Moon Crest Best Of Trentham Sprinters

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28223, 11 March 1957, Page 4

Moon Crest Best Of Trentham Sprinters

Moon Crest improved a good record on the course by winning the Railway Handicap decisively after being in front all. the way at Trentham on Saturday. She shook off challenges from Kiatoa, Skylight, and Barobar going to the furlong, and won by a length. Kiatoa lasted for second by a nose from the fa.->t-finishing Pandex, which cut Skylight out of third place in the last few strides.

Kiatoa was alongside Moon Crest in the lead early, and Duplication, Barobar, Skylight, Pandex, and Dhofar were close at hand leaving the chute to the course proper. Barobar weakened going to the furlong, where Kiatoa and Skylight were left to lead the chase. Pandex joined in later, wider out, but by that time Moon Crest had the race won. Skylight was half a head behind Pandex; then there was a length to Gay Jinx, which was followed in by Dhofar, Barobar, Red Admiral, Motueka. Baraden, Lochie. Leprechaun, Duplication, Lorica, and Saunter.

Spectacular Finish King’s Crest shaded the favourite Revolver and the second favourite San Diego in a spectacular finish to the Ngaio High-weight Handicap. King’s Crest, a four-year-old Majesty gelding trained at Trentham by J. K. Searle, was fairly close 10 the lead from the start. He followed Arawana, Heconvey, and Burlwood into the. straight, led the chase after Arawana into the last furlong, and just managed to hold to a slight lead from Revolver in the last few strides. . ,

Revolver was close behind King’s Crest all the way and appeared to be going well enough just inside the furlong to make the grade. But he found King's Crest a shade too good at the weights, although a check he received in the middle stages could have cost him victory.

San Diego was ridden closer to the lead than he was in high-weights at the Wellington Cup meeting, and was only two places behind Revolver on the home turn. He ran the last furlong strongly for a creditable third. Arawana gamely lasted for fourth a length and a quarter back. He pulled hard in front in the early and middle stages, and with a trailing run he might have paid a divi-, dend. The little-fancied Burlwood narrowly beat the Wingatui-trained Every Night for fifth two lengths back. Every Night was the faster finisher, but was forced very wide after starting his run from near the tail of the field. The Orari hack Native King was ninth after having every chance. He was beaten early in the run home.

Tawhiao’s Win Tawhiao reached a short lead near the furlong in the Plunket Nursery Handicap and won narrowly but well from Mindanao, which shaded San Gold and Ballador. Tawhiao drew badly at the barrier,; but scratchings were numerous, and he started only 12 wide. G. F. Hughes had the Marco Polo II gelding handy to the lead early in the race. Leaving the chute to the course proper San Gold and Royal Avon were shading Zekan, and close behind were Ballador, Bliss, and Tawhiao.

Royal Avon weakened going to the furlong, and Tawhiao ran past San Gold into the lead„ where Zekan was weakening slightly, but Ballador was making ground wider out. Mindanao provided fresh interest when she challenged on the inner. She ran a shade greenly and was safely held by the Takanini two-year-old, but she shaped like an early winner for Mr J. G. Alexander. San Gold shaded Ballador for third. Then there was a gap of two lengths to the weakening Royal Avon and a head to Zekan, which was the win favourite. Sarcelle, the tailender three furlongs out, was the best of the others. Miss Fire, a stablemate of Royal Avon, was alongside San Gold in the lead for a time early, but then weakened to tenth. At Good Odds Calm Ruler made nearly all the running in the Tinakori Hdaieap and won decisively, but there was a tight finish for the minor place, Ole, Nuffield, and Shahnui filling them in close order. Calm Ruler, a five-year-old Calm Courage gelding from J. P. Carter's Awapuni stable, led past the halfmile alongside Subside, ahead of Instanter, Ole, Shahnui, O’Reilly’s Bar.

Lady Bambton, and Nuffield. Nuffield was not well placed on the inner, and was moved wider out nearing the home turn where there were no changes among the leaders. Calm Ruler showed no sign of weakening, and had the race won at the furlong. , . . Ole beat Nuffield by a short head for second, and Shahnui was only a nose back fourth. Scottish King, one of the slow beginners, was a fast-finishing fifth a length and a half back. Miracle Mile, the win favourite, was sixth, and Pennant was a faster-finishing

seventh. Pennant was slow away, and one of the tail-enders to the home turn.

Winner For Riccarton Teaka gave the South Island its lone success for the day when he won the Silverstream Handicap decisively. Mr C. L. Smith’s three-year-old Kurdistan gelding was the favourite in this, his second successive win, and he did not give his backers any anxiety from the tome he ran smoothly into the lead in the straight. , The pace was very slack over tne first two furlongs, when Royal Glen and Aquarius were together in the lead pulling very hard. But it was more like a race when Abraham, which had lost six lengths at the start, moved round the field into the lead going to the mile. Abraham led down the back straight to the half-mile clear ot Royal Glen, Paper Song, and Aquarius. The Riccarton pair, Teaka and lone, raced on terms just behind, and Dancing Odile, Juventas, and Contact Victory were next Abraham held his lead round the home turn, but Teaka, Aquarius, and lone passed him, and a furlong out ai4 all-South Island finish seemed likely. But then Contact Victory came strongly to get up for second. He was only half a length from Teaka, but the latter was coasting in the last few strides. Aquarius was three-quarters of a length back third, an encouraging first run over the distance. lone was half a length back fourth, then Juventas, Dancing Odile, Defiant, Golden Cavalier, Sun House, Parachute, Abraham, Royal Glen, ana Paper Song. WAIMATE RACING CLUB (INC.). ANNUAL RACE MEETING, SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 1957. ACCEPTANCES for All Events at the above Meeting close with the undersigned on MONDAY, MARCH 18, 1957. AT 4 P.M. (Handicaps declared same day). J. R. DONALDSON, Secretary. P.O. Box 33. 'Phone 207. Telegrams: "Donson,” Waimate. —Advt