TROTTING Highland Air Beats Gentry At Auckland

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28471, 28 December 1957, Page 6

TROTTING Highland Air Beats Gentry At Auckland

“The Pressj” Special Service AjUCKLAND, Qeceniber 27. Restrained in the middle of the field most of the way, Highland Air had i too much in reserve , for his opponents in the £5lOOl Auckland Cup, the" feature race on the first day’ of the Auckland Trotting Club’s cup meeting at Alexandra Park today. The disappointing feature of the race was the dismal showing of tli£ hot 'favourite, Lookaway, which finished near the ■rear after being close to the lead most of the way. life was apparently not suited by the easy track. I

Highland Air put in an appearance racing to the straight arid continued his run over the filial furlong to beat the strongjyfancied Auckland candidate, Gentry, by three-quarters of 1 a length. Trueco was a length back third, a short length in front lof worthy Chief .and False Step. : Highland Air gave his Wellington owner, Mr R. A. McKenz|e, his first win in the Auckland Clip, a race which also escaped His father, Sir John McKenzie. jA six-year-old stallion by U. Scqtt, he is out of an outstanding brood mare in Air Flow, which Sir John McKenzie imported from the United States. Air ( Flow is also the dam. of Scottish Air, Aerial Scott, Risingholme, Slipstream, Red Emperor, Flight Commander and Air Command. Her progeny have won almost £50,000 (in stakes. ' Highland Air began racing as a four-year-old and since then he has compiled an outstanding record of 13 wins and 11 placings from 35 starts. His stake-earnings now amount to £11,865. At one part of last season his carebr seemed at an end when he nipt with a serious injury in a race at Hutt Park. However, he mafie a good recovery 1 , and, although at times troubled by soreness, His racing has not been seriously interrupted. ; The meeting was held in drizzling rain and there was only ?a fair attendance. The track wks cutting out. » The Highland Air (bracketed La Mignon)—Light Call doubles combination returned £ll7 3s 6d for £l. i i

Totalisator investments amounted to £122,156 ss, including £12,273 5s on the double, compared with £172,098 15s last year. •

Gentry Begins Well ♦ Gentry and False Step were tije early leaders in the Auckland Cup, with Te Koi and Laureldale losing la few lengths. La Mignon slipped an the greasy track and fell early arid Te Koi was pulled up with six furlongs left. Lookaway rushed round the fiel!d to take the lead' at the end of three furlongs, but he did not appear IJO relish the going. False Step and Caduceus kept Lookaway up to his work in the middle stages of ttje race, with Trueco close up and Gentry awkwardly placed for a time cm the rails. Worthy Chief. Prince Pollii and Highland Air were also fairly hhndy. Lookaway was in trouble with three furlongs left and once into th<e straight Trueco looked likely to wirji. However, Highland Air then conjtinued a strong run and raced past Trueco with ease. Gentry then put in his claim, but, although he made a game effort, Highland Air was too good and won decisively by threequarters of a length. Gentry, after being close up all the way, held second place, a length in front of Trueco, with three-quari-ters of a length back to Worthy Chief, which just shaded False Step. Prince Polka and Caduceus were next, followed by Lookaway, with Laureldale at the rear. * Night Reveller looked to have the second leg of the double, the Akarana Handicap, won when he racefl past Light Call well inside the fui<long. However, he broke, and this allowed Light Call and Our Amy to pass him. They passed the post ih that order, with Bay Charger fourth. j The pay-out was held up pending an inquiry into the breaking o-f Night Reveller, but the judge’s platings were not disturbed. Tobacco Road returned a fine trial for the Great Northern Derby ofi Monday, when he finished second to Royal Token in the North Island Challenge Stakes. He gave the winr ner a start of 36 yards and failed by only a neck. He will be a hot fav* ourite for Monday’s classic. Results: — ; SELBY HANDICAP, I Of £BlO. Trotters. 4min 44sec class. Two miles. First Division i 11. 11—SYNDICATE (4) scr I D. R. Grantham 1 20. 19—Kaipaki Jack (10) 12 L. J. Kite 2

