RACING Copenhagen Decisively Wins Riccarton Trial

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28250, 11 April 1957, Page 4

RACING Copenhagen Decisively Wins Riccarton Trial

Copenhagen decisively beat 12 others under racing conditions over seven furlongs at Riccarton yesterday. It was an encouraging Great Easter Handicap trial, and his run must have been valuable as part of his preparation for the £2OOO race on the opening day of the Canterbury Jockey Club’s autumn meeting on

April 22. Copenhagen was one of five winners at the Canterbury Jockey Club’s apprentice trials, held under ideal conditions. The other races catered for hacks and two-year-olds. All runners carried 8-0, and, except in the two-year-old events, all the riding was left to the apprentices. The most successful apprentice was B. Taggart, who was on Royal Avon and Miss Fire, the two successful two-year-olds. Both are trained at Riccarton by C. G. Humphries, to whom Taggart is apprenticed. There was a big entry for the seven-furlong hack race and it was run in divisions, both of which were won by Massowa geldings. Masai ran right away from the others in the first division, and the Orari-trained Massive was first home in the second division after pacemaking. *• Copenhagen was ridden fairly close to the lead by B. Parsons in the open event, and closed fast on Goldwyn and Merrimayes near the end, winning going away by a length. Good Start Copenhagen was the best beginner but Brown Baron quickly ran past him into the lead, and Goldwyn moVed'into second position. Merimayes raced alongside Copenhagen going to the half mile, where Tess was in- a gap next, clear of Cristatus. Hunt the Slipper, Desperado, and Calcutta Sweep. Goldwyn supplanted Brown Baron in the lead nearing the home turn, but was joined soon after by Merrimayes and Leprechaun. and Copenhagen were also close at hand there.

Closer to home, Goldwyn and Merrimayes were engaged in a battle for the lead when Copenhagen challenged. He reached a short lead about 50 yards from the post, and came out a clear-cut winner.

Goldwyn beat Merrimayes by half a head for second. Then there was a length to Tess, and a head to Leprechaun. Calcutta Sweep found the distance short of his best, but made ground from the home turn, where he was wide, for sixth ahead of Desperado and Cristatus. Unchallenged

Royal Avon had charge a good way out in the race for two-year-old colts and geldings, and won unchallenged by three lengths from Search Warrant. William Paul led the others home five lengths back. Angelsey William Paul were the early leaders, and Royal Avon worked forward wider out early in the race to join them.

Royal Avon was clear well outside the furlong, and none of the others was knocked about in an attempt to chase him. Search Warrant showed ability in his first test under racing conditions, and this Defaulter— Fantasy gelding may be a good winner for Mr F. J. Hobson. William Paul’s run should have been of some benefit in conditioning him for Easter racing at Riccarton. His record entitles him to strong support for the Champagne Stakes. Angelsey narrowly beat Caherciveen for fourth. Both showed good speed, the latter after losing ground early. Marcoette and Vivien Leigh led into the last furlong of the fivefurlong race for two-year-old fillies, but Miss Fire was the fastest finisher and Peat Marcoette decisively, if only by a neck. Miss Fire was more experienced than most of the others in the field, and ran the distance out strongly. Vivien Leigh weakened near the end and was easily beaten for third by the fast-finishing Rose of Kildare. Golden Ribbon, a stablemate of Rose of Kildare, did best of the others. Won by Eight Lengths Masai started wide out in the first division of the seven-furlong race for hacks, but dashed to the front on the home turn and drew right away, winning by eight lengths from Duel. Masai had not raced since the New Zealand Cup meeting, but this run showed nis fitness for engagements at the Canterbury Jockey Club’s autumn meeting. Duel was in one of the trailing positions from the start, but Gold Flame, a creditable third, had to put in a big run to join the leaders after a slow start. Gold Flame narrowly beat Equipage for third, the latter being well placed from the start. Neptune’s Pride, a slow beginner, did well to get up for i fifth.

Massive, a five-year-old from P. H. C. Stock’s Orari stable, won the second division for hacks after leading all the way. He had a lead of three lengths on the home turn, and won by a length and a half from Sun House,

which was galloping comfortably well clear of the others. Though he had not raced since the Dunedin spring meeting, Massive showed he is well forward. Breccia, second on the home turn, was beaten for third by the faster-finishing Gay Tommy, but this Cassock gelding was over four lengths from the winner. Lucky Time was a fair fifth two lengths clear of Gay Romeo. Results:— TWO-YEAR-OLD COLTS AND

GELDINGS (Five furlongs) G. A. Lang’s b g ROYAL AVON by Neptune-Avonmore B. Taggart 1; F. J. Hobson’s ch g Search Warrant by Defaulter-Fantasy N. Cowles 2; Mrs W. P. Pateman’s br c William Paul by Panair-Brolga W. D. Skelton 3. Angelsey, Caherciveen, Gold Crown, McCool, Rathfarham also started.

Three lengths; five lengths. Angelsey was fourth. Time, 59sec. Winner trained by C. G. Humphries, Riccarton.

TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLIES (Five furlongs)

P. D. Hall's br f MISS FIRE by Faux Tirage—Calm B. Taggart 1; Mrs J. Duncan’s b f Marcoette by Marco Polo ll—Astoreth L. J. Williams 2; P. Curtis’s br f Rose of Kildare by Pride of Kildare—Glad Tidings L. McGuire 3. Call Me Madam, Dower, Fern. Foglia d’Oro, Golden Ribbon, Lake Gilpin, Massalia. Olympic Flame, Profile, Rosalei, Summerhill, Vivien Leigh also started. Neck; two and a half lengths. Vivien Leigh was fourth. Time, 59 3-ssec. Winner trained by C. G. Humphries, Riccarton.

