CAPTAIN HUNT’S GOOD FORM AT WAIKOUAITI

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28474, 2 January 1958, Page 5

CAPTAIN HUNT’S GOOD FORM AT WAIKOUAITI

(From Our Own Reporter)

DUNEDIN, January 1. Captain Hunt carried the colours of Mr J. O. Douglass, president of the club, to a decisive win in the Trial Plate at the Waikouaiti Racing Club’s meeting today.

The three-year-old Treasure Hunt gelding trailed Sunny Morn to the straight, came through to the front alongside Keep Clear going to the furlong, and ran clear about half a furlong out. Closer to home he shifted ground slightly towards the inner, but none of the others was affected. At the end he was a Jength clear of the favourite, Foresee, which beat the weakening Keep Clear by a length and a half. Sunny Morn, weakening after pacemaking, was a length back fourth, and well clear of Lexiana and Swanky.

Every Night Wins Narrowly Happy was nosed out of the Cornaga Highweight Handicap honours by Every Night, which followed him closely into the last furlong but was still just behind until the last

stride or two. Every Night was the tail-ender in a five-horse field, though never far Irom the lead all the way to the straight. He closed on Happy going to the furlong and kept up a resolute run to get up for a nose victory.

Happy, after trailing early, was at the girth of the pacemaking Armando for a time, and disputed the lead from the three furlongs to the home turn. He looked as if he would hold a narrow lead until right on the post. Hunt The Slipper was a fair third, two lengths and a half back. He trailed on the inner, drifted two lengths going across the top. and was brought wide out on the track to make his run. He was a length and a half ahead of Late Night. The wearying Armando was. last.

Domain Plate Royal Dasher outclassed the others in the Domain Plate, for which he was favourite. Mr S. T. Poulter’s fo Vr-y ear -°ld Royal Commission gelding ran clear going to the halfmile opened up a lead of six lengths on the home turn, and won coasting by four lengths from Flying Field which beat Cassock Rose easily Bask was alongside Royal Dasher m the lead for a time early, but the latter sped away and had all the others in difficulties coming to the straight. Flying Field showed fair ability for second. She was 10 lengths from tiie lead at the half-mile, but caught Cassock Rose and Bask going to the furlong and beat them easily. A length separated Cassock Rose and Bask The others were led home by Starwyn.

Favourite Wins Raglan, wfiich did his early racing for Lord Norrie, recorded his first win for Mr J. Dwyer in the Brav Hack Handicap, for which he was top-weight and favourite. He was close to the front . from the start HarkviUe led him by half a length going down tlie back, where Amulette. Bridal Bay and Prince Ermine were following closely Raglan passed HarkviUe to reach the lead coming to the straight, and none of the others could test him in the straight. Bridal Bay was the best of them, but was safely held by a length and three-quarters.

Prince Ermine was four lengths and a half back third, and five lengths clear of Amenity. Fairy King stumbled and was nearly down leaving the straight. He lost several lengths, beating only the plodding Dazzling Fox.

Masefield Surprises Masefield brought off the major surprise of the day when he beat his five opponents in the Orbell Hack Handicap. The Mosgiel owned and trained Royal Chief gelding drifted to the tail of the field going to the half-mile, was still there with Vivein Leigh on the home turn, but ran the last furlong determinedly and won going away by three-quarters of a length from Salonica. The weakening Surapt was a length and a half back third. Salonica and Surapt followed Wondon from the half-mile to the home turn, and came to the front together near the furlong. Salonica inched his way into the lead near the half-furlong, but could not cope with Masefield's challenge. Wondon was a weakening fourth, half a length behind Surapt. He lost two lengths at the start, but sped through to the front after two furlongs. Ocean Melody was fifth, close behind Wondon, and Vivien Leigh finished at the tail of the field. Vivien Leigh was last away. Promise in Form

Promise cleared hack class by winning the Hawkesbury Hack Handicap. for which he was favourite. He followed Rathfarham and Rex Robe to the straight, ran into a short lead inside th efurlong, and ridden right out, lasted to beat theconsistent Royal Pal by a head. Royal Pal was trailing alongside Promise at the half-mile, but was two lengths behind him coming to the straight. He kept up a determined run from cutside the furlong, but Promise was just able to hold a slight lead. The weakening Rex Robe was two lengths and three-quarters back third, and six lengths clear of Rathfarham. Master David tailed off by many lengths inside the first half-mile, and finished at the tail