal Cis 12; Frontiersman 24. PRESIDENT’S HANDICAP, of £400; trotters; 4min 47sec class; two miles.— Arch Duke. Gay Spirit, Happy Sandy, Trigo, Vanguard scr: Breeze, Lubra 12; Bugle Call 24; Rangi’s Pride 36. VISITORS’ HANDICAP, of £5OO ; 2min s.3sec class; one mile and a quarter.— Canyon. Jungle Lord. Lille Bolero. Mac’s Luck, Marcella, Oblige. Paikotiro, Special Feature, Tassel Trick. Taitaree scr; Albert Hall. Autumn Fair, Quo Vadis 24. DISCOVERY HANDICAP, of £250; 3min 56sec class; one mile and five furlongs.—Disraeli Friendly Smile. Heather Mary. Highland Laddie, Jupiter. Mark Anthony (T.). Morere. Okoura Sun. Omega, Red Michele. Rene Lou scr. FERRY HANDICAP, of £400; 2min 56sec class: one mile and a quarter.— Battleford, Black Gem. Earl Louise, Edinburgh. Gay Wanderer. Great Poise. Highland Hall. King Star, Lady Augusta. Major Ferguson. Master Bexley. Night Owl. Pedlar. Sambo. Streamliner scr.

WAIKATO MEETING POSTPONED

HEAVY RAIN MAKES TRACK UNSAFE "The Press’" Special Service AUCKLAND. Aug. 26. The long spell of wet weather in the Auckland province is playing havoc with some country trotting clubs. For the second time in two months, the Waikato club had to postpone its meeting, which was to have been held on Saturday. The June meeting at Claudelands had to be advanced to July when track conditions were bad on both days. The Thames meeting, scheduled for August 11. was also postponed, and will be held on December 7. the day preceding the club’s summer fixture. A few fine days earlier last week gave the Waikato committee encouragement for getting the spring meeting over on Saturday, in spite of the great exodus for the Springbok-Maori Rugby game at Auckland. However, heavy rain set in on Friday night, and continued almost unabated until the committee decided about 9.40 a.m on Saturday not to go on with the racing. By this time, floats and cars had arrived from Auckland and other areas, but the ground was in a bad state, and many experienced trainers and drivers said it was "unsafe.” D. Grantham, who had just arrived from Hawera. remarked that since he took up trotting he had been at every meeting in the North Island that had been postponed.