SECOND LEG AT ASHBURTON

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28161, 27 December 1956, Page 5

SECOND LEG AT ASHBURTON

Lady Belmer Has Good Win Lady Belmer, a winner over a sprint distance at Rangiora at her previous start, completed the double at Ashburton yesterday with a convincing win in the Midsummer Handicap. She was driven by M. Holmes, w’-'n was successful in the first leg with Glint. Lady Belmer made a splendid beginning from 24 yards and was sent to the lead at the end of three furlongs. Dignus joined her a furlong and a half further on, and they forced the pace between them for the remainder of the race. Lady Belmer was shading Dignus racing to the furlong post, with Reality, Signor, Gold Moana, and Reason Why handiest of the others. Lady Belmer fought on very gamely, and she won easily by two lengths. Dignus paced a grand race for a three-vear-old. He received no respite during the race and just as he looked likely to close on Lady Belmer. he broke with about 50 yards to run He held on to take second place by a neck from Reality, one of the outsiders of the field. Reality was always handy and she ran on strongly. Signor, which tangled approaching the final furlong, battled on for fourth, four lengths behind Reality, with Gold Moana, Starwise, Johnny Derby. Boyal Crown, and Reason Why next. Kyle Nurse met trouble at the start, and Peter Polo, Synchronise. Dinnie Daley, which was pulled up. Morere, and Reason Why lost ground at the start. Dan’s Choice in Form Dan’s Choice was never far away in the Winslow Handicap, and he finished on strongly for a narrow win. With You was first out. but Great Caution took over at the end of a furlong. With You went clear again when Great Caution stopped two furlongs from the finish. He led into the last furlong from Kilmartin, Jean Able, Gay Tune. Dan’s Choice, Assure, Fogbound, and the breaking Barravey. Dan’s Choice put in a strong run, and was in front 100 yards out. He fought on gamely to have a long neck to spare at the post. Jean Able trotted right up to her best form to take second place after having every chance, with a length back to Assure, which was never far awav. Half a length back Fogbound did well to finish fourth, after starting from 60 yards. He just shaded Gay Tune and Kilmartin. with Barravey, Victory Cheer, and the favourite. Unlikely, next. Nirvana, Serenelli, Global Voyage. Unlikely. Suredale, and Todman lost ground early. Division Race Loyal Piper and Maharaja won their respective divisions of the two-mile Wakanui Handicap, both having to survive strong late challenges to win narrowly. Loyal Piper made the early pace in the first division, being passed by Totem Pole at the end of five furlongs. Fourth Edition moved up. to be handy to Totem Pole at the mile post These two were still in front racing to the furlong post, with Loyal Piper and Haughtiness the only others with prospects. Fourth Edition was soon clear, but Loyal Piper then put in her claim, getting up in the last stride or two, to win by half a head. Irrigation made up ground in the straight to take third place, a nose in front of Utoss, which also finished well. Haughtiness was a fair fifth, ahead of Wainoni Loyal. Maharaja was slow away m the second division, and he was at the rear at the mile post. Soon after he moved up very quickly to be just behind the pacemaker, Keff, with six furlongs to run. Maharaja took over when Keff dropped out with two and a half furlongs to run. He was followed into the final furlong bv Quare Times, Ingle Brigade, Cartoni, and Te Rangi next. Maharaja looked in for a comfortable win, until Cartoni put her claim along the inner. Maharaja almost broke in the last few strides, but held on to beat Cartoni by a head. Quare Times was two lengths back, third, a length in front of Te Rangi, which finished fast in the straight. Ingle Brigade was fifth, ahead of Geraldo. Silent Jim Wins Silent Jim, a good second in his race at Motukarara last Saturday, was at surprisingly good odds when he won the Mitcham Handicap, paying £l2 9s 6d. Silent Jim was a little slow away, but was soon handy. He was sent to the lead with five and a half furlongs to run when Forenoon dropped out. He was clear racing to the final furlong from Dalmation, Alight, Waihora Queen, and Wakeful. Alight threw out a strong challenge, but could make no real impression, and Silent Jim held on to win well by half a length. The three-year-old. Alight, created a good impression by finishing second. It was her first race start, and the sister to Highland Flame looks to have a bright future. Dalmation, which broke early, made up ground to be handy racing to the final furlong, but then dropped out to finish third, four lengths from Alight and two lengths in front of Willowdale, which broke twice in the running. Waihora Queen was beaten off. fifth, ahead of Wakeful and Scotch Mist. Overdue Win Skydale, which had been placed in his two previous starts, gained an overdue win in the McLean Handicap, a race for probationary drivers. Skydale was patiently handled by D. D. Nyhan, who had her just behind the* pacemaker, Count Renaldo, most of the way. Count Renaldo set a sound pace and led Floreate into the final furlong. Skydale was just behind them starting his run, with Francora the only other possibility. Floreate soon took over and Skydale joined in. They had a short dual, Skydale soon asserting his superiority. He came on to win well by a length and a half. Floreate showed improvement on her effort at Motukarara last vzeek to hold on for second, three lengths in front of the tiring Count Renaldo, which should not be long winning. Francora stopped in the straight and was five lengths back, fourth, well clear of Siberia, with a gap to Bonny Venture. The others straggled home at intervals, most of them having made mistakes. HANDICAPS CANTERBURY PARK CLUB Handicaps for the first day of the Canterbury Park Trotting Club’s summer meeting at Addington next Monday are:— PROGRESSIVE HANDICAP, of £650; trotters; 3min 49sec class; one mile and five furlongs.— Assure, Gay Tune, Happy Haven, Judear, Kilmartin, Lawsuit, Little Dictator, Manana. Mercury Light, Native Cord, Nirvana, Serenelli, Suntrap, Unlikely, Young Atlas, scr: Honora’s Last, Supervise, Todman, Uleen, Jean Able, White Wings, 12; Dan's Choice. Beehive, Durban Chief, Fifth Brigade, 24; See All, Suredale, 36; Barravey, Scott’s Own, 48. CHARLES CROSS STAKES, of £850; three and four-year-olds; one mile and five furlongs.—Achates, Aksarben. Compeer, Darkest, Dignus, Double Dale, Mossgiel, Overdrive, Shantung, Stellar, scr; Dalene, Fourth Edition, Geraldo, Ladyship, Lillium. Macklin, Morere. Phantasy, Solmenity, Somerset Lad, Starwise, Suzendy, 12; Bon Ton, Glint, 36. MASON HANDICAP,- of £1250; 3min 37sec class; one mile and five furlongs.—Con Scott. Dourglo, Ice Drift, Lady Cook, Lady Shona, Loraine, Lucky Hall, La Mignon, Ruth Again, scr; Cembala, Count Grattan, Gay Lad, Golden Marino, Invicta, Kingsdown Direct, Glint, Light Nurse. Magellan, Spring Walk, 12; Belle Renarde, Stadium Chief, 24; Black Douglas, 36. MIDDLETON HANDICAP, of £800; 4min 39sec class; two miles.—Albert Hall, Genghis Khan, Golden Chimes, scr; Dryden Lad, Peter Polo, Rachael, Signet Ring, 12; Compo Jack, Coincident, Great Dillon, Parable, Honest Charles. 24. Ineligible: All In, Clue, Gold Moana. Reason Why, Signor, Suzendy. SELWYN HANDICAP, of £900; 3min 41sec cass; one mile and five