1. I—Worthy Boy (6) scr R. Purdon 3 8, 6 Astrakhan; 7, 9 Lord Leon; 16, 16 Fort Knox; 17, 22 Waratah 24, 24 Drucilla; 21, 20 Remodel; 5, 5 Jovial Scot; 23, 17 Qubna; 4, 4 Bobbin Head; 6, 7 Rossola also started. Head; length. Jovial Scot was fourth. Times—4min 46sec, 4min -45 l-ssec, 4min 46 2-ssec. Dividends.—Win: £l2 18s. Places: £6 7s 6d, £lO 9s. Second Division 15. 14—SUPER SNIPE (17) 24 T. M. Robertson 1 3. 3—Wraith (7) scr G. B. Noble 2 12. 12—Thelma Belwin (5) scr H. C. Moase 3 2,2 Misty; 22, 23 Great Benyon; 19, 18 Pukepoto; 10, 10 Beechdale Queen; 18. 21 Otterbum; 14. 13 Lady Belwin; 13, 15 Saberman; 9, 7 Heather Walla also started. Half a length; two lengths. Beechdale Queen was fourth. Times—4min 37 4-ssec, 4min 40sec, 4min 40 4-ssec. Dividends. —Win: £lB 13s 6d. Places: £7 6s 6d, £2 3s 6d. DECEMBER HANDICAP, Of £550. 4min 41sec class. Two miles. 2. 3—HAPPY FUTURE (3) scr ft « „ . F - Smith 1 3. 2—Prologue (6) scr , , ’ * R. Purdon 2 1. I—Brookdale (1) scr _ , „ G. Mitchell 3 5, 5 Monterey; 7, 7 Noble Jessie; 4, 4 Speculation; 6, 6 Karewai; 9, 9 Lady Augusta; 8, 8 Scottie’s Glow also started. . Two lengths; nose. Karewai was fourth. Times—4min 40 l-ssec. 4min 41sec, 4min 41 l-ssec. Dividends.—Win: £3 13s. Places: £1 12s 6d, £1 Ils 6d, £1 6s 6d. CHRISTMAS HANDICAP, Of £9OO. 3min 21sec class. One o mile and a half. 3. 4—CANYON (1) scr 1 , o. . „ p - , T - Wolfenden 1 .1. I—Single Derby (2C) scr „ „ „ F. Smith 2 2. 2—Scottish Command (5) scr _ . I. W. Hunter 3 u 3 h 4 Sergeant Sandy; 1, 1 Epsom F a ? : Covrex : 10 . U Frontier c d Z 6 k 3 Scottish Ensign; 5, 5 Silent Scot; 8, 8 Captain Star; 4, 6 Earl Mane; 11, 10 Good Time; 7, 7 Royal Ring; 9, 9 Ruth Again; 12, 12 Superior Lawn also started. Two lengths and a half; neck. Epsom Hall was fourth. Times— P e 19 3_ss ec, 3min 20 3-ssec. 3min 20 4-ssec. Dividerds.—Win; £8 6s 6d. Places: £2 18s, £1 9s, £1 15s 6d. Brackets: Canyon and Sergeant r? I S gle Der by. Covrex, and Epsom Hall. AUCKLAND TROTTING CUP , an „b gold eup valued' at £lOO. 4min 23sec class. Two miles 6. 6—HIGHLAND AIR (3A) 12 „ _ x G. B. Noble 1 2—Gentry (2) scr D. C. Watts 2 4. 4—Trueco (6) scr t J ?’iwsl' alse3 ’ 3 Caduceus 1 6 9 6 Prince Polka; 9, 9 Te Koi, 7, 7 Worthy Chief: 1, 1 star^^ 3 Laureldale also «r Th^ eeq H? rter s of a length; length. $ h « ef w . as fourth - Times-i--2?r.sttc 2 ’ sscc ' 4min 23 4_ssec . 4m,n Dividends.—Win: £l9 ss. Places: £2 17s Sd, £1 7s 6d, £2 13s 6dMBracket: Highland Air and La nr HANDICAP, OI £lOOO. Trotters. 3mln 44sec class. One mile and five furlongs. 9. 9—SCOTTISH LEGION (12) 24 3. 4—Recruit (17) W' RUm " ey 1 2. 2-Durban Chief (1?? lmeS 2 8, 8 Knighthood; 11, 1?' Pe& S ; a Sheryll Scott; 1, 1 Worthy Admiral; 1, 1 Lenvin; 10, 12 Tapu- ’. a Ap « PI o Cider; 7 « 7 Bonnie Charles; 4, 6 Sunny Smith; 12. 11 Walpara; 6. 5 Barravey; 14, 14 Captain Cuddles also started. ball a length. Captain Cuddles was fourth. Times.—3min 42 3n>in 38sec. 3min 43 l-sseo. „Dividends.—Win: £23 Ss 6d. Places: £3 9s 6d, £2 16s 6d, £2 2s. NORTH ISLAND CHALLENGE D7OO. Three and four-year-olds. One mile and a quarter. 5. S—ROYAL TOKEN (1) scr rv. _ F - C. Walker 1 1. I—Tobacco Road (11) 36 „ „ , M. Holmes 2 7. B—Dove Dale (4) 12

