RACING TAWHIAO WINS GUINEAS

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28413, 21 October 1957, Page 4

RACING TAWHIAO WINS GUINEAS

Highlander-Lorica Trentham Double Tawhiao and Rover, two entrants for the New Zealand Derby at Riccarton on November 9, battled out a spectacular finish to the Wellington Guineas at Trentham on Saturday. Tawhiao gained a nose decision, and so remains unbeaten in three starts this season for Sir Ernest Davis. Tawhiao won the Great Northern Guineas a fortnight earlier. His other success was the Shorts Handicap at the Avondale spring meeting on September 7.

Sir Ernest Davis had not been successfully represented before in the Wellington Guineas, but Tawhiao gave the Auckland jockey, G. F. Hughes, his fourth success In the race.

Tawhiao is a plain but game gelding by Marco Polo II from Chubin, and is trained at Takanini by T. F and R. C. Verner. He is cl o'--sly related to Bridge Arre, the Wellington Guineas winner in 1944; also to the New Zealand Derby winner Al Sirat •nd several other good winners.

Takanini had a notable second success on Saturday with Second Earl, whose runaway win in the Wellesley Stakes stamped him as a two-year-old of great brilliance. Second Earl is Australian-bred, but was offered at the national sales at Trentham last January, and was bought for 850gns by Mrs C. McGregor. His record is now three wins from four Starts. He was unplaced at his first start, when the track did not suit him.

Highlander, a farm-trained Underwood gelding from Urenui in Taranaki, won the Wellington Handicap for the second year for Mr R. W. Northcott. He was one of the form horses after a second at Masterton a week earlier, but until the race was almost over luck appeared to be going all against him. Highlander had trouble working clear from the inside. When he did very close to home he bounded away to beat Rutillant by three-quarters of a length Lorica, another form horse, rounded off the day’s double in the Shorts Handicap, six furlongs Lorica finished brilliantly down the outside to beat' the South Island horses Ben Ledi and Dhofar into the minor places. Lorica is owned by Mr D. Daily •nd trained at Levin by D. Enright. At his previous start he won brilliantly at Otaki. Holders of 6835 5s tickets on the High-lander-Lorica combination received £6l 17s 6d for £l. A programme of great racing was also marked by Somerset Fair’s win in the Wainui Handicap, which attracted a top-flight field of milers. Somerset Fair, the champion weight-for-age winner last season, showed no form in his two earlier starts as a six-year-old. but his latest success has shown that another successful campaign lies ahead of him.

The weather was threatening early in the morning, but there was no rain, and the track gave perfect going. Tawhiao's Imin 38sec equalled* the race record for the Wellington Guineas. Brookside equalled the track record for a mile and three-quarters over hurdles when he won the Glen Hurdles.

The on-course totalisator turnover was £19,262 10s, including £21,875 10s on the double, compared with £154,192 on a wet day last year. Hard Finish The Wellington Guineas was like two races in the straight. Tawhiao, Rover, Somain, and Equal Terms left the 14 others going to the furlong, and got io to the post in that order in an earnestly-contested finish. Tawhiao preserved his unbeaten recoid for the season, but by a nose only from Rover. Somain was half a length back, and then there was a neck to Equal Terms. Tawhiao started quickly 14 wide and was m the lead with Equal Terms and Nephite lor a time inside the first furlong. Nephiu went on in front, and the Riccarton cixestnut Search Warrant joined him to set a solid pace to the half-mile There Somair. and Equal Terms were trailing, ana Mexico, Tawhiao, Attila, ana Rover were close at hand. The Dunedin Guineas winner William Paul was then two places back •nd Royal Avon was alongside him next to the rails Somain mastered Nephite and Search Warrant w’tn ease well outside the furlong, but was net able to work clear. Tawttiao, Rover, and Equal Terms gave chase strongly. tsqual Terms shortened stride but Tawhiao and Rover ran the race out strongly, and the result was in doubt right to the end. Equal Terms was four lengths clear of the fifth norse Switzeiland, one of the slowest beginners. Royal Avon was running on from an awkward position for sixth ahead of Marksman, Mexico, William Paul, Sarcelle, Black Star, Attila, Savage, Search Warrant, Coq d’Or, Gibraltar, Nephite and Seartum. William Paul hung out badly during the race. The First Leg It was late when Highlander found room for a run through the middle of the field in the Wellington Handicap, but he took a gap swiftly and won going away by three-quarters of a length from the eight-year-old Rutillant. Blactc Raven was an impi over's third a length back, just beating Bridie, Wild Area and Calcutta Sweep. Highlander ran next to the rails from the start and became awkwardly placed near the haifmile, where some of the others were going forward on the outer to get closer to the leaders. Gilt and Reconvey had been responsible tor the pace for the first mile, and Passive and Wild Area had trailed. Reconvey dropped out beaten near the home turn and Wild Area joined Gilt. Hot Drop ran tS UT °S five » laces but cbed the end of his run on sonl Sh 2 e o m f up - and Passive was Sone a furlong and a halt out.

