EASY WIN FOR ALIGHT IN TROTTING STAKES

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28253, 15 April 1957, Page 4

EASY WIN FOR ALIGHT IN TROTTING STAKES

Alight gave her Ashburton ownertrainer, J. Wilson, his third win in the New Zealand Trotting Stakes when she outclassed her six • opponents at Addington on Saturday. Wilson trained Acclamation for her win in 1946 and owned and trained Highland Flame, a sister to Alight, to win in 1954.

Alight broke at the start of Saturday’s race, but settled down almost immediately. Superway began best and forced the pace from Alight, with the others, headed by Rockn Roll, 20 lengths back with six furlongs to run. Alight was shading Superway with two and a half furlongs to run and turned for home a length in front of her. Estelle, Leslie Grattan, and Rockn Roll were eight lengths back next. Alight did not look like being caught and won easing up by two and a half lengths from Superway, which had every chance.

Seven lengths behind Superway, Estelle and Leslie Grattan deadheated for third, with Rockn Roll two lengths back fifth. There were gaps to Nalder and Dalgelia, both of which made mistakes. Estelle broke just after the start.

The Second Leg Dignus, which is to . leave tomorrow for Sydney, completed a double for the meeting when he decisively won the Plains Handicap, the second leg of the double. He forced the pace with Loyal Cis over the first two furlongs, dropping in behind her after that. Dignus was shading Loyal Cis at the half-mile post and he was soon a clear leader. He turned for home ahead of Scottish Fair, with Ruth Again, Showdown, Star Dora, Rola Veyor and Loyal Cis next. Dignus had the field well covered in the straight and he ran out an easy winner by two lengths. Ruth Again, which had every chance, did not run on as well as expected, but took second place half a length in front of Scottish Fair, which was never far away. Showdown, after breaking at the start, showed speed to finish fourth, but he was three lengths behind Scottish Fair. Rola Veyor made up ground for fifth, ahead of Malabella and Banjo. Star Dora, Overdrive, and Lauder Lady lost their chances at the start. Maharaja in Form Maharaja gave a fine display of pacing to win the New Pacing Stakes. He began brilliantly, but was forced over some extra ground in the middle stages of a roughly-run race, to get handy to the leaders. He moved up on the outside of Auditor and Captain Free racing to the straight, with Johnny Guitar, Fourth Edition, Golden Hero, Lady Attack, Gentry (very wide), and Shantung. Maharaja was soon clear, and he came on to win easily by a length and a half. Johnny Guitar was handily placed all the way, and he finished on gamely for second, a length in front of the unlucky Gentry, who had trouble working clear. He was almost off the track at the straight entrance and did well to finish third, half a length in front of Fourth Edition, with three lengths to Shantung, which was followed in by Auditor, Solemnity, Golden Hero, and Captain Free.

Shantung, Stellar, Aksarben, Queenson, East Dome, Auditor, Lady Attack, and Crimson Star gave ground at the start. Solemnity, Aksarben, and Stellar met trouble at the half-mile post. Golden Chimes Wins Golden Chimes gave M. Holmes his fifth driving success at the meeting when she won the President’s Handicap. She was restrained in the middle stages* of the race and moved up to follow Tehana, (Sold Mist, Suzendy, Johnny Hall, and Parable into the straight. Gold Mist soon took the measure of Tehana, and she was then joined by Golden Chimes. The last-named soon assumed control and won with something in hand by a short length. Gold Mist, which received a check at the end of three furlongs, paced a sound race for second, two lengths in front of Suzendy, which had trouble working clear off the rails. She finished on. solidly without appearing likely to catch Gold Mist. Parable, which was always in the leading division, put in a solid run to get fourth, ahead of Phantasy, which was near the rear most of the way. She did well to finish so close up. Tehana tired to sixth, ahead of Air Command, Mountain Brigade, and Quo Vadis. Blue Jay lost her chance at the Easy for Western Son Western Son moved up to the

pacemaker, Dinnie Daley, with seven furlongs to run in the Papanui Handicap, worked clear with three and a half furlongs left, and came on to win very easily. Western Son was shading Dinnie Daley racing to the straight, with Brigadier Grattan, Somerset Lad, Reality, Signet Ring, Macklin, and Starwise handy. Western Son was three lengths clear at the furlong post and he came on to win with a lot in hand by three lengths. Starwise, after being well back most of the way, finished boldly in the straight to beat Signet Ring by three-quarters of a length for second, with Somerset Lad tiring badly to be two lengths away fourth. Macklin was a fair fifth, ahead of Reality, Lexeter, Dinnie Daley, and Jocund. Special Attack broke badly at the start, and Capull, Lexeter, Night Wind, and Dinnie Daley gave ground. Omega broke at the mile post and was pulled up with a broken hopple. Capull broke again with about half a mile to run.