AITKEN IN FORM

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28472, 30 December 1957, Page 4

AITKEN IN FORM

Five Winning Rides (New Zealand Press Association) PALMERSTON 'NORTH, Dec. 29. The Awapuni horseman, w. L. Aitken, was in great form on the last day of the Manawatu Racing Club’s meeting at Awapunl on Saturday, riding five winners, the last three on end. Aitken won on Savage, Diamond Wedding, Bion, Blonde Sprite and Battle. Regal Crest, at remarkably good odds considering his win on the first day, won the Freyberg Haridicap in a thrilling finish with Warwick. Regal Crest was three wide all the way and it was a great performance on his part. Warwick made up ground frqm the turn and was beaten by naif a head. Hot Drop battled on well for third, with Gundar Haegg, Glamin, Monogram, Gay Jinx and Baraden all close up. The favourite. Royal Zorra, was next after having every chance. Anagram gained a comfortable win in the Westbury Hack Handicap, the second leg of the off-course double, which paid .£175 3s for £l. Anagram ran on strongly from Articulator, with Nephite third, after being clear into the straight. The other double was won by Savage and Bion. This paid £5O 14s 6d for £l. SaVage beat the hot favourite, Imitation, in a thrilling finish over ' the last furlong to the Awapuni Stakes, Savage winning by a nose.

The racing was held in fine, warm weather and there was a good attendance. The totalisator handled £106,033 10s, against £60,392 last year when rain fell all day. The total for the meeting was £338,396, against £278,805 last year, an increase of £59,591.

A. Jenkins, trainer of Cinetone, which was ridden by R. A. Jenkins in the Trial Plate, and which finished second, protested against interference a furlong from the win* ning post by Battle, ridden by W. L. Aitken, which finished first. After hearing the evidence of the connexions of both horses and the evidence of the stipendiary steward, the protest was dismissed. Results:—

LINTON HIGH-WEIGHT, of £450; one mile and three furlongs.—s, 5 CURZON (2) 10-1 C. R. Cooksley 1; 2, 3 Royal Target (5) 9-8 F. I. Robinson 2; 6, 6 Royal Tryst (21) 9-0 R. A. Jenkins 3.

8, 8 Bernard; 1, 1 Homa; 3,2 Golden Offer; 12, 12 Lord Balloch; 7, 7 Linden; 9, 9 Movietone; 14, 14 Baby Beau; 4, 4 Camp Out; 13, 13 Corsican; 16, 15 Country Style; 17, 17 Kohl Rabi; 11, 11 Portland; 10, 10 Pretty Peter; 15, 16 Royal Chimes also started.

Length; nose. Corsican was fourth. Time, 2min 26 l-ssec.

Dividends.r—Win: £9 12s 6d. Places: £2 17s, £2 6s, £3.

TRIAL PLATE, of £350; six furlongs.—First Division: 3,2 SIR EUSTACE (20A) 8-7 J. Garth 1; 1, 1 Ranganui (18A) car. 8-9 J. W. Harris 2; 5, 7 Amastris (1) 8-7 B. J. Clements 3.

13, 16 Bacchus; 11, 12 Bright Amber; 8, 6 Cornford; 7, 5 Dowbred; 15, 14 Flying High; 17, 17 High Gloss; 14, 13 Hot Ice; 16, 15 Mauvais; 18, 21 Nahlin; 4, 4 Pinafore; 19, 18 Royal Highness; 12, 9 Swampman; 22, 22 The Bandit; 21. 20 Uthena; 10, 10 Wainwhenua also started.

Length; nose. Hot Ice was fourth. Time, Imin 16 2-ssec.

Dividends. —Win: £2 18s 6d. Places £1 19s, £1 9s 6d.

Second Division: 2, 3 BATTLE (4) 8-7 W. L. Aitken 1; 8, 6 Cinetone (8) 8-7 R. A. Jenkins 2; 6, 8 Friar Tuck (12) 8-7 A. T. Jones 3.

