RACING SUCCESS TO BONNIBOY IN WINGATUI HURDLES

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28697, 22 September 1958, Page 6

RACING SUCCESS TO BONNIBOY IN WINGATUI HURDLES

Bonniboy made nearly all the running for a decisive win •n the Spring Hurdles on the first day of the Dunedin Jockey Club's spring mating at Wingatui on Saturday. Bonniboy . easily outstayed Le Roi, which ran past him into the lead at the half mile, but did not hold that lead for much further. Bonniboy was in front again on the home turn and he drew out to win by three lengths. Le Roi beat the faster-finishing Gay Mood by a length and a half for second. Gay Mood appeared to lose a winning chance when he made a bad jump at the second last hurdle. Pearly Gate, always well placed, was a moderate fourth three lengths back. Howdy was 20 lengths away fifth and was clear of Sea Wealth. Horatius dropped his rider with a round to go. Winner from Riccarton Foxplay began the day well for Riccarton by winning the Trial Handicap for Mr J. B. Douglas-Clif-lord. After two sound runs after slow starts at Ashburton, Foxplay was one of the favoured runners - _ She was handy from the start, but had trouble holding her position near the half-mile, and G. w. Mein was hurrying her 1 along before she reached the straight about five places back. There Salisbury was a clear leader, but under a hard ride, and Ravelston was moving through to challenge from one of the trailing positions. Ravelston held a short lead from Salisbury just inside the furlong, where The Rector, Rhythm Reign, and Foxplay were coming strongly into the picture. Fortunes changed quickly in the last few strides, but Foxplay had the strongest finish and it gave her victory by half a head from Salisbury Ravelston, fading in the last few strides, was a long neck back third. Then there was a long neck to the win favourite, Rhythm Rein, which struck trouble early, and a neck to The Rector. Favourite Successful Matlock, a firm favourite, earned a run in the Dunedin Guineas by winning the St. Kilda Hack Handicap. 1 Mr G. J. Barton’s three-year-old Ruthless colt appeared to be scrambling to hold his position three places back on the inner for the first three furlongs, but his action was smooth when he was brought wider out to reach a challenging position near the home turn. Surapt was clear there, but Matlock steadily closed on him. Ridden right out with hands and heels he got to the front inside the furlong and won soundly in the end by a length from Struan, which beat Grey Jacket by two lengths. Struan was alongside Matlock from the home turn to the furlong, but ’

did not run the last bit well enough to win.

Grey Jacket was a good way from the lead at the half-mile, and did not have much room on the inside in the straight, so his placing was creditable The weakening Surapt was fourth, a length behind Grey Jacket, beating Masefield by a neck. Then there was a length to Garrob, which was followed home by Gold Conda, Ada’s Luck. The Trek, Lervoire, Hunted, Napra, Meridian and Opposite. Nugget’s Win Nugget sprinted from the tail of a seven-horse field into the lead near the half-mile in the Clarendon Hack Handicap and won decivisely by a length and a quarter from Fahoud, which shaded Lord Garnish. Nugget is a five-year-old mare by The Unicorn from Black Peach, trained at Riccarton by her partowner, N H. MacDonald. She was Riccarton’s third winner for the day Nugget was at the tail of the field while the pace was slack early. The favourite, Jesse Owens, pulled hard in the lead alongside Petty Officer, for the first two furlongs, but E. G. Low was able to ease him in behind when Silver Shower went to the front going to the seven furlongs. Fahoud followed Silver Shower closely along the back, and the others also ran in close order. R. J. Skelton moved on Nugget near the five furlongs, and she was in front at the half-mile. Silver Shower dropped out quickly and Fahoud was second, threequarters of a length behind Nugget coming to the straight. Jesse Owens was then third half a length behind Fahoud, and then there was a gap to the others. Jesse Owens was beaten going to the furlong, and Fahoud could not match Nugget, which drew away to win by a length and a quarter. Fahoud just lasted for second from Lord Garnish, which had his chance. Hearth Rug Prevails Hearth Rug. the second favourite in the Kaikorai Handicap, won by Jk neck in a tight finish, in which the first five horses were almost in line. Hearth Rug followed Rayspar, Gay Romeo and Vamoose at the halfmile and trailed Ray spar to the furlong. He continued his run to beat Pert Lanyard by a neck. Port Lanyard was second near the half-mile, but drifted to fifth. He challenged the leaders inside, the furlong and held on well, a nose in front of Vamoose. Vamoose was well placed early, but lost his position on the home turn. He had five horses In front of him there, but finished fast on the inside to take third place. Rayspar, which tried to lead all the way, was a neck back fourth. Gay Romeo, which shared the lead on the home turn, was half a head back fifth. Sparkler, sixth, had his chance and was followed in by The Ranger, which made up ground aftqr a slow beginning. The favourite. Tripped, and Down Under were also slow away. Holders of the 828 5s tickets on the Matlock-Hearth Rug combination shared an on-course double o’ividend of £l2 10s for £l.