Mighty Hanover Beats Ashburton Trotters

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29325, 3 October 1960, Page 4

Mighty Hanover Beats Ashburton Trotters

Mighty Hanover returned to the outstanding form he showed last season with a decisive win in the Mount Somers Handicap, the main race for trotters at Ashburton on Saturday. His 3min 16 for the mile and a half was an outstanding effort.

Mighty Hanover made a good beginning, but he was forced three wide in the middle stages. Spinster Scott forced all the pace, with Reprimand in second place over the last mile. Mighty Hanover began to close on the leaders on reaching the straight, but he was still several lengths back. Spinster Scott led into the last furlong from. Reprimand, Welburn, Kaboon. Mighty Hanover and Kennoway, with Dianthus Girl breaking further back. Mighty Hanover quickly closed on Spinster Scott and Welburn and at the post he was going away by a length and a half from Welburn, which trotted an improved race. Kennoway finished boldly wide out on the track for third a short length behind Welburn and clear of the tiring Spinster Scott, with gaps to Dianthus Girl, Larnie Scott, Estelle and Reprimand. Resistor, Fiammetta, Diomedes and Hamesh were among those to lose ground early. Dark Signal Wins Dark Signal, runner-up to Aerobee at Methven a week earlier, responded well under a hard drive to win the Elgin Handicap. Dark Signal was close to the lead all the way and he followed Lileas, Aerobee. Croughton Belle, and Young Kim into the last furlong, with Medium Blue handiest of the others. Dark Signal and Lileas had a keen struggle, with Dark Signal staying on slightly the better to win by half a length. Lileas was a good way back early and she was left in front at the straight entrance. She should win. Grouse, after being badly placed on the inside well towards the rear until the furlong, came home with a great run along the inside for third, a head behind Lileas and a short length in front of Medium Blue. Navua was a length back fifth, clear of Croughton Belle. Dusky Bay, Young Kim, Jimmy Grattan and Fiord. Dark Wonder, Grouse, Lucky Dora, Terako Queen, Gay Widow and Jack Attack gave ground at the start. Change Of Luck Kenu brought a change of luck for his New Brighton trainer, G. Cameron, who has been ill for some weeks, when he won the first division of the Hinds Handicap. Urrall recorded a sound effort to win the second division after being badly placed near the furlong. Kenu trailed Tee Vee to the straight in the first division. Alison’s Pride led him into the last furlong, but when D. Mangos asked him for an effort, he responded well and won by a length and a half. Alison’s Pride had her chance and she held second place a length in front of Parados, with a head to Meadow Cheer, which received a shocking run, a head to Enrich, a neck to Storm Crest and a length to Grand MeNish. Napoleon Hanover made all the pace in the second division and he was clear by two lengths at the furlong. Urrall was badly placed on the inside at this stage. He soon worked clear and finished boldly to win by a length and a half going away from a solid finisher in Wait Now. which got up to shade Napoleon Hanover by a nose. Jockles. after being forced

wide on the home turn, was three lengths back fourth, a short length in front of Thunderbolt, which shaded Moneymusk. Popular Win M. Holmes had a winning drive at his first appearance after being injured in a race smash at Addington on August 27 when he drove Winterlight to outclass the opposition in the Chertsey Handicap. Holmes was given an ovation as he returned to the birdcage. Winterlight was never far away, but his supporters were dismayed when he broke just inside the halfmile. However, he soon settled down and quickly gathered in the leaders to be first into the final furlong from Mountain Melody, Ideal, Arizona Gal, Mina Lass and Attract. Winterlight was being eased right up at the post where he had seven lengths to spare over Arizona Gal which made up a lot of ground after a slow beginning. Ideal, after being close to the lead throughout, was half a length back third, three lengths in front of Attract,' with half a length to Mina Lass. Mountain Melody, Highland Rover, and Witch Doctor headed a tired remainder. Guest Star Easily Guest Star, driven by M. Holmes, gained the easiest of wins in the first division of the Biffelton Handicap, the second going to the lightly-supported Waimate candidate, Van Rebeck. Guest Star went to the front near the six furlongs in the first division and once into the straight he strode away to win convincingly by five lengths from Stormy Parade, which was handily placed all the wav. Phildora, a slow beginner, paced a sound race for third a length away, clear of Implore, which broke early and made up ground. Montaigne, Windsor Spring and Knightsbridge. Spangled Princess was checked and sent to a break at the start, losing all chance. She finished eighth. Van Rebeck was never further back than fifth in the second division and he moved up to follow Stroll and Regina Chief into the final furlong. He responded well and won by a short length from Regina Chief, which nosed Stroll out of second place. Irish Pal was only a neck away fourth, ahead of Jenny’s Greetings, Demoro, and Robyn.