JOSUDI WINS FIRST START AS HURDLER

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28619, 23 June 1958, Page 4

JOSUDI WINS FIRST START AS HURDLER

Josudi led for the last halfmile in the Hinds Hack Hurdles at Ashburton on Saturday. This was his first race as a hurdler for Invercargill owner Mr J. Tatham and there was some greenness about his jumping, but

he outsped the others. Tut Tut and Skylight were disputing the lead a round from home but Tut Tut went ahead after leaving the straight. Arctic Sun gave ground at the first flight but went forward quickly to third and six furlongs out he was alongside Tut Tut in front. Josudi outjumped Skylight and ran past Tut Tut into the lead going to the half mile. He widened his lead to five lengths coming to the straight. Skylight moved to second on the home turn and Every Night followed him through.

Every Night looked certain of a place going to the last flight, but he sprawled badly on landing, leaving Le Roi a clear third four lengths behind Skylight and seven lengths from the winner. Reclaim, always well up, was a fair fourth two lengths and a half back. Then there was a length to Tut Tut. six lengths to the favourite Arctic Sun. six lengths to Meadow Gold. 10 lengths to Remuneration and Fiery Creek. Every Night was brought to a standstill when he sprawled. At Good Odds Hunting Melody just lasted to beat Count Pierre by a nose in the Lyndhurst Two-Year-Old Handicap, her second race for her Makikihi owner, Mrs E. R. Simmons. She started 16 wide, but sped to the front before they went far. She was out by two lengths on the home turn and started the last furlong with a handy lead, but Count Pierre ran the last bit resolutely after changing ground towards the rails, and just failed to reach her Hunting Melody was the 8, 7 favourite, and paid £26 9s 6d for a win. Count Pierre, the second favourite, was sixth at the half mile, and moved to third* behind Hunting Melody and Taitumu on the turn. He gamely gave chase after Hunting Melody and reduced a substantial lead, but he could not get up in time. It was a two-horse finish from the furlong. Taitumu was five lengths back third, failing to quicken after trailing. She just lasted for third from the fast-finishing Fair Catch; then there was a length to the favourite. Orderly. Nolibelle. Sunny Morn, and Tarras were the best of the others. Tarras showed the best speed of this lot. She was slow away from the outside of the field. Z Balrannach Beats Favourite Balrannach carried the colours of Mr A. N. Smith, president of the Dunedin Jockey Club, to a decisive win in the Novice Stakes. The Ric-carton-trained Balloch gelding was in a trailing position to the straight, and led for the last furlong or so to beat the favourite, Rose of Kildare, by a length. Rose of Kildare beat Riverwood by half a head for second. Balrannach, trained by J. C. Tomkinson, gave the stable horseman, A. J. Stokes, the first of his three wins for the day. Keep Clear was soon pacemaking, and Show Boat. Balrannach, Riverwood, and Starwyn followed him past the half mile. Keep Clear held his lead round the home turn, where his stablemate. Rose of Kildare, well back early, was working forward in the middle of the track four or five places back. Balrannach followed Keep Clear into the last furlong, and was clear soon after. Rose of Kildare and Riverwood were strong finishers for second and third, with only inches between them. Then there was a neck to Hopeful. and a nose to Starwyn. Next were Massalia, Terracotta, Rasputin. Amulette. and Mirene. Terracotta and Mirene were two of the slowest beginners. Light-weights to Fore Light-weights dominated the finish of the Mayfield Hack Handicap, for the hack stayers. Packwood trailed Su-er Tone from the mile to the turn, led from outside the furlong, and won soundly by a length from Herbs Nugget was a nose back third, the weakening Super Tone was a length behind fourth, only a nose in front of the favourite, McCool, the fastest finisher in the race. This was Packwood’s second win for Mr R. E. Neame, and it brought a well-earned change of luck for the Beaumaris gelding’s Riccarton trainer, V. Neale. Packwood led out of the straight, but Super Tone pulled his way up to him going into the back, and went ahead in front soon after. Super Tone was out by three lengths about half way through the race, but Packwood and Herbs closed quickly on him when they came to the straight. Packwood had a stronger finish than Herbs, and won decisively. Herbs just lasted for second from Nugget, which was sixth at the half mile, McCool had to come from too far back to make his brilliant late run properly effective. He was second to last when the field settled down, and did not make up much leeway until they came to the straight. Masai raced without dash, finishing sixth ahead of the weakening Pitlochry. . Surprise Winner Stage Boy, a failure in 10 starts cince he won a double on his home course at Washdvke last winter, won the Seafield Hack Handicap at long odds for his trainer, E. J. Ellis. He carried £6B for a win, £B6 for a place, and returned dividends of £73 Ils 6d and £lB 5s fid. The stable apprentice, K. W. Bpry,

had the five-year-old Someo gelding in front after a furlong. Hay Time, Shadrach. and Sir Galahad, the closest to him on the home turn, could make no impression. The Riccarton hack. Royal Avon, mounted a stronger challenge early in the run home, but came to the end of his run near the furlong just when ne looked likely to run clear. Stage Boy was then left clear to beat Royal Avon by two lengths. Shadrach, which had a good run alongside the rails, was third a length and a half behind Royal Avon, and half a length in front of Hay Time. Sir Galahad and Fern were almost in line next just ahead of Iroquoi. which dwelt slightly from a good start.

The favourite, Kaseno, beat only three stragglers home, weakening quickly from a fairly handy position three furlongs out.