Fine Win To Arania In New Zealand Oaks

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29071, 7 December 1959, Page 4

Fine Win To Arania In New Zealand Oaks

Arania proved a class above her opponents in the New Zealand Oaks at New Brighton on Saturday. She worked to the lead with slightly less than half a mile to run and from then on she had her opponents struggling and she won with a lot in hand by two lengths. Raced by Mr R. A. McKenzie, of Wellington, she is trained at Yaldhurst by G. B. Noble, who drove her. She finished third in the New Zealand Derby Stakes last month at Addington and her win was overdue.

Arania began brilliantly from the seconu line and she was sixth at the end of a furlong. She was one out without a trail behind Van Brabant at the mile post She was under a good hold racing to the straight, ahead of Mary Mavis, Mystic Star, Van Brabant, Heathmount, Velvet Drive, Lanthea and Samantha, with Chantilly trying for an opening along the inside. Arania had her opponents well covered over the final furlong and she won well by two lengths. Chantilly came home strongly along the inside to shade Mary Mavis by half a neck, with a neck back to Samantha, half a neck in front of Mystic Star. Lillian’s Star was two lengths back, a nose in front of Heathmount, with Rain' Cloud, Velvet Drive, and Pierette next. Cele, Mystic Star, Lanthea, Del Nuit, Orient Night, Leerling, and Meadow Cheer lost ground early.

The Second Leg Joyfree upset calculations with a runaway win in the Empire Handicap, the second leg of the double. The race was roughly run and with slightly less than seven furlongs to run Blue Shawl checked Queenson, which broke and lost his driver, and Lady Vai, Direct Rhythm, which lost his driver. Spring Chat, Spring Lynne and First Night met trouble. Blue Shawl was pulled up in the back straight with a damaged sulky wheel.

Gold Hanover led out from Joyfree. At the end of three and a half furlongs Anne Peterson worked clear and set a leisurely pace. Atone and Spring Chat set off round the field from the rear at the end of six furlongs, with Atone working to the front with eight and a half furlongs left. Atone led for home, with Gold Mist, Gold Hanover, Anne Peterson, Joyfree, Waitaki Child and Daisy Doro the only horses with any chance. Joyfree settled the issue in a few strides outside the furlong and she won decisively by five lengths from Gold Mist. Gold Hanover was a neok back third, four lengths in front of Daisy Doro and Atone, with a gap to Waitaki Child, Anne Peterson and First Night. , Satyr Wins

Satyr had track conditions to suit him and he held on in a keen finish to win the New Brighton Handicap. Bespoke, which was closely attended in the middle stages by Weekender, forced most of the pace. They turned for home together, ahead of Nadjehda, Satyr, Conquistador, Focal Point, Master Trick, Sharwalo and Gambling Princess. Satyr was asked for an effort soon after reaching the straight and he raced to a slender lead. He fought on strongly and won by a length. In a keen finish for the other placings Nadjehda finished strongly for second, a neck in front of Bespoke, with a similar distance back to Master Trick, which paced a sound race at his first appearance since being trained by W. K. Tatterson. Focal Point was half a head back fifth, with Toka Boy, Conquistador, Sharwalo and Utoss close up.

Twig in Form Twig finished strongly from a handy position to win the Aranui Handicap, a race for probationary drivers. Twig received a good run in about sixth position in the middle stages of the race and she turned for home just behind Lucky Hazel, Kerry Queen (tiring), Chelsea Lady, Lavengro and Young Douglas, with Four Peaks, Jonboy Star, Mainland and Gay Diamond next. The field spread across the track at the furlong, with Twig putting in her claim wide out on tne track. She responded well for D. G. Watson to win by half a length. Four Peaks made up ground in the run home for second, a nose in front of Young Douglas, which had every chance. Lucky Hazel held on for fourth after forcing all the pace. She was a length and a half in front of Lavengro, which lost ground early and paced a great race, afterwards. Gay Diamond was a length back, with a neck to Jonboy Star. Then came Te Par and Couthie. Medalius was pulled up. Rojo at Good Odds Rojo paid a surprisingly large win dividend of £24 15s 6d when he was successful in the Freeville Handicap. He began safely from 36 yards, but covered extra ground over

the last half-mile. He had 17 horses in front of him with one mile left. Court Out took the lead at the end of five and a half furlongs and she still had control racing to the straight where Catapult, Wairau King, Thumberlina, Super Cloud. Rojo, Resistor and Reprimand were all showing up Rojo continued his run wide out on the track and he finished boldly to win by a length. Thumberlina trotted a surprisingly good race for second, but she lost the placing after an inquiry into her breaking on the line. Resistor, which was close up all the way, finished half a neck behind Thumberlina. and was promoted to second. Reprimand made up ground for fourth, a nose away, with a neck to Super Cloud. Reprimand and Super Cloud were later promoted to third and fourth respectively.