BROOKSIDE TAKES GLEN HURDLES IN FAST TIME

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

BROOKSIDE TAKES GLEN HURDLES IN FAST TIME

Brookside had to equal the Trentham track record of 3 min 6Asec to beat the favourite Hickory Stick in the Glen Hurdles, one mile and threequarters. on Saturday. Hickory Stick went clear by six lengths in the first furlong or so, a magnificent leap at the first flight helping considerably. After half a mile he had drawn out by 12 lengths, and a mile from home he was 70 yards clear.

The Te Rapa-trained hurdler did not measure correctly the hurdle near the seven furlongs, and some ground was lost, but he galloped past the five furlongs 1 lengths ahead of Brookside Next in a gap 6f four lengths were Arawana, Golden Fox, and Jumbalaya, and Marau was a length behind them.

Brookside doggedly kept up the chase. It looked as if it would be a vain one going to the last flight, where R. J. Turnwald was riding Hickory Stick confidently, but Sir Thomas Duncan’s Amber gelding reduced the favourite’s lead to two lengths going to the furlong, and did not have much opposition when he drew alongside.

Brookside won by two lengths. Marau was third seven lengths behind Hickory Stick and four lengths ahead of the light-weight Jumbalaya. Golden Fox was the best of the others, all of them very tired after a fast-run race. Haversham fell at the third flight, and Kwasind had to be checked to dodge him. Top-weight’s Victory Somerset Fair carried top weight of 9-9 to a notable win in the Wainui Handicap. He was not in high favour after two failures earlier in the season and an uninspiring gallop at Trentham on Thursday, but his success was popular, and it made him early favourite for the Harcourt Stakes on the third day of the meeting. L. G. Coles soon had the big Fair’s Fair horse close to the lead, just behind Copernicus and Avenge. Half a mile out. Somerset Fair was alongside Monogram and Coleridge, a length behind Avenge and Copernicus. and just ahead of Royal Zorra and Fuel, Prince Filou, Gundar Haegg, and Nuffield. Avenge and Copernicus came to the straight on terms, where Somerset Fair was moving forward on the outside, no more than half a length behind them. Avenge dropped back beaten soon after. Somerset Fair was Copernicus’s master a furlong out. and none of the others could keep him within challenging distance. The favourite, Turon, was awkwardly placed well back until the late stages of the race. He ran the last furlong brilliantly for third, a length behind Copernicus. Then there was a gap of two lengths to Gundar Haegg. a length to Balfast, a nose to Coleridge, a head to Nuffield, a nose to the Riccarton-trained Innesfell, and a head to Royal Zorra. Napoli did not jump out with the others and lost five lengths. Nuffield, Royal Warrant, and Innesfell drifted in the first furlong. Holman’s Victory Holman made a successful start to his four-year-old career in the Rimutaka Handicap. Mr J. G. Alexander’s powerful Dogger Bank gelding was top-weight with 9-1, and was not put thoroughly to the test.

C. A. Bowry had him close to the lead when the rush for positions was over. At the half-mile, he was running alongside Froth, three lengths behind the leaders. Chattering and Lacorn.

Holman responded readily to run past Chattering into the lead near the furlong,' and he had no trouble tn holding his lead, though the win favourite, Marie Brizard, ran the last two furlongs fast to get up for second.

Marie Brizard drifted from a handy position early in the race. Her placing was a good trial for the Desert Gold Stakes next Saturday. Froth, another Desert Gold Stakes candidate, lost, second place to Marie Brizard by only half a head. The others were beaten off, but the Win-gatui-trained Wondon was running on for fourth after drifting on the inner early in the race.

Rapunzel and Lonsdale were the best of the others. The Riccarton hack. was one of the slowest away and showed speed to finish twelfth.

Favourite Successful O’Flynn, a winner at Ellerslie a fortnight earlier, won the October Handicap narrowly but well in the colours of his Takanini trainer, R. C. Verner, who had saddled up Ta-

whiao to win the Wellington Guineas earlier in the day.

O’Flynn, a four-year-old brother to the successful stayer Llan.sfatr, was back in the middle of the field at the half-mile, and did not reach a challenging position until they entered the last furlong. He came to the front alongside Golden Luca and, in a battling finish, beat the topweight by a nose. Golden Luca had seven horses ahead of him at the half-mile, and ran the last two furlongs gamely under 9-7.

He was two lengths and a half clear of the weakening Summer Glow, the leader into the last furlong.

Summer Glow's chance looked bright when she mastered the Ric-carton-trained Purser, which ran to the front going to the half-mile. Anacapri was a length back fourth Then there was half a length to Sanroll three-quarters of a length to Purser, and three-quarters of a length to The Lark.

Riccarton-trained El Jefe was slow away and finished at the tail of the field.