Wild Area led to the furlong, with Black Raven, Bridie, Rutillant. and Highlander giving chase. Rutillant was in front for a few strides, but could not live with Highlander, a brilliant finisher. Apart from the winner, Calcutta Sweep (sixth) was one of the fastest finishers. He made his run wide out from near the tail of the field. Calcutta Sweep was a length clear of the weakening Gilt. Next were Straight March, Aurora’s Pride, Hot Drop, Anticipate, Clinker, Man o’ Mars, Paper Song, Mananui, Passive, Reconvey, Americus, Finito, Mediterranean, and Anzio. Lorica’s Sprint Win Lorica, a four-year-old with some wilful ways, but a brilliant galloper, worked into a challenging position very late in the Shorts Handicap, the second leg of the double. After getting clear he flashed down the outside and caught the Wingatui sprinter, Ben Ledi, in the last stride. It was a great race, one of fastchanging fortunes. Melanion led into the last furlong; Riccarton’s Dhofar had charge a little further on; then Ben Ledi came to the front and it looked all over. Lorica passed at least six horses in the last furlong. Melanion, which had passed the favourite, Barobar. about two furlongs out, was then leading from Moon Crest, Imitation, Warwick, Dhofar. and Ben Ledi. Ben Ledi spurted strongly to catch Dhofar close to home, but he went under by a head to Lorica, a more popular choice with the public. Dhofar, one of the outsiders of the field, was half a length back. Then there was a length to Warwick, which narrowly beat Imitation. The weakening Melanion was sixth, and next were Gay Jinx, Stawell. Musketeer, Pandex, Bali, Ha’i, Sambula, Subside, Bugle Boy, Regal Crest, Dark Knight, Domitare, Regal Dignitary, Moon Crest, and Kiatoa. Brilliant Win Second Earl . outclassed the others in the Wellesley Stakes, running right away in the straight to win by four and a half leisurely lengths from Matauwhi, which had also followed him home in the Welcome Stakes at Ellesrlie a fortnight earlier. Second Earl was an evenmoney favourite, carrying £5846 of a win pool of £14.201. He started quickly from No. 3 and was never headed. Up and Coming was alongside him for a time early, and Matauwhi had him within challenging distance leading the chute on to the course proper. But with no apparent strain, Second Earl drew out by three lengths going to the furlong and won coasting. Matauwhi beat Up and Coming by a neck for third. Up and Coming would have turned the tables on the runner-up but for drifting a few places about half way through the race. Sky Countess, third entering the last furlong, was a length back, fourth. Close behind her was the only South Island two-year-old, Waterfall. Waterfall started 13 wide and her fifth was creditable in this class. Lord Kildare was a close sixth, and the well-supported Lucky Red was next. The first three place-getters are from Takanini stables. Results:— GLEN HURDLES, Of £BOO. One mile and three- , quarters. 