trotting Joyfree Regains Form To Win Geraldine Cup

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28833, 2 March 1959, Page 5

trotting Joyfree Regains Form To Win Geraldine Cup

Joyfree regained winning form for her Greenpark owner-trainer, L. A. Williams, in the Geraldine Cup, the principal event and first leg of the double, at the Geraldine Trotting Club’s summer meeting at Orari on Saturday. ’ Because of failures, at New Brighton and Addington, when a hot favourite at her two previous attempts, the U. Scott mare had receded slightly in favour and was the third choice with win and place betters this time.

Joyfree was patiently driven by M. Holmes. She was one place out from the fence and never more than four places back from the leader until the straight. A furlong out she had only Blue Shawl to master. Her determined finishing run gained her a slight lead half a furlong from the end and enabled her to hold off a strong late challenge from First Night to win by a neck. The race was deprived of some interest about seven furlongs from the end when the favourite. Gambling Princess, which was one place behind Joyfree and going well at the time, knuckled over and broke. Gay Polka was checked and also broke. Both these runners were pulled up. The second leg, the Improvers’ Handicap, resulted in a decisive win for the favourite, Medoro Star, which was confidently driven by A. M. Purdon. Medoro Star began best and set the early pace. He was steadied into the trailing position behind Kotuku going into the back and had only that runner and Fernleaf, which had tried to slip the field after passing the half-mile, in front of him on the home turn. Medoro Star worked up to Fernleaf, which was under pressure, at the furlong and from there was driven out to win by a length and a half. Holders of tickets on the Joy-free-Medoro Star combination received a double dividend of £39 12s fid for £l.

Surprise The major surprise of the day came in the Invitation Stakes, when Mystic Star, an unraced Brahman—Petro Star filly, trained by her owner, D. P, Grice, at Tinwald, fought off several challenges in the last furlong to win by half a head from Sally Boy. Mystic Star was thirteenth favourite of 17 and returned a win dividend of £43 7s fid. Mystic Star was driven by C. S. Donald, who earlier in the day had also driven Ceremonial to victory in the Waihi Handicap No. 1. The Tinwald trainer, H. S. Donaldson, also had two winning drives at the meeting. Tribune and Utoss were winners from his stable. The meeting was held in fine weather and there was a good attendance. The track was in good order. On - course investments amounted to £30,226, including £2877 on the double, compare! with £3IJSIS 'last yedf/ fi -decrease of £1289. _ Cup Runnlnc Dora Young refused to go away n>-*?--!. h M< bar S. er ”2’ re,e *«ed for the Geraldine Cup. Blue Shawl was the pacemaker from Disraeli, which was clear of Atone. First Belle JoyfrBe. Gay Polka and First Night. Capua broke at the end of* half ’™ d S thrlong later Fox Able raced around the Held to take the lead- the mile he led by a length from Blue Shawl and Atone, Disraeli and First Belle, Gay Polka and mS re Fi^t hl ™.X ere rac ‘ n « in pairs. J?™,,,?!” 1 r2i ,Bht on , the Inside of Gambling Princess with Josie Gay three out alongside these two. Before the seven furlongs Gambling Princess and G*v Polka broke ans they were pulled up Atone raced PJS* JS? £ ble i y 11 ?’ three furlongs and drtltto «- JoyfreB Atone was in trouble at the furlong, where Blue Shawl led for a few strides. Joyfree continued a strong run on the outer and got up Ni«hf came at the. straight entrance to take second half a length in front of Blue Shawl. First Belle beM on for fourth a length back, a length and a halt ahead o? Josie Gay u!in re t VT 8 ibr'e-length intervals m: n h^d J^f n Ke G r U e i 8 l ? r “ ,d Atone “ The favourite. Gambling Princess. bl?deag7 * °" re ™Ito “e Mystic Star at Long Odds In a grand finish to the Invitation Stakes, Mystic star, a long shot having her first start, fought on ! gamely after leading for the last five furlongs to win by half a hehd from ■ B°y- Johnboy Star just nosed | J?, 8 , ?'’ ourite - Arania, away from : , “i d^ re ?C < ’ uarters ot “ len Kth back. : and then there was a head to CaluP?£ tB - ( TnSK S « a P ' Orient Night and Surveyor at the I head of the rest. j , S t ar moved from a trailing : position into the lead five furlongs < from home and she led to the I straight from Stroll, Arania, Storm ■ r=m^ l £ urv 1 y< l r ’ Johnboy Star and , £ alu ,7’ A .?H rl 2 nß from the end Mystic Star still held a slight lead • ani = a ’., Joh " b ° y star - Calu- ■ mite and Sally Boy, which were 1 spread right across the track. Sally x° y atrong run from 1 ™ i ? <U sL of 1,18 flB,d ' but ** was , ?o ‘ duite strong enough to allow him ) to reach Mystic Star. ? ss ’,. Lanthea ’ Stormont I the start Pdale aU made mlstakes at S

Easy for Medoro Star Medoro Star justified his position as favourite for the Improvers’ Handicap when he ran the last furlong much too strongly for Femleaf and won by a length and a half. FernJ a , ced into the lea d Just after the half mile, and she had an advantage of three lengths over Kotuku, which was just shading Medoro ®tar. on the home turn. Little Molly, Private Lady and Nadjehda were close behind.