furlongs.—Clemency, Green Label, Kingsdown Grattan, Lady French, Quo Vadis, Triple Crown, scr; Arriba, Brandon. Bronze Indian, Gold Direct, Hula Rose, Kapeen, Lady Belmer, Malabella, Scottish Fair, Super Royal, Tehana, Welsh Heir, 12. Transferred to the Prebbleton Handicap: Lauder Lady. HORNBY HANDICAP, of £1000; trotters; 3min 27sec class; one mile and a half.—Barravey, Beehive, Daybreak. Durban Chief, Fifth Brigade, Flammula, Fogbound, Johny Sydney, Scott’s Own, Sure Phoebe. Wilton Lad, scr; Amigo, Hazel Grattan, Madam Grattan, Metropole, Quite Contrary, 12; Kevin, Shirley Dillon, 24; Lady Baffelan, Prestbury, Pylon, 36; Quick Silver, Superfortress, 48; Cabra, Excellenza, 60; Precaution, 84. PREBBLETON HANDICAP, of £950; 4min 33sec class; two miles.— Banjo, Battalion, Dalise, Kelso, Kilcullen, Marshland Scott, Martini. Moor, Roving Gypsy, Showdown, scr; Double Talk, Pointer. Lauder Lady 12; Bedivus, Gay Cobra. Scottish Note, Straight Eight, 24; Dourglo, La Mignon, 36. AU REVOIR HANDICAP, of £1050; 2min 45sec class; one mile and a quarter.—Black Douglas, Cembala. Count Grattan, Gay Lad, Golden Marino, Kingsdown Direct, Light Nurse. Magellan. Scottish Brigade, Tui Scott, scr; Belle Renarde, Excelsa. General Sandy. Merval, Ricochet, Rowan Star, 12; False Step, Our Roger, 24.