PORCELAIN PRINCE WINS HIGH-WEIGHT

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28434, 14 November 1957, Page 4

PORCELAIN PRINCE WINS HIGH-WEIGHT

Porcelain Prince outstayed Meteorologist to win the Port Cooper High-weight for his Methven owner. Mr K. G. Mcat Riccarton yesterday. The four-year-old Wedgwood gelding was having his first race at the meeting. He dwelt slightly at the start but improved steadily going around to the half-mile where he had only May Day. Royal Glen, Scotch Emblem, and Whiohau ahead of him. Any one of six horses could have been the winner a furlong out but closer to the finish Porcelain Prince, , Meteorologist. Whiohau. and Rex ' Robe were the strongest gallopers. Meteorologist was half a length back second—another placing in a career | marked b.v a string of minor platings. He appeared to have a firstclass chance when he ran up to the leaders going to the furlong. Whiohau had his chance. He was half a length behind Meteorologist and had only a head to spare from the fasterfinishing Rex Robe. Rex Robe was also fourth in the high-weight on the first day of the meeting. Tarbillon made ground on the outside of the field for fifth, a length or so behind Rex Robe. He just beat Scotch Emblem, which trailed on the turn and faded slightly. Skyrider, Iroquoi. and Neptune’s Pride were the best of the others. Struan at Good Odds Struan. a failure in the Welcome Stakes last Saturday, opened the winning record of Southland horses for the meeting in the Irwell Handicap. The Callander—Greek Slipper colt was twelfth favourite of 18 and paid £4l 10s fid lor a win. Struan recorded his win at the expense of the hot favourite Obeyance. They were never widely separated in the running. Obeyance was the early leader. A Hernande passed him inside the first two furlongs but he reached the lead again soon after. Struan followed him through, reached a short lead going to the furlong, and held the Trentham youngster safely lo the end. A feature of the race was Count Pierre's performance to finish third He ran greenly well back in the field early in the race, and drifted towards the outside of the field. He showed high-speed to finish only a I length behind Obeyance. Ballormia was a neck back fourth, just beating Karamu. Phil's Choice was the best of the others. Favourites Routed Brianbra led past the weakening Chattering into the lead near the furlong in the Apprentices' Handicap. and won b.v half a length from the second favourite. Ettrick John, which did not keep straight near the end.

Brianbra continued the rout of the favourites. He paid £2l 10s for a win in this his first success since he joined J. E. Shaw's Riccarton stable. He is a brother to Mijiji, which was a good winner as a two-year-old four seasons ago. The Riccarton apprentice, R. R. Taggart, pot Brianbra away well from No 3 at the barrier, and followed Chattering. Mitre Peak, and Robes to the half mile. Frasco was alongside him then. Chattering. Mitre Peak. Frasco. and Brianbra put a good break on the others on the home turn Chattering reached the end of her run going to the furlong, and Brianbra mastered her quickly. Ettrick John closed fast on Brianbra near the end. but dived towards the inside and was held safely by half a length. Search Warrant, whose rider, W. H. Beck was having his first race ride, made ground on the inner from the turn for third two and a half lengths back. He lost a length or so early in the race, otherwise he might have taken beating. Frasco. weakening slightly, was a neck back fourth, just beating Scran g. Mitre Peak and Chattering were the best of the others. The slowest beginners were Le Roi. Boissier Boy. Fickle Jade, and Archway. Promise Unlucky Broken Wings, a winner over seven furlongs against the novices at. the Banks Peninsula meeing, shaded Promise lor Stonyhurst Handicap honours. Mr O. F. Watson's Pictavia gelding was seventh favourite of 15. and paid £l3 8s for a win. Broken Wings kept up a determined run from the middle of the field in the straight, and it was his good fortune that Promise failed to work clear of an awkward pocket on the heels of the leaders going to the furlong. Promise responded brilliantly when he got clear, but went under by a head to the Riccarton three-year-old. Anglesey, one of the leaders into the last furlong, was three-quarters of a length back third. He put in a fast run to close on the leaders coming lo the straight, and did well for a non-u inner to till a' place in this field. McCool, the lop weight and favourite. was a length back fourth. | He ran up to the leaders early ini the run home, but faded slightly in Hie last furlong. Bridal Ray was a length and a half back fifth. He did not improve much in the last half-mile. Culminate did well to finish sixth after losing three lengths at the start. San Gold the surprise second favourite, was seventh, weakening) from a trailing position.

Just Lasted Seadune, a seven-year-old Edenbridge mare from Wingatui, ran past Purser into the lead near the furlong in the Ashley Handicap and lasted to win by half a head from El Jefe. These two dominated the finish. The favourite. Riverwood, was three lengths back third. Seadune, which was unplaced over nine furlongs on the first day of the meeting, was ridden close to the lead and F. H. Skelton sent her forward to join Purser in front on the home turn. Seadune was not all out to master Purser, but was called on for her best when El Jefe made a dogged challenge. El Jefe was inching forward with every stride, bul the post came just in time for El Jefe was one of the best beginners and was never far behind Seadune in the running. Riverwood had nine horses ahead of him at seven furlongs and was not much doser at the half-mile. He made ground under a hard ride from the home turn, but never got close to Seadune. Royal Halyard, fourth into the last furlong, shaded the weakening Purser and Money Go Round for that place. Cruising, which had trailed, was the best of the others. Steadfast lost three lengths at the start and did not show up after.