Q o . u D. C. Watts 3 2,2 Sebabu; 3, 3 Bannock; 6. 6 Firmament; 8, 7 Goodfellow; 9 9 Lucky Briton; 10, 10 Sir Trust; 4 4 Whippy Dillon also started. Neck; four lengths. Firmament was fourth. Times.—2min 47sec, 2min 44 l-ssec, 2min 47 4-ssec. Dividends.—Win: £l6 18s 6d. Places: £3 19s 6d. £1 7s 6d, £5 0s 6d. AKARANA HANDICAP, Of £BOO. 3min 42sec class. One mile and five furlongs. 3. 3—LIGHT C(ALL (8) scr ft ft . D. G. Jones 1 5. s—Our Amy (17A) 24 , D. N. Hayes 2 1. I—Night Reveller (10) scr - « , M - Holmes 3 6, 7 Single Lord; 2,2 Bay Charger; 12, 12 Callie Mac; 7, 8 Gaillard Direct; 4, 4 Golden Hero; 14, 14 Kewpie Doll; 15, 15 Laurel Princess; 16, 16 Merrie Scott; 11, 11 Prince Dillala; 8, 6 Shenandoah; 10, 10 Bindora; 9, 9 Cashier; 13, 13 County Ace; 5, 5 Madam Peterson; 17, 17 Sweet Jewel also' started. Two lengths; head. Bay Charger was fourth. Times.—3min 39sec. 3min 37 4-ssec, 3min 40sec. Dividends.—Win: £6 18s 6d. Places: £2 6s 6d, £4, £1 13s 6d. Bracket: Madam Peterson and Our Amy. ST. HELIER’S HANDICAP, Of £1250. 3min 36sec class. One mile and five furlongs. 5. S—HEATHER MARY (8) scr P. Skousgaard 1 3. 3—Derive (11 A) 24 D. C. Watts 2 8. 9—Captain Star (3) scr H. Purdon 3 6, 7 Bardora; 4, 4 Canyon; 9, 8 Derry Brownne; 7, 6 Douglas Derby; 1,2 Dune; 10, 10 Logan Dell; 5, 5 Helen Logan; 2, 1 Lee Scott; 2, 1 Milldorja; 3, 3 Sue Scott also started. Neck; half a length. Bardora was fourth. Times.—3min 35 4-ssec, 3min 34sec, 3min 36 l-ssec . Dividends.—Win: £ll 3s 6d. Places: £3, £2 0s 6d, £4. Brackets: Heather Mary and Helen Logan, Derive and Sue Scott.