TROTTING HONEST CHARLES WINS

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28783, 2 January 1959, Page 4

TROTTING HONEST CHARLES WINS

Blue Emperor Second At Addington

Honest Charles gained his third win for the season when he beat the pacemaker, Blue Emperor, in the C. S. Howell Handicap, the main race and first leg of the double on the opening day of the Canterbury Park Trotting Club’s summer meeting-at Addington yesterday. Honest Charles began splendidly from 12 yards and trailed Blue Emperor throughout the race. His owner-trainer, C. S. Donald, kept him in behind until the last furlong. He then pulled him out and in a few strides he joined Blue Emperor. Honest Charles had the edge on his rival over the last 75 yards and he did not have to be driven out to maintain a lead of half a length.

Honest Charles is an aged stallion by U. Scott from Bell Travis and he is raced on lease by Donald. His wins earlier in the season were in the Methven Cup and in a handicap event on New Zealand Cup day. Honest Charles is now on 4min 27sec for two miles and he should not be troubled to graduate to New Zealand Cup class before the season ends.

Blue Emperor paced his best race since being trained in Canterbury to hold second place. He is racing most generously and should soon win again. The favourites, Robert Dillon and Captain Free, were never a danger. The second leg, the Islington Handicap, resulted in an impressive win for the Invercargill four-year-old, Light Mood, which was one of the leaders over the last 10 furlongs. He showed gamenes? when challenged in the straight and won convincingly by a length from Gay Baron and anothei southern challenger in Next Time. Light Mood is a brother to the Ashburton Cup winner, Showdown, and to Reason Why, a useful winner. He will have furthei opportunities in the next few months and should be a big winner.

The Honest Charles—Light Mood doubles combination returned £79 10s for £l.

Beau Clair, Dalgelia and Waitaki Child were others to return sound winning efforts. The meeting was held in fine weather before a satisfactory attendance. The tracl: was in ner feet order. Totalisator investments amounted to £87,532 ss, including £7840 5s on the double, compared with £85.313 10s last year. Honest Charles In Form Honest Charles received the run of the race throughout the C. S. Howell Handicap and he was an easy winner. Blue Emperor set the pace, with Honest Charles beginning very fast and moving into the trailing position inside the first 100 yards. Tourie moved up on the outside of Honest Charles with six furlongs left, the remainder of the field being well bunched. Tourie was in trouble with three furlongs left and Maharaja was on the outside of Honest Charles, just behind Blue Emperor, at the straight entrance. Con Scott, Upward. Tourie, Reason Why, Scottish Fair and Ice Drift were handiest of the others.

Blue Emperor was clear inside the furlong, but Honest Charles soon joined him. Honest Charles was driven confidently and won easily by half a length. Blue Emperor lasted to beat Con Scott by half a head for second. Then there was a length to Upward, which made up ground, and a length and a half to Reason Why, which was followed in by Maharaja, Scottish Fair, Ice Drift and Captain Free. Robert. Dillon broke badly at the start and took no serious part in the race. Coincident, Single Derby, Maharaja, Captain Free and Tehana also lost ground. Beau Clair’s Win Beau Clair gained his sixth win for the season in the Stewards’ Handicap. He safely and W. K. Tatterson rushed him up to tie fourth at the end of three furlongs. Au Fait and Mannana forced the pace, but they were passed by Beau Clair at the half mile.. He turned for home ahead of Captain Spider, Alight and Indianna (together), with Mighty Brigade, Cat’s Luck and Supervise right up next, followed by With You and Ebony Scott.

Beau Clair ran on gamely over the last furlong and held on to win by half a length from Supervise, which trotted a grand race from the backmark of 36 yards Mighty Brigade did not get a good run in the straight and was a length back third, half a length in front of Indianna, which also did well from 3ft yards. Alight was a head back fifth, just ahead of Captain Spider, Ebony Scott and With You, which was knocked almost to his knees near the three furlongs when Au Fait broke.

Ebony Scott. White Wings, Fencourt Lad and Royal Scot broke early. Robert Dillon’s Sprint M. Holmes had his second driving success for the day when he finished too well for the pacemaker. Lady Shoria, in the New Year Handicap. Coincident, Mighty loyal, Tehana and Single Derby lost their chances at the start. Diamond Hanover led out, but at the end of a furlong and a half Robert Dillon took over, to be passed half a furlong later by Lady Shona.

Lady Shona .still had charge racing to the straight, where Blue Emperor was in second place, just ahead of Mighty Loyal, which had moved up smartly after passing the half-mile. Robert Dillon was hemmed in on the fence, with Diamond Hanover, Suzendy, Banjo and Tehana next. Robert Dillon worked clear Inside the furlong and he soon closed on Ladv Shona. He had too much in

reserve and won easily by two lengths. Lady Shona battled on gamely for her placing, two lengths in front ot Blue Emperor. Diamond Hanover was a length away, ahead of Suzendy, with Mighty Loyal, Banjo and Tehana dear of the others.