Bailiff Too Good For Hurdlers At Blenheim

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29194, 3 May 1960, Page 4

Bailiff Too Good For Hurdlers At Blenheim

(From Our Own Reporter)

BLENHEIM, May 2. Bailiff, the runner-up in the corresponding race on the first day, outstayed five rivals to win the Mayfield Hack Hurdles by two and a half lengths from Van Da Hum at Blenheim today. Bailiff outjumped Hay Time into the lead at the fence just past She half-mile and was always master over the concluding stages of the race. Van Da Hum made a gallant attempt to complete a double for the meeting but after racing close to the lead throughout and following the winner into the straight could make no further impression, in the run from the last fence. Bonny Pippin, which was ridden back near the tail of the field until the half-mile, ran the race out much better this time for third half a length behind Van Da Hum.

Hay Time, which jumped more confidently today and was the leader for about three furlongs along the back the last time, weakened badly in the run home and was four lengths back fourth. The only other runner to finish was Arrow Royal, the leader for the first seven furlongs but a very tired horse at the end. Nehru, the top-weight, failed to sight the fence by the nine furlongs and knocked the inside panels down. N. T. Cowles lost his irons but recovered his seat only to be bounced out of the saddle when Nehru blundered at the fence near the half-mile. Run of Race Enchanter, an odds on favourite, received the run of the race behind The Drifter and Misty Bank in the Trial Stakes, was still under a good hold when he ranged alongside the co-leaders at the furlong, then drew out to win decisively by two lengths. In a tight finish for second Misty Bank beat The Drifter by a nose and Abu El Saad outfinished Garwan and Silverwood for fourth, three-quarters of a length back. Garwan shaded Silverwood for fifth. Garwan had rushed up quickly after a slow start and was in 'the line behind Enchanter at the straight entrance. Silverwoqd was weakening slightly after racing three wide close behind the leaders until the home turn. Robin Adair improved a couple of places from the tail of the field for seventh two lengths back, then there were gaps to Quixotic and Marshall Drake, which was last away and stayed at the tail of the field throughout.

Surprise Winner

Pygmalion caused a minor upset in the Apprentices’ Hack Handicap when he fought off a determined but late challenge from the hot favourite Pescador. Pygmalion, which is trained at Riccarton by M. J. Wadley, gave S. Hepburn, who is apprenticed to the Riccarton trainer R. W. Brom by, his first winning ride. Hepburn jumped Pygmalion out smartly and had him racing alongside Regal Order in the lead to the half-mile. Pygmalion worked clear in the next furlong and came to the straight ahead of Regal Order, Sonnita, Naseby, Winning Treasure, Awatere, Pescador. which had been racing three wide about the middle of the field from the start, and Roa. Pygmalion held his lead into

the last furlong and Pescador was out in the middle of the track and still four places behind him. Pescador, under the whip, made a determined run to bridge the gap to Pygmalion but failed by a neck. Sonnita, which was eased in behind the leaders from the start and was still leading the chase after Pygmalion at the furlong, was third half a length back. She beat Awatere by a neck, then came Naseby, Regal Order and Dearwood. King of Kings was last away and Naseby was just ahead of him when they settled down but went up quickly. Impressive Filly Ebb carried top-weight of 8-3 to her second effortless win at the meeting in the Nursery Handicap. She and Carmell were the smartest beginners and raced together in the lead two lengths ahead of Lyn Leigh, Interlaken and Candida which were racing in close order to the straight. Carmell was under a hard ride from W. D. Skelton at the furlong, but his brother, R. J. Skelton, had not moved on Ebb. It was only a matter then of how much the North Island filly would win by, and she galloped strongly to the post threequarters of a length ahead of Lyn Leigh, which beat Carmell' by a' similar margin for second. There was a length and a half then to Candida and a long gap to Interlaken at the rear.

Jack Ashore Jack Ashore out-sped the hack sprinters over five furlongs in’ the Dash Hack Handicap. >C„ T. Wilson bounced him out smartly from the inside barrier position and he kept beyond challenging distance of his rivals throughout. Pygmalion, the Apprentices’ Hack Handicap winner earlier in the day, improved two places in the last furlong for second, a length and a half behind Jack Ashore. He beat Stylish, which was second last away but started a big run on the home turn which carried him up to fourth at the furlong, by a length. Pitch, which shared the third line with Pygmalion to the straight, was a weakening fourth a neck back. Slatey ran on from the middle of the field for a close fifth, and he was followed In two lengths back by Sonnita, one of the slow beginners. and the weakening Horomia and Galina. These two had raced together behind Jack Ashore to the straight, but gave up the chase quickly.