Fernleaf was in trouble soon after entering the last furlong, and under a hard drive Medoro Star drew out near the finish. Nadjehda finished better than Kotuku for third, but she was two lengths behind Fernleaf. Three-quarters’ of a length separated these two, and then there was a length and a half to Donna, three lengths to Alison’s Pride, and a length to Private Lady. Zelmira, Siberia, and Regal Empress were the slowest beginners. Utoss Leads Throughout Utoss gave the Tinwald trainer. H. S. Donaldson, his second successive winning drive when he led throughout the President’s Handicap, and in a tight finish held off Laughlin’s Lass by a head.

Laughlin’s Lass was finishing on after being fourth at the straight entrance. She beat Focal Point, which after starting from the 36yard mark, made a big run from tenth at the half-mile to reach third place, by two lengths. Conquistador, which was just shaded by Utoss and On Side coming to the straight, fought on for fourth a neck back. After a small gap came Lady Cardigan, which was running - on from the middle of the field. Elope made ground for sixth and Blue Marlin, which had only Fire Bell behind him at the end of three furlongs, was next. The favourite, On Side, weakened to ninth. He, Captivus, Fire Bell, Beau Cobra, Modest and Blue Marlin all gave ground at the start. Results:

INTRODUCTORY HANDICAP, ol £200; trotters; 3min 56sefc class; one mile and five furlongs.—4, 4 C. M. and Mrs Laing’s b g PHILONIC (10) by U. Scott—Phillada syrs scr C. M. Laing 1; 7, 8 A. C. Amyes’s b m Fiametta('(3) Byrs scr owner 2; 6, 3 O. E. Hooper, jun.’s b g Mandoza (6) aged scr owner 3. 3, 5 Clackmannan; 1, 1 Court Out; 9, 10 Foam; 11, 11 Freebooter; 8, 7 Mayfair Star; 12, 12 Middleqvist; 10, 9 Nigeria; 2.2 Super Craft; 5, 6 Tee Jay also started. Two lengths; three-quarters of a length. Court Out was fourth. Times —3min 47 4-ssec, 3min >tBsec, 3min 48 l-ssec. Winner trained by owner, Ashburton. Dividends.—Win: £9l2s 6d. Places: £2 10s, £4 ss, £2 4s 6d. WAIHI HANDICAP No, 1, of £200; 2min 59sec class; one mile and a quarter.—l, 1 B. Grice’s br f CEREMONIAL (3) by Morano—Tradition 3yrs scr C. S. Donald 1; 2,2 J. Grice’s b m Fiord (7) Byrs scr D. J. Townley 2; 7, 8 R. Harris’s br f Dark Louise (4) 3yrs scr J.< Smolensk! 3. 13. J. 3 Astrodome; 4, 4 Bespoke; 9, 10 Dusky Bay; 14, 15 Dust U)p; 5, 5 Gay Craig; 12, 14 Highland Leader; 6, 9 Hilton Adonis: 3, 3 Patchwork; 18, 18 Receptive; 15, 12 Seriatim; 11, 11 Stgnway; 10,8 Synthetic; 8,7 Trickster also started. Two lengths; a neck. Patchwork was fourffi. Times—2min 47sec, 2min 47 2-ssec, 2mm 47 3-ssec. Winner trained by D. P. Grice. Dividends.—Win: £4 2s. Places: £1 19s, £1 19s. £3 19s.

