MINOR EVENTS AT MOTUKARARA

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28159, 24 December 1956, Page 5

MINOR EVENTS AT MOTUKARARA

HALSWELL HANDICAP TO LAWSUIT

Lawsuit gave R. H. Butterick’s stable its second win for the day when he gained a most decisive win in the Halswell Handicap at the Banks Peninsula Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday. Willowd,ale attempted to make all the pace, but broke with seven furlongs to run. He broke several more times before reaching the straight, where San Jacinto was clear. He. too, broke early in the run home, and racing to the final furlong Lawsuit was leading Reflective, with Dan’s Choice, Worthy Boy, Kilmartin and Coming Down all handy. Lawsuit did not look like being caught, and he won with something in hand by two and a half lengths.

Worthy Boy. after having every chance, battled on in the straight for second. He has a long list of placings. but is finding it hard to win a race. Dan’s Choice, one of the backmarkers, did weU to finish third after having to cover extra ground approaching the straight. Kilmartin, which was never far away, got up in the last stride to nose the tiring Reflective out of fourth place. They were three lengths in front of Coming Down, with Willowdale, Indianna and Wakeful next. Marcina Wins Narrowly Marcina led over the last nine furlongs in the First Waihora Handicap, and held on to beat Somerset Lad by a nose. Marcina set a sound pace and led into the final furlong from Siberia, which broke, Somerset Lad, Gay Helen, LiHium, Radar and Captain Free. Marcina and Somerset Lad drew clear, Marcina breaking just short of the post. However, she lasted long enough to win by a nose. Somerset Lad had every chance, and paced his best race for a long time. He may be near worth-while form. Captain Free paced a grand race for third. He was very slow early, and had to race wide out to put in a challenge. He should win a race during the holidays. Spring Chat, which was also slow early, made up a lot of ground for fourth, ahead of LiHium, Radar, Gay Helen and the favourite, Brittania, which was never likely after a slow beginning. Elsinore stood on the mark and Black Gem was another to lose ground. Stellar Wins Well Stellar, second in the New Zealand Oaks: to Overdrive, had her first win in the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club Handicap. She made a splendid beginning from the second line and was always handily placed on the rails. She moved through on the inner to follow Taipo in the back straight. Gold Cloud rushed round the field to pass Taipo with two furlongs to run. Taipo and Wainoni Loyal were challenging her racing to the furlong post, with Stellar, Cartoni and Johnny Hall all handy. Once inside the furlong Stellar and Wainoni Loyal worked clear. Stellar finishing on strongly to win with something in hand by a neck.

Wainoni Loyal recorded her fourth placing from as many starts. She is long overdue for a win. She was three lengths in front of the fast-finishing Solemnity, which was well back early. Johnny Hall was a good fourth, a neck back, ahead of Cartoni. with Taipo and Our Bridget following. With You in Form With You. which was lucky to escape trouble from breaking horses in the first furlong, finished strongly from the home turn to beat Silent Jim by half a length in the New Brighton Trotting Club Handicap. Silent Jim took the lead with seven furlongs to run when Cottlesmore broke. He had an advantage of three lengths with half a mile to run. and maintained this lead racing to the final furlong, where Cottlesmore, With You. Red Jenny, Waihora Queen and Zephyr L?ss were the only others with a chance. With You responded well and had the result in safe keeping 50 yards out. Silent Jim trotted his best race for 1 some time to take second place a length in front of Cottlesmore. which gave a verv mixed display of trotting. Red Jenny, which was always handy, battled on for fourth five lengths back, just ahead of Waihora Queen and Zeohyr Lass, with saps to Ida Ray. Wellbum and Dalmation. The majority of the field, including the favourite. Medetta. ruined their chances at the start. Easy for Fourth. Edition Fourth Edition moved up in the back straight and finished strongly in the straight to gain an easy win in the Canterbury Park Trotting Club Handicap. He broke early and lost a lot of ground at the start. However, he soon improved his position. He was showing up outside Gay Bells. KefT and Achates near the furlong post, with Wimpy also handv. Fourth Edition soon strode clear, and came on to win with something in hand by two and a half lengths. Wimpy recorded his third successive placing when he finished second. He had to cover extra ground most of the way. but even so did not run on as strongly as expected.

Achates, which was never far away, looked the winner at the furlong post, but he tired and was beaten into third nlace. half a length in front of Ingle Brigade, which finished fast along the inside. Maharaja was right up fifth, just ahead of Gay Bells, with a gap to Travalon. . a Aksarben broke before the end of a furlong and was pulled up with a broken hopple.