HACKS (Seven furlongs)

First division: C. L. Austin’s MASAI b g syrs by Massowa—Lady Graceful N. Cowles 1; W. Millner’s Duel N. Hoy 2; Miss J. Edgar-Jones’s Gold Flame K. Berry 3. Belletavia, Brave Warrior, Equipage, Haughty Chief, Every Right, Joyita, Lammas, Lord Fane, Mark Seven, Nehru, Neptune’s Pride, Steadfast, Viento also started.

Eight lengths: two lengths. Equipage was fourth. Time, Imin 27 2-5 sec. Winner trained by owner at Riccarton.

Second division: R. C. Idiens’ MASSIVE b g syrs by Massowa— Diva L. J. Williams 1; O. F. Watson’s Sun House B. W. McDonald 2; Mrs R. C. Wyness’s Gay Tommy B. Parsons 3.

Breccia. Expedition, Fleur, Gay Romeo, I’m Alone, King’s Song, Lucky Time, March Air, Rio Maree. Rome, Scurry also started. Length and a half; three lengths. Breccia was fourth. Time, Imin 26 2-ssec. Winner trained by P. H. C. Stock, Orari.

OPEN (Seven furlongs)

D. W. J. Gould’s COPENHAGEN ch g 6yrs bv Admiral's Luck —Vai Musk B. Parsons 1; A. M. and Mrs Cameron’s Goldwyn ch g 6yrs by Cassock —Taraheke B. Dodds 2; J. C. and Mrs Sheddan’s Merrimayes b m 4yrs by 'Treasure Hunt—Royal Vestments M. D. Alexander 3. Brown Baron, Calcutta Sweep, Cristatus, Desperado, Hunt the Slipper, Kiaree Beau, Leprechaun, Scuppered, Smuggles. Tess also started. Length: half a head. Tess was fourth. Time, Imin 26 3-ssec. Winner trained by J. C. Tomkinson, Riccarton.

WHANGAREI CLUB

Selections For Tomorrow

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, April 10. The weather is fine and the going promises to be good for the first day of the Whangarei Racing Club’s autumn meeting on Friday. The double will be the Mclnnes Memorial Handicap and the Maungatapere Handicap. Selections:—

11 a.m—Northland Hack Hurdles: Prone, Liberal, Butcher Girl. 11.40 a.m.—Trial Stakes: First Division—Full Cup, Hairini, Samos. Second Division: Lovely Chance, Gwenoch, Arc Flight. *

12.25 p.m.—Portland Hack Handicap: First Division—Ambiguous, Rangi’s Wren, Utuhina. Second Divi-sion-Bell Block, Chrisan, Natella. 1.10 p.m.—Mclnnes Memorial Handicap: Pretty Chance, Black Seaman, Bali Ha’l.

1.50 p.m.—Champion Hack Handicap: Runada, Cinn Mear, Royetta. 2.35 p.m.—Settlers’ Plate: First Division: Airfield, Rotation, Shindig. Second Division—Setanta, Summer Boy, Cessna.

3.15 p.m.—Maungatapere Handicap: Gay Sailor, Sambula, Inimitable. 4 p.m.—Waipu Hack Handicap: First Division—Earl’s Court, Time Lag, Gold Hussar. Second Division — Valmoor, Jack’s Countess, Sister Belle.

Riding engagements include:— L. G. Coles: Hairini, Independent, Utuhina, Bali Ha’l, Uppercut. D. J. Wyatt: Bell Block, Te Pua, Jack’s Countess, Liono, Beau Valure. D. J. O’Sullivan: Parakao, White Christmas. W. J. Mudford: Mahia, Clangula, Earl’s Court. N. Manning: Lachlan. D. F. Cameron: Peter Musk, Bustle Home, Inimitable, Queen’s Ribbon, Luxinne. R. Finlay: Gold Hussar.

G. F. Laurenson: Butcher Girl. D. M. Keenan: Overwise, High Queen, Airfield. D. D. Campbell: Samos, Starfire, Regal Prince, Rotation, Royetta. I. Noanoa: Almo. B. L. Hillis, Sister Belle, Coptract, Our Star, Shindig, Ambiguous. I. Frost: Steel Rod. I. Medcalfe: Namaka, Sambula, Prince Oman, Matawhiri. R. S. Kahui: Disarm, Queen’s Navy, Straight Arrow. W. H. Short: Cinn Mear. R. G. Reid: Prone. J. R. Johnstone: Shiralee, Bahrikoff.

W. C. Cotter: Fair Miss, Time Lag, Hickory. B. J. Smith: York Minster. P. Gilchrist: Smile On, Gold Fete. R. Jury: Pretty Chance, Setanta. J. M. Wall: Scylla, Hama. G. R. Edge: Highland Sandy. W. T. Day: Lady Natalie, Cinna Maid, Prince Bayanut, Royal Majesty. W. N. Flower: Lovely Chance, Nocturne, Sherwood Prince. W. A. Smith: Gay Sailor, Bodsir, Majestic Sun, Greek Legend, Little Beauty, Esparto.