2. 2—Sir Thomas Duncan’s BROOKSIDE (7) ch g 6yrs by Amber-Enthusiastic 9-5 F. I. Robinson 1 L I—A.1 —A. J. Blakely’s Hickory SUck (5) car 9-8] R. J. Turnwald 2 4. 4—W. V. and Mrs Shannon’s Marau (3) 10-4 C. R. Cooksley 3 6, 5 Arawana; 7, 8 Rangi’s Luck: 5, 6 Golden Fox; 9, 9 Prince Spi: 3. 3 China Clock; 11, 11 Ganesh; 13, 13 Haversham (fell); 8, 7 Jumbalaya; 12, 12 Kwasind; 10. 10 Royal Tryst also started. Three lengths; seven lengths. Jumbalaya was fourth. Time, 3min 6Jsec (equals track record). Winner trained, by E. Temperton, Awapuni. Dividends.—Win; £5 16s 6d. Places: £2 2s 6d. £2 2s. £2 14s. WAINUI HANDICAP, Of £l5OO. One mile. 6. 6—B. A. L. Millen’s and J. E. Williams’s SOMERSET FAIR (1) b h, 6yrs by Fair’s Fair— Diversion 9-9 L. G. Coles 1 7. 7—Sir Ernest Davis’s Copernicus (15) b h 4yrs by Oman —Foxola 7-8 .. W. A. Smith 2 L I—F. P. A. Campbell’s Turon (8) br h 4yrs by Targui— Princess Karam 8-6 J. W. Harris 3 2,2 Coleridge; 11, 10 Pinnacle Ridge; 3, 3 Royal Zorra; 8, 8 Monogram; 15, 15 Avenge; 10, 11 Prince Filou; 14, 13 Gundar Haegg; 13, 14 Royal Warrant; 12, 12 Nuffield; 9, 9 Innesfell; 4, 4 Belfast; 16, 16 Napoli also started. Half a length; length. Gundar Haegg was fourth. Time, Imin 37sec. Winner trained by M. K. Lindsay, Ellerslie. Dividends. —Win: £l6 9s. Places: £4 15s, £4 19s 6d, £1 10s 6d. WELLINGTON GUINEAS, Of £2lOO. Three-year-olds. One mile. 2. 2—Sir Ernest Davis’s TAWHIAO (17) br g by Marco Polo ll—Chubin 8-10 G. F. Hughes 1 13. 13 —T. C. Lowry’s Rover (10) blk g. by Faux Tirage—Super Snipe 8-10 J T. Anderson 2 7. 7—E. F. Donnelly’s Somain (15) br c by Someo—Ann Hatfield 8-10 W. A. Smith 3 3, 4 Attilla; 10. 9 Black Star; 8, 8 Coq d’Or; 1. 1 Equal Terms; 17, 18 Gibraltar; 11, 11 Marksman; 12. 10 Mexico; 16, 17 Nophite 9, 12 Royal Avon 18, 15 Savage: 14, 14 Search Warrant; 15, 16 Seartum; 4, 3 Switzerland; 5. 5 William Paul; 6, 6 Sarcelle also started. Nose; half a length. Equal Terms was fourth. Time, Imin 38sec. Winner trained by T. E. and R. C. Vernei. Takanini. Dividends.—Win: £5. Places: £1 19s, £8 ss. £5 16s 6d. WELLINGTON HANDICAP, Of £3500. Cne mile and a half. 3. 2—R. W. Northcott’s HIGHLANDER <8) b g 6yrs by Underwood—Perrin 8-0 W. L. Aitken 1

