FINESTRA WINS FIRST LEG COMFORTABLY

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28685, 8 September 1958, Page 4

FINESTRA WINS FIRST LEG COMFORTABLY

Finestra was always handily placed in the first leg of the double, the Avon Handicap, and he ran out a decisive five-length winner. He led for the first furlong and a half and became badly placed on the inside when Super Attack and then First Belle took the lead in the first half-mile. M. Holmes moved him off the rails at this stage. Raven Dew took the lead with six and a half furlongs left, and a furlong later Wimpy took over.

Wimpy led into the straight on the inside of Timber Miller and Night Owl, with Raven Dew, Finestra, First Belle and Empire Globe handy. The leaders were soon in ■ trouble and Raven Dew pushed through on tne inner to take over. Finestra was asked for an effort outside the furlong and he quickly moved up to Raven Dew Jie was clear in a few strides and did not have to be driven right out to win with something in hand. Raven Dew raced right up to his good farm of fast season to hold second place, a neck in front of the fast-finishing Whippy Dillon, which became badly placed on the inneh- in the middle stages. His finishing run was a feature of the race. . Wimpy battled on for fourth a length and a half back, with Capull shading Braken Brae for fifth. Then right up in a big bunch came First Belle, Night Wind, Timber Miller, Super Attack, Dark Valley, Mendip Song and Omega. Our Tim broke at the end of a furlong and was pulled up. Empire Globe, Shantung, Aquaplane and Catamaran lost ground ear^y * Favourite Wins Moon Boy gave M. Holmes his third winning drive for the day when he made an exhibition of his opponents in the Spring Handicap.-He beean safely and was sent into the lead at the end of half a mile. Coronet Lass took over at the nine fur-»-longs and set a strong pace., Coro-* net Lass was followed into the straight by Royal Scot and Moon Boy. with D’igelia, Bonny Wings, Mercury Light. Rockn Roll, Larnie Scott and With You following. Once into the straight Moon Boy set out after the leader, assuming control outside the f rlon*?. He was not asked for a serious effort to win with a lot in hand by three lengths. With You finished brilliantly from wefi back at the straight entrance to beat Coronet Lass by half a head for second, with Rockn Roll making up ground for fourth a short length back. Royal Scot tired to fifth, ahead of Dalgelia, Medetta, See All and Alight.

Surie Queen Wins Surie Queen, a good fourth at Addington at her previous start, gained a well-earned win in the H. E. Goggin Handicap. She was first out. being steadied behind Stylish Petro at the end of just more than two furlongs. Battle Fling went clear with six and a half furlongs left and he led for home ahead of Arnhem, Surie Queen, Queen’s Glow. Blue Emperor, Harlequ n Parade and Ben Lee, which was improving quickly. Arnhem had control soon after straightening up, but he had no counter to Surie Queen’s finishing burst, the Bruce Walla mare winning decisively by a length In a great battle for the other placings. Arnhem held second place half a head in front of Ben Lee. The last-named was handy at the mile post, but appeared to lose his position in the back straight. He put in a fine run to finish so up. Battle Fling fought on well in the straight and was a neck back fourth, a nose in front of Gold M.st, which macle u ■» a lot of ground. Phen came Kyle Nurse, Harlequin Parade, Custom and Highland Heath. The favourite, GLster, broke at the start. Adroit in Form Adroit recorded a fine per ormance to win the Cambridge Handicap. He broke and ran out at the start, bdt was quickly into his stride. He was sixth at the end of a furlong. where Young Sister had control- Gay Alabama raged clear at the seven furlongs ancb was still in. charge at the straight entrance. Irish Wit, Compeer. Dalewen, Adroit. Rustley Boy and Pagliacci were handiest of the others. Gay Alabama was soon in trouble and Adroit took the lead from her inside the furlong. He ran on gamely and won convincingly by a length. Mulgrove. after being near the rear at the half-mil?, put in a great run in the straight and took second olace. half a length in> front of Gay Baron, which also finished strongly after being in the middle of the field most of the way. Gay Alabama tired in the straight, but held fourth place half a head back, just ahead of Russley Boy, with Irish Wit, Josie Gay, Compeer and Pagliacci next; Fernside Lad, Resolution and Rovindjde lost ground at the start. Easy Qnsen Rani Queen Rani mad* short work of her opponents in the Introductory * ■ ; s

Handicap, the surprising feature of her win being her dividend of £l5 4s 6d. She began very fast and was the early leader, being steadied behind Bellis at the end of three furlongs and Focal Point worked clear a furlong further om Focal Point turned for home ahead of Queen Rani, which was pacing easily, Leithton Lass, Fair Loan Dodger, Reputation, Scrooge and Scftemer. Queen Rani raced clear

early in the run home and had her opponents well covered over the final furlong to win by four lengths. Fair Loan, the favourite, raced right up to her best form by taking second place, a long neck in front of Focal Point. Dodger made up ground for fourth half a head back, a length in front of Reputation, with a gap to Lady Attack, Roxburgh Lad and Final Say. The majority of the field made mistakes at the start. Lucie Manette Lucie .Manette received a perfect run to the straight behind Ida Ray in the Oxford Handicap and she ran out the last two furlongs much too solidly for her rivals. The majority oL4he field made mistakes in the first two furlongs. Lucie Manette began to move up to Ida Ray at the straight entrance, with Reflective, ' Temple Scott, Van Cheetah, Suntrap and Spotless showing up. Karingal and Van Cheetah broke at the straight entrance, Lucie Manette soon taking contrql. She did not have to be driven out to win by three lengths. Suntrao was towards the middle of the field most of the way. She made up a lot of ground over the last two furlongs and took second place a length and a half in front of Spotless, which alfeo made up ground. Temple Scott, after having every chance, tired to fourth, ahead of Reflective, which did not run on as well as expected. Karingal was three lengths b3ck, ahead of Ida Ray, Van Cheetah and Peppercorn. Mighty Brigade was pulled up with a damaged sulky wheel.