Cashmere Narrowly Wins Hurdles

Press, Volume C, Issue 29480, 5 April 1961, Page 4

Cashmere Narrowly Wins Hurdles

Cashmere lasted to beat the faster-finishing Bailiff for a neck victory in the Kildare Hurdles at Riccarton yesterday. This was Cashmere’s second win this season. The other one was also at Riccarton in the Jumpers’ Flat, a few days before he ran third to Golden Defaulter and County in a record-run Grand National Hurdles.

Cashmere, an esght-year-old Cassock gelding owned and trained at Wingatui by Mr C. H. Wallis, contended for the lead early, but B. P. Kennedy was able to settle him into a trailing position when Rushmoor went ahead leaving the straight. Rushmoor dropped back beaten after passing the six furlongs, and Royal Gothic showed clear for a time. But Cashmere had charge on the turn, and led to the last jump by two lengths. He shook off a challenge from Gay Mood on the outside without great bother, but was all out when Bailiff came at him on the inside. Bailiff gave Cashmere five lengths’ start from the half mile. Gay Mood, which won this race last year, was half a length back third, and well clear of a well-beaten lot led in by Demolish. Poor . jumping cost Demolish his chance. He showed good speed on the flat, but gave ground at several jumps. Under Difficulties Derailment, an even-money favourite, narrowly won the Tasman Handicap under difficulties. He was hanging so badly from the half mile to the turn that his rider, C. N. McDonald had both hands on the near side rein trying to keep him down on the inside. Derailment still drifted towards the middle of the track but battled it out gamely to beat Sailorman by half a head. This was Derailment’s second win, and it followed several minor placings. One of them was a second to Ascend on the first day of the meeting. Sailorman was closest to Derailment from the start. He was running at Derailment’s quarters at the half-mile, and was upsides with the Defaulter gelding when they straightened up. None of the others was really concerned in the finish, but winner and runner-up had a keen battle, and there was very little between them. Mighty Smart, always close to the pace in a smallish field, was a creditable third a length back, and two and a half lengths clear of Zetland Leigh. Tidal Wave, weakening slightly from the furlong, was a head back fifth. Then there was a length to Captain Morgan, another to Rondar, two lengths to Prospero, and a gap to Hesus. Hesus and Prospero drifted from the start. Cramped Odds Payout, a close second to Ignite in the corresponding race on Monday, was the form horse for the Christchurch Handicap and he won

handily at cramped odds. His win dividend was £1 18s 6d. He well earned that win, which followed four successive seconds for Messrs G. H. Murfitt, Junr., and R. A. White. El Toro tore away to a long lead before the race was half over, and was out by five lengths at the half mile. But Payout closed quickly on him to lead when they straightened for the run home. Payout led into the last furlong. He could not get beyond challenging range of Harewood, but he was never in bother and won by threequarters of a length. Harewood was always in the front bunch chasing E! Toro. So was Glorious Twelfth, a good third half a length back. Donna Maria, the second favourite, provided a minor feature of the race with a run from the tail of the field to fourth. She was only a neck from third, and was unlucky not to pay a dividend. Baywyn improved a fewplaces for fifth, but finished in a gap behind Donna Maria Tui Hill, Cinnaman, and the third favourite, Waaco, led the others home. Riccarton Specialist My Fair Lady, a firm favourite, graduated to open class by winning the Wigram Handicap for her Omakau owner, Mr F. J Donnelly. She has won three races this season, all on her home course where she is trained by G. R. Pelling. A good fourth in the Warstep Stakes after getting her tongue over the bit, My Fair Lady was/never far from the pace, though she appeared to be squeezed for room slightly between the five and four furlongs. Riccarton apprentice G. R. Baldwin brought her forward steadily to take a wide gap and lead the chase after Pictavia Girl when they straightened up. Gambol made a likely run down the outside to follow My Fair Lady into the last furlong, but she had started it from the tail of the field and she shortened stride near the half furlong. Balrannaeh then made a strong run along the inside rail from a trailing position, but might have been slightly flattered by My Fair Lady’s fairly slight winning margin The weakening Gambol was a length and a half back third. Pictavia Girl, the pacemaker in the middle stages, weakened to fourth a neck ahead of the top-weight Persuasive. Persuasive made a run wide out on the turn from well back in the field, but eould not sustain it under 9-6 from the furlong. Fair Polly and English Prince were next almost in line, and Kintail Loch followed them in.

Flagon Too Good Fiagon was feeling the ground in his preliminary to the Shirley Handicap, but he outclassed the other hack stayers after loping along behind the pack to the half mile. Flagon had well earned his win, for he was placed in both distance hack races won by Navarro at the Wellington autumn meeting. This was his first win in 16 starts this season, but he has been a consistent minor placegetter for Messrs J. M. Clarke and J. Wilson. Last Link was the best of Flagon’s beaten rivals. He had his chance for he was a close third behind Surrend and Forsythe from the seven furlongs to the home turn. Golden Howe, another always in close touch with the pace, ran another solid race for third half a length behind Last Link and half a length clear of Forsythe. Super Glen made a late run on the inside for fifth. He improved several positions over the last half mile and just beat Herbs, another fairly strong finisher. Surrend tired to seventh inches behind Herbs and half a length clear of Alloa. Golden Aureole, the last away, led the others in.