Robes Wins Stafford Handicap At Timaru

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

Robes Wins Stafford Handicap At Timaru

Robes, a minor place*getter in her three previous starts for her Christchurch owner, Mr H. S. Williams, opened her winning record at good odds in the Stafford Handicap at Washdyke on Saturday. This’ three-year-old Cassock filly was the smallest runner, but she ran the race out strongly and beat the second favourite, Pink Rose, decisively by a length. She paid £39 16s for a win and £8 18s

for a place. Pink Rose was in front from the half mile to the home turn. Arrow Royal was alongside her on the home turn, but weakened well outside the furlong. Then Pink Rose was challenged by Robes, which had five horses ahead of her on the home turn. Robes responded well for R. J. Blair and mastered Pink Rose just inside the furlong. The favourite, Panda, finished strongly from ah awkward position for third two lengths *and a half back. She was a length clear of the weakening Arrow Royal, which shaded Fisticuffs and Rhythm Reel. Fisticuffs and Rhythm Reel had their chances; they were in trailing positions on the home turn. Arachis, Antagonism, and Miss Spritely were the slowest beginners. Not Tested Jesse Owens carried the colours of his Waimate trainer, P. H. Andrews, to an easy win in the Temuka Handicap. This was his second start for the season; his first was at Hororata where he ran without plates.

Jesse Owens was soon in the lead. Egotist was alongside him for a time, arid Kalan was taken forward to join him after passing the half mile. They opened up a gap of four lengths on Starwyn coming to the straight, and it was a gap none of the others could bridge.

B. W. McDonald pulled the whip on Kalan early in the.run home, but Jesse Owens had speed in reserve. He quickly put a break on Kalan, winning, running away, by four lengths. Ration Time, one of the slowest away, did well to get up for third. She was well back in the ruck coming to the straight but ran the last two furlongs brilliantly. Olympic Flame, third into the last furlong, was a weakening fourth two and a half lengths behind Ration Time. Then there was a length to Starwyn and Wardroom. Wardroom did well to finish so far up after a slow start. Royal Halyard’s High-weight The Pukaki Hack High-weight

Handicap took a spectacular turn when Bonny Pippin dashed away to a lead of six lengths going to the half mile. Positions changed auickly coming to the straight in le chase after Bonny Pippin, but Royal Halyard led over the last furlong and won quite decisively. Porcelain Prince and Every Night got up for the minor places, the latter finishing brilliantly for third. Riverwood and Bargain led the chase after Bonny Pippin going along the back, and Royal Halyard and Stage Boy followed them past the half mile.

Porcelain Prince, the last leaving the straight, where he was wide out, put in a big run to be close to the leaders on the home turn, but changed ground after straightening up, and Royal Halyard had no difficulty in coping with his challenge. Every' Night and Neptune’s Pride, strong finishers for third and fourth, were the tail-enders half way through the race.

Steadfast was fifth after changing his ground when challenging in the straight. He was just ahead of Meteorologist (running on) and the weakening Riverwoqd.

Brlanbra’s Easy Win Brianbra outclassed the other hack sprinters in the Fairlie Hack Handi-. cap, for which he was a firm favourite. He sped to the front inside the first two furlongs, and ran Tight away in the straight, winning by two leisurely lengths from the outsider, Post. Archway, weakening slightly, was half a length back. Archway and Post were in trailing positions coming to the straight. Archway was a clear second for a, time, but could not keep Brianbra within challenging range, and Post ran the last 50 yards a shade better to beat him for the runner-up’s position.

Come On Boy, sixth at the half mile, was a fair fourth a length and a half behind Archway. Shame was a weakening fifth after being alongside Brianbra on the home turn. Tripped, Hay Time, Majrcoette, and Sway were almost in line next Marcoette, the second favourite, lost a few places when squeezed for room near the half mile. Bridal Bay, Lightning Boy, and Harkville were the slowest away. Cruising Surprises Cruising, a light-weight from the Riccarton stable of C. G. Humphries, won the Levels Hack Handicap at good odds in the colours of Mr L. R. C. Macfarlane. She reached the lead inside the first furlong, shook off McCool coming to the straight, and quickly established a lead none of the others could close.

At the end she was three lengths clear of Serang, which just lasted from Kaseno and Brookfields Lad, noses separating them. Serang was in a trailing position almost from the start. He took the turn rather wide, but finished resolutely when hotly challenged ! for second close to home.

Kaseno was four places back on the inner most of the way, and it was late when he heartened his place supporters. Brookfields Lad was a strong finisher for fourth. He dwelt slightly from a good start.

Willie Wolseley, which appeared likely to pay a place dividend a furlong out, weakened to fifth two lengths back. Aquarius was sixth, running on. Brown Treasure and McCool were next.