TROTTING GOOD WIN BY QUEEN NGAIO

Press, Volume C, Issue 29621, 18 September 1961, Page 4

TROTTING GOOD WIN BY QUEEN NGAIO

Henry Mace Handicap At New Brighton

Queen Ngaio graduated to within one second of New Zealand Cup class when she won the Henry Mace Handicap at the New Brighton Trotting Club’s September meeting on Saturday. She was the least-favoured member of the bracket paraded by the Templeton trainer, F. E. Newfield, who was also represented by Johnny Guitar.

Queen Ngaio was always close to the lead and after being sixth to reach the straight came with a determined run along the inside to catch Gildirect just short of the post and beat him by a neck in a good finish.

Queen Ngaio is an aged mare by Light Brigade from Heather Globe. She is raced by Messrs K. and L. Brosnan. She has .always shown plenty of ability, but at times has been a little disappointing. Her winning run on Saturday was one of her better efforts.

GUdirect showed improvement on his effort of a fortnight earlier when he finished second. He should soon win. Ceremonial paced another honest race for third, with Con Scott a good fourth, ahead of Johnny Guitar. The race was robbed of considerable interest when the favourite. Diamond Hanover, met trouble at the start and again in a mix-up at the end of two furlongs and a half. From then on he was too far back to be a danger.

Sun Chiefs appearance aroused considerable interest. He met trouble in the mix-up early in the race. Later he improved three wide, but made little impression in the straight. He was sore later and his future is in doubt.

Highland Custom, a sprint winner on the course on September 2, was allowed to pay a false win dividend of £lO 12s when she was successful in the Seaview Handicap, the second leg of the double. The U. Scot mare was handy to the lead over the last mile after being in front early. She took charge near the furlong post and finished boldly to beat King Hal and the outsider, Tourie, which paid £32 10s for a place.

The Queen Ngaio tbracketed Johnny Guitar)-High-land Custom (bracketed Mystic Star) double paid £67 5s for £l. The return was considerably less than an allup investment on the two winners.

The meeting was held in fine weather, although there was a light shower after the sixth race, and before a good attendance. The track was easy. Some of the racing was very rough, mainly owing to poorly-behaved horses. Totalisator investments amounted to £93,891, including £11,316 on the double, compared with £87,597 10s last year. First Leg Queen Ngaio came with a determined run along the inside to win the first leg of the double, the Henry Mace Handicap.

Gay Baron went away to an early lead of three lengths. At the end of two furlongs and a half there was a mixup in the middle of the field. Diamond Hanover’s driver, D J. Townley, being catapulted several feet above the back of his horse and landing back in his seat Aquaplane, Sun Chief, Con Scott, Robert Dillon. Patchwork. Mulgrove and Highland Heath all lost ground. The pace slackened in the middle stages of the race and Gay Baron led Gildireet. Ceremonial. Queen Ngaio, Johnny Guitar and Finestra at length-and-a-half intervals.

The field bunched racing to the half-mile, but there was not much change in the order racing to the straight where Gay Baron was still followed by Gildirect. with Bonny Starlet, Ceremonial, Con Scott, Queen Ngaio, Johnny Guitar and Sun Chief handy. Gildirect soon shook off Gay Baror in the straight, but Queen Ngaio then put in her claim along the inner. They had a keen tussle, with Queen Ngaio doing best to win by a neck. Gildirect was a length in front of Ceremonial, which had every chance, with a neck back to Con Scott, which did well to finish so elose up. Johnny Guitar battled on for fifth a lemrtti and a half behind Con Scott, with a length tn Gay Baron and the same distance to Zany, which was followed by Smokeaway. Highland Heath, Teryman and Sun Chief.

Banjo. Waitaki Child, Mulgrove, Diamond Hanover, Con Scott and Robert Dillon lost ground in the early rush for positions. Won Again Highland Custom gained her second win in a fortnight on the course when she beat King Hal in the Seaview Handicap, the second leg of the' double. She was moving in as the barrier was released and was clear by a good three lengths in the first furlong. Mighty Mina took the lead with one mile left and was still in front racing to the straight, where Fyvie Queen, Ballista, King Hal, Highland Custom. Aldora and Kingsdown Patch were prominent Highland Custom raced to the lead near the, furlong post and ran an solidly to win by a length and a haft from King Hal, which was handily placed all the way. He ran on solidly, but had no chance of catching the winner.

Tourie, the outsider of the field, paced his best race for a long time to finish third a length behind King Hal And a head in front of Migaty

Mina. Wexford Chief was half a length away, with Bonny Lustre, Schnapps, Kingsdown Patch, Metier. Mystic Star and Aldora close up. Schnapps and Jay Ar locked wheels at the start, as also did Pacemaker and Satyr. Ballista, Peebles, Aldora and Zenith also gave ground. At Long Odds Young Kim caused the unset of the day when he gained an easy win in the T. E. Johnston Handicap. He was the eighteenth favourite on the win machine in a field of 19 and paid £B3 4s for a win and £l5 17s 6d for a place. Young Kim led from end to end, being followed into the straight by Urrall, Regal Duchess, Meadow Scott. Calumite, Mary Mavis, Admit and Robin Dundee.

Young Kim finished full of running and won most decisively by two lengths. There was a spectacular finish for the other placings about four lengths back covering the next 12 horses, which were spread across the track. Dark Wonder came strongly from an awkward position for second, half a length in front of Dillon’s Fashion, which gave ground early. Then there was a head to Meadow Scott, half a length to Urral, half a length to Sentimental, half a head to Falsehood, a nose to Massacre, a length to Admit, a head to Regal Duchess, a nose to Calumite. heads to Johnny Grattan, Mary Mavis and Yare, half a length to Robin Dundee and a length to Latest.

Sally Boy, Jimmy Grattan. Sharwalo. Lucky Tryax, Dillon’s Fashion and Leslie Grattan gave ground at the start.