GERALDINE TROTTING CUP, of £550; 4min 41sec class; two miles.— 3, 3 L. A. Williams's b m JOYFREE (13) by U. Scott—La Lilley 4yrs 12 M. Holmes 1; 9, 11 Mrs R. J. Souness’s b m First Night (7) by Andy De , rb^ Nightbell Syrs scr I. S. Sutherland 2; 12, 12 J. C. Stevenson’s b m Blue Shawl (2) by Paisley LadBlack Hawk Byrs scr G. D. Shand 3. 2, 5 Atone; 13, 14 Disraeli; 18, 18 a 6 ’ 2. Ebonite; 14, 15 First Belle; 1, 1 Gambling Princess [Pulled up); 11. 10 Capull; “5, 13 Gay r°J ka ’ «• 2 J? 81 * & 9 Radar; Li 7 . J °A hnny Guitar: 4.4 Fox Abie; l < L. B gZ% e -J^ te »® n L 18 ’ 17 Derry A xt : Entire Globe also started. Neck; half a length. First Belle M a i F lm & 8 T 4 R mln 3Uec ' 4mln S 4m,n 25 a -«sec.. Winner Gained by owner. New Brighton, -pividends.—Win? £8 3s6d. Places: £3 2s, £8 14s, £7 Us. ’ riHrh’A'nDN stakes, O f" £4oo ; vfrf 3 rm P 4» G £* ce< b f MYSTIC STA S I?)-by Brahman—Petro Star Donald 1; 3, 3 E. T. Hub- £ n C r^ lly . (12) Bcr owner <7> ;<5-r. yoX’3 g ,onboy SUr 10 \A C S u I n 8 ?; 2 * 2 Covent Garden: J 2 ’ J?® 1 Diamond; 14, 18 Lanthea: ?7 1 ?A < c , ? ent £ ,gh t: 4 > 6 Rain Cloud; 11’ 9 ’» Ston nont; 10. j°] ,: ?• 9 Van Brabant; 15. 17 Whipdale also started. iraJrJli? a three-quarters of a e 2ft h ’ .Arania was fourth. Times 2mln 47 l-ssec, 2min 47 &eton Wlnner tralMd by “*“«•

R' Ls% a Mo“ 6 a Hanover; &’yX «• ot a ienfithr three K ?oi’ng^ !^i W en inner tralned by «^s?te , x^ u s? s ta. of a V’ o, I S-.? n d J. Chapman’s b m Ferri 12 ili. s = K ' Chapman 2; « 2? Bourner’s b m NadJ I h -? .l 11 . ) ,. syfs . 888 , R - Young 3. n n’A 4 A Alison s Pride; 3, 3 Donna* it 9 <» £ ? t SK u; .I 4 -,. 13 J- ltUB ChristlHe; Molly; 15, 15 Mentone* 7 * 8 Private Lady; 8, 7 Regal Duch- ' 10 , I L eg i Empress; 8, 6 Si- 1 Smokey Diamond; 4. 4 Zelmira also started. 1 a ha l f; two lengths. Ss? 31 P. ucl ? e £ s was fourth. Times—2min 44 4-ssec, 2min 45sec, 2min M P™&n train ' d by A ’ STEWARDS’ HANDICAP, of £225: 3min 53sec class; one mile and five (H^on® B * — 2 « 4 T. Hewson's b g TRI(6) by Martlal—isure n cl i? ,S yr 2, Bcr H. S. Donaldson 1; ( ?4i 9 nZ,H G ’ CBViU ’ s g Kauranui 1 ii* a C J D J * Townley 2; 12, 1 R F. W. Adamson and T. L. 'fait’s ] Kitto, S ju r r? 1 3 affgie <7) aged 12 w *

3. 2 Danthus Girl; 10, 10 Gold I Craze; 13 13 Home Mail; 7. 6 SlaJSr; ’ J l ' .J 2 <JP dia ?» Queen; 5. 5 Lawsuit 5’ o s nn? ure . Patrick; 6, 7 Suntrap 4, 3 Thumberlina; 4, 3 Wairau Princess; 8. 8 Van Cheetah; 1, 1 Welburn also started.

Half a length; length. Van Cheetah was fourth. Times—3min 47sec. 3min 47 l-ssec, 3min 46 2-ssec. Winner tr rlP e i j ®t* s * Donaldson* Tinwald. Dividends.—Win: £5 ss. Places*: £2 Ils, £5 Is 6d, £6 12s. . O ££ E £ ,D J ENT ’ S HANDICAP, of s4sec class; one mile and a 5 H. C. and Mrs Kidd’s br g UTOSS’ (12) by U. Scott—Tossing Byrs scr H. S. Donaldson 1; 7, 7 C. J. McLaughlin’s b m LaughJo I £ SS tt <9 2; a ? ed scr owner 2; C ’ May s b g Focal Point (17) syrs 36 owner 3. 6. 6 Blue Marlin; 5. 4 Captivus; ?•. 3 ConQUistador; 10. 10 Fire Bell; tl’^J, 4 . < s en S ra . l ? rU88 : »■ 8 Imperial Er lB *?*'. 2 ’. 2 La dy Cardigan; 11. 12 Modest: 1 1 On Side; 15, 15 Beau c , obra : ». 9 Elope: 13, 13 Final Glow also started.

He^d; Conquistador was fourth. Times—2min 45 3-ssec, 2mm 45 4-ssec, 2min 42sec. Winner H * . s *. Donaldson, Tinwald. Dividends.—Win: £9 6s. Places: £3 9s, £4 3s 6d, £8 3s 6d.