Bonny Rachael Beats Trotters At Blenheim

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29235, 20 June 1960, Page 5

Bonny Rachael Beats Trotters At Blenheim

. Bonny Rachael justified her position as favourite when she won the Kekerengu Handicap decisively at Blenheim on Saturday. The Light Brigade filly raced on the outside of the pacemaker, Dominant, from the six furlong post till the straight. She mastered Dominant without much bother outside the last furlong and ran the race out strongly to win by two lengths from Ideal which beat Avon Lad, the backmarker from 60 yards, by a neck for second.

Ideal had trailed behind Cappy Rowan for the first six furlongs then raced alongside Cappy Rowan when Dominant reached the lead. She was second into the last furlong but could not beat Bonny Rachael. Avon Lad made ground gradually all the way and was fifth about four lengths from the leaders half a mile out. Dominant battled into fourth three lengths behind Avon Lad and Cappy Rowan finished a close fifth. There were two lengths to White Emperor, which finished in a break, long gaps to Pieta, Fallacy Bay and Shannon Lad, and almost 100 yards to Cathy. Cathy was the slowest beginner and Pieta tangled with a mile to run. Favoured" Runners Jack Attack and Grand McNish were both short-priced winners of their respective divisions of the Havelock Handicap. Jack Attack raced alongside Pearlyway about five places from the lead until the; half-mile in the first division. M. Holmes sent him after Raidette, the pacemaker from the start, in the next furlong and he was a clear leader at the straight entrance. In the run home Jack Attack drew away to win by six lengths from Spangled Princess. Spangled Princess had been one place behind Jack Attack five furlongs out but followed him forward and was a clear second Into line. Lucky Brigade, which had received the run of the race till the home turn, was five lengths back third. She beat the very tired Raidette comfortably. Then close up came Pearlyway and Cherano. Pearlyway had began smartly from the 48 yard mark and shared fifth place most of the way. Cherano came on strongly after being ninth in a gap six lurlongs out. After a gap Meadow Haze led in the others.

Grand McNish held fourth place till the half-mile in the second division, closed a gap quickly to Fleeting Cloud and Phildora on the home turn, and came away oveh the last furlong to win by four lengths.

Phildora. which had trailed behind Fleeting Cloud till the three furlongs then led into the straight, fought on for second a head in front of Vanese, a strong finisher from the middle of the field.

There was a small gap to the weakening Fleeting Cloud which was fourth two lengths ahead of Sedway. Sedway had dropped out in the straight after holding third place till the home turn. Top Notch improved a couple of places for sixth ahead of Sandyfield, Dorothy Lee and Carlisle. Seddon Handicap Sand Drift. which had lost ground in a break at the start, moved from the tail of the field at

the half-mile to fifth at the straight entrance in the first division of the Seddon Handicap and outran Island Mist over the last furlong to win by a length. Island Mist, which had been handy throughout and was third into the straight, beat Lilt by four lengths for second. Lilt had made some of the pace in the middle stages of the race but lost her position down the back the last time and was sixth into the straight. She edged Valter, which had made the ■ early pace, out of third in the last stride. Hilton Adonis was a fair fifth ahead of Red Arion. Napoleon Hanover and Powerflite. Red Arion and Black Abbess both broke at the start.

Gay Widow trailed behind Hustler for eight of the last nine furlongs in the second division, mastered the pacemaker easily a furlong from the end and won decisively by a length and a half from the little-fancied Thunderbolt.

Thunderbolt had raced on the outer about five places from the lead until the straight. He beat Urge, a strong finisher from the body of the field, by a length. Then there was a neck to Meadow Cheer which was at the tail of a closerunning bunch half a mile out. Sangster, third on the inner till the straight, battled on for fifth before the weakening Hustler, Cele and Moneymusk. Meadow Cheer, Orkney Lad and Elusion all made mistakes at the start. Clamour’s Win Clamour, which was having her first start for the day. returned a good performance to win the Kaikoura Handicap. Clamour was many lengths from the lead early and had only Cathy and Royal Cord, which both tangled at the start, behind her when the field settled down. Shannon Lad made the early pace and in indian file behind him came Ideal. Pieta, White Emperor and Gazeaway. There was a gap of 10 lengths then to Avon Lad which was followed by Springal, Teena Marie and Clamour.

Avon Lad worked up to the lead with seven furlongs to go and Springal kept up a strong run to join him before the half-mile. Ideal and White Emperor were then trailing ahead of Teena Marie and Clamour had joined her stablemate Pieta just behind this bunch.

Clamour had improved to the third line at the straight entrance and outstayed Springal over the last furlong to win by half a length. Avon Lad fought gamely for third half a length behind Springal. Pieta outfinished Teena Marie for fourth a neck back, then there was a gap of six lengths to Shannon Lad at the head of a tired lot. Jet Attack Again Jack Attack completed a double for the meeting in the first division of the Picton Handicap in which he had been rehandicapped to 36 yards. Jack Attack made ground steadily until the half-mile where he was equal fourth with Anahera behind Lucky Brigade, Wee Francis and Raidette. He continued his run on the home turn and was close behind Lucky Brigade at the straight entrance. Inside the last furlong Jack Attack edged ahead, but he had to be driven out to withstand a strong late challenge from Anahera. A neck separated these two at the finish and Wee Francis was a length back third. She beat Reredos. which had been fifth at the half-mile and in the third line on the home turn, by half a length. Lucky Brigade was a close fifth, and Urrall led in the rest six lengths back. ■■ . Vanese, which was a long way from the lead in the early stages of the second division and not much better off at the half-mile, returned

an outstanding performance tc win. A powerful run on the home turn enabled her to improve from ninth at the half-mile to fourth at the straight entrance. Over the concluding furlong her run was much too strong for the others and she won by two lengths from Pearlyway, which had been bick with the winner six furlongs out. but rushed up to second before the straight. Fleeting Cloud, which tried for an all-the-way win, was two lengths back third. She beat Phildora, which could not quicken in the straight, by a length, and the weakening Harmony Dale was fifth. She had received the run of the race till the home turn. Meadow Haze battled on tor sixth and Arusa, beaten off. led In the others.