20, 19 Autowin; 23, 23 Black Cruiser; 7, 5 Dandolo; 9, 11 Elsted; 15, 14 Floral China; 17,. 17 Goldbah; 14, 13 Hot Heels; 16, 15 Invercargill; 18. 21 Misty Bay; 4, 4 Oma Lad; 1, 1 Reefer; 19, 18 Romantic Maid; 3, 2 Ruby Mane; 12, 9 Sfeandy; 22, 22 Tainoka; 21, 20 The Seeker also started. Two and a half lengths; length and a half. Elsted was fourth. Time, Imin 16 3-ssec. Dividends—Win: £2 13s 6d. Places: £1 19s 6d; £3 Ils 6d. Brackets: Sir Eustace and Ruby Marie, Ranganui and Reefer, Cintone and Cornford. FREYBERG HANDICAP, of £1100; one mile.—ll, 9 REGAL CREST (3) 8-5 A. E. Skinner 1; 4, 4 Warwick (6) 8-3 A. T. Jones 2; 7, 7 Hot Drop (2) 8-7 C. H. Mackie 3. 1. 1 Royal Zorra; 5, 5 Gundar Haegg; 2,2 Monogram; 6. 6 Clara s Revenge; 13, 12 Baraden; 14, 14 Calcutta Sweep; 3, 3 Nine Davs; 9, 11 Franlyle: 10, 10 Drum Roll; 12, 13 Gay Jinx; 15, 15 Somaliland; 8, 8 Glamin also started. Half a head; neck. Gundar Haegg was fourth. Time, Imin 41sec. Dividends.—Win: £lB Is 6d. Places: £4 15s 6d. £3 4s. £4 9s. NURSERY HANDICAP, of £500; five furlongs and a half.—l, 1 BLONDE SPRITE (1) 9-0 W. L. Aitken 1; 3. 3 Satina (7) car 7-8} V. R. Coley 2; 4. 4 Loveable 8-OJ C. A. Bowry 3. 2,2 Dewkist: 7, 6 Figurine; 11, 11 Missive; 10, 9 Tuprina; 9. 8 Caracol; 13, 13 Maytelle; 8, 10 Penny Post;-5, 5 Routine; 6, 7 Sonnita; 12, 12 Strabane also started. Length and a quarter; four lengths. Dewkist was fourth. Time, Imin 8 4-ssec.

Dividends. —Win: £2 9s 6d. Places £1 Bs, £1 19s. £2 10s 6d.

WESTBURY HACK HANDICAP, of £450; six furlongs.—7, 7 ANAGRAM (3) 8-6 C. A. Bowry 1; 2,2 Articulator (6) 7-13 J. R. O’Neill 2; 4. 4 Nephite (14) car 7-11 V. J. Sellars 3.

3, 3 Bookful; 1, 1 King’s Rule; 5, 6 Crimson; 12, 10 Royal Gilt; 6, 5 Ballador; 8, 8 Ravillous; 13, 15 Edisto: 10, 11 Amber Lu; 11, 13 Baldwin; 20, 21 Sarobin; 18, 20 Bliss; 14, 14 Briefcase; 9, 9 Edgecumbe; 15, 12 Kahui; 17, 16 King’s Heather; 21, 19 Mt. Etna: 22. 22 Rage; 19, 17 Scimitar; 16. 18 Tarawa also started. Length each way. Edgecumbe was fourth. Time, Imin 15 2-ssec.

Dividends.—Win: £ll 13s 6d. Places: £3 Ils 6d, £1 16s 6d, £2 13s.

AWAPUNI STAKES, of £600; one mile.—2, 2 SAVAGE (4) car 7-9 W. L. Aitken 1; 1, 1 Imitation (1) 8-12 T. W. Harris 2: 3. 4 San Gold (5) car. 7-9 J A. E. Skinner 3. 5, 5 Regal Dignitary; 8. 8 Gold Medal; 10, 10 DIavolo: 4, 3 Kilroy; 9. 9 Melody Man; 7, 7 Nederburgh; 8, 8 Sir Kay also started. Nose: two lengths. Nederburgh was fourth. Time, Imin 41 3-ssec. Dividends .—Win: £6 Ils. Places: £1 14s 6d. £1 4s, £2 ss.

CHRISTMAS HANDICAP, of £600; one mile and a quarter.—l, 1 BROOKSIDE (2) 8-9 W. X. Aitken 1; 8, 8 Bright Bov (9) car. 7-8 A. T. Jone* 2; 5. 6 Maquana (1) 8-9 V. J. Sellars 3. • 3,2 Port Rush; 6 5 Mindanao; 4, 4 Dhofar; 10. 10 Merrimayes; 7, 7 Niggle; 9, 9 Roto Ra; 11, 11 Royal Pledge; 2. 3 Wanganella also started. Neck; length. Roto Ra was fourth. Time. 2mm 10 4-ssec. Dividends.—Win: £4 4s. Places: £1 13s, £3 16s, £2 13s 6d.

HIGHDEN HACK HANDICAP, of £550; one mile.—4, 4 BION (12) 7-12 W. L. Aitken 1; 10. 7 Rubicon (23) car. 7-51 A. T. Jones 2; 11, 11 Royal Super (15) car. 7-10 A. E. Skinner 3.

2, 3 Sarabelle; 1, 1 Paulo; 8, 9 Western Isles; 5, 5 Diamond Wedding; 14, 14 Speedy Tan; 13, 13 Sanroll; 16 16 Derby Day; 6, 6 Diadochi; 8, 10 Gilpin’s Pride; 3. 2 Aesop; 7. 8 Foglia d'Oro; 17, 17 Gay Wedge; 20, 20 Hellwon; 15, 15 La Main; 12. 12 Lully; 19. 18 Nenette; 10, 7 Some jay; 18, 19 Star Trail also started. Nose; half a head. Diamond Wedding was fourth. Time. Imin 41 2-ssec. Dividends.—Win: £lO 6s. Places: £2 17s 6d. £5 4s. £7 15s.