15. 15—N. Beder’s and J. B. Mitchells Rutillant (7) br g Byrs by Ruthless—Moiton 8-1 L. G. Coles 2 8. B—Sir Ernest Davis’s Black Raven (4) blk g, syrs by Summertime—Yarmila 8-6 G. F. Hughes 3 1, 1 Passive; 2, 3 Bridie; 4, 4 Clinker; 11, 12 Hot Drop; 9, 11 Reconvey; 16, 18 Gilt; 18, 17 Americus, 5, 5 Calcutta Sweep; 12, 13 Anzic. 6, 6 Mananui; 14, 14 Mediterranean; 21, 20 Anticipate; 13, 10 Finito; 19, 21 Man o’Mars; 20, 19 Paper Song; 10, 9 Aurora’s Pride; 7. 7 Straight March; 17, 16 Wild Area also started. Three-quarters of a length; length. Bridie was fourth. Time, 2min 30sec. Winner trained by owner, Urenui. Dividends.—Win; £9. Places; £2 16s 6d, £ll 2s 6d, £4 14s 6d. RIMIIAKA HACK HANDICAP Of £750 Seven iurlongs.

5. 7—J. G. Alexander's HOLMAN (1) b g 4yrs by Dogger Bank—Brill 9-1 C. A. Bowry 1 1. 2—H. L. G. M aein d° e ’ s Mane Brizard (15) 8-5 G. H. Hughes 2 2. I—Mrs J. N. Lowry’s Froth (7) 8-10 .. J. W. Harns 3 7, 6 Anagram; 14, 13 Zareska; 9, 9 Nova Stello; 11, 10 Official; 15, 15 Gold Medal; 3, 3 Wondon; 16. 16 Lacorn, 19, 18 Broadacre; 12. 11 Yukon; 8, 8 Chattering; 13, 14 Cheyenne; 18, 19 Clean Heart; 10. 12 Gaekwar; 4, 4 Lonsdale; 4, 4 Rosetta, 17, 17 Rapunzel; 6, 5 Brianbra; 6. 5 Hibiscus also started. Three-quarters of a length; half a head. Wondon was fourth. Time, Imin Winner trained by J. C. Babgy, Wanganui. ~ Dividends. —Win: £ll 16s. Places: £4 ss. £2 0s 6d, £1 15s. WELLESLEY STAKES. Of £2OOO. Five furlongs. Two-year-olds. 1. I—Mrs C McGregor s SECOND EARL (10) b C by Tembu-Ajalon 8-7 R. G. Forbes 1 4. 4—Sir Ernest Davis’s Matauwhi (6) br e by Marco Polo

ll—Foxona 8-7 G. F, Hughes 2 2. 3—N. Simpson’s Up and Coming (13) b g by ResurgentCash and Carry 8-7 W J. Mudford 3 9 3 Beau Way; 14 13 Chin Chin; 11,’ll Lord Kildare; 3,2 Lucky Red; 10, 10 Cheyance; 6, 6 Supreme Effort; 8, 7 Fair Diana; 13. 14 Medium; 5, 5 Sky Countess; 12. 12 Triple Event; 7, 8 Waterfall also started. Four lengths and a-half; neck. Sky Countess was fourth. Time, Imin Winner trained by W. F. Clifton and L. Parkes, Takanini. Dividends.—Win: £2. Places: £1 Bs. £1 18s 6d, £1 16s 6d. SHORTS HANDICAP,

Of £1750. Six furlongs. 2. 2—D. Daily’s LORICA (6) ch g 4yrs by King’s CounselDainty Shoes 8-7 A. E. Skinner 1 4. 6—J. S. Reid’s Ben Ledi (7) b g syrs by Callander—Loyal Lady 8-6 .. R. J. Skelton 2 14. 13—J. H. G. O’Brien’s Dhofar (22) gr m 4yrs by Oman— Auldana 7-0 N Eastwood 3 9 9 Domitare; 7, 8 Moon Crest; 5, 4 S’ambula; 1, 1 Barobar; 16, 16 Bali Ha’s; 10, 12 Regal Crest; 8, 7 Melanion: 6. 5 Warwick; 3. 3 Imitation; 13, 14 Pandex; 21, 21 Kiatoa; 20. 17 Gav Jinx; 11, 10 Subside: 15. 15 Musketeer; 12. 11 Bugle Boy; 19, 20 Dark Knight; 18. 19 Regal Dignitary; 17 18 Stawell also started. head; half a length. Warwick was fourth. Time. Imin 122 sec. Winner trained by D. Enright, Levin. Dividends.—Win: £7 14s. Places: £3 Is, £3 Ils 6d. £7 14s 6d. OCTOBER HANDICAP, Of £750. One mile. 1. I—R C. Verner’s O’FLYNN (12) ch g 4yrs by Count Rendered —Llandine 8-4 W. A. Smith 1 2. 2—L. A. J. Emery’s and L. C. Purton’s Golden Luca (1) 9-7

J. W. Harris 2 4. 5—J. and Mrs H. Harper’s Summer Glow (5) 8-9 G F. Hughes 3 6. 7 Purser; 9. 8 The Lark; 18, 18 Instanter; 15. 15 Insignus; 5. 4 El Jefe; 10. 10 Dashing Beau; 7. 6 Sanroll; 11, 11 Anacapri; 3. 3 Elrey; 13, 13 Stormy: 19. 19 Bollinger; 16 16 Naughty; 8. 9 Sarabelle; 14. 14 Coffee; 12, 12 Parachute; 17, 17 Murvale; 17, 17 Poppet also started. Nose; two lengths and a-half. Anacapri was fourth. Time. Imin 39sec.

Dividends.—Win: £3 9s. Places £1 15s 6d. £2 3s, £4 8s 6d.