Two Wins, One Near-Miss By Canterbury Stables

Press, Volume C, Issue 29621, 18 September 1961, Page 5

Two Wins, One Near-Miss By Canterbury Stables

Tutton and Double won races for Canterbury stables at Wingatui on Saturday, and • the Riccarton-trained Thumper was within inches of a third victory for the province.

Tutton won the St. Kilda Hack Handicap easily and Double started her racing career for her Christchurch owner, Mr J. Y. Scales, impressively in the Promotion Stakes.

Thumper appeared to have the Spring Hurdles" won at every; stride in the straight but the very last one. The Ranger just caught him and beat him by a nose. Thumper was a shortpriced favourite and paid £2 2s 6d for a place. Thumper's jumping was at all times good and at times brilliant. That assisted in his progress in a run that carried him from the back into a challenging position halfway through the race. He was being hurried along to go ahead with his run near the five furlongs, and his chance looked bright when he displaced Port Lanyard in the lead on the home ‘urn.

■ The Ranger closed on Thumper going to the last jump, drew level near the post and put in the deciding stride.

The Ranger won on his home course at Gore at his previous start, so his win dividend of £lO 10s was surprising. Many people preferred the chances of his stablemate. King Pickle, which was also A. Cowan's preference as a mount.

King Pickle jumped the five-furlong hurdle badly, and bumped Cowan to the ground. Port Lanyard, a winner over country at Gore at his previous start, was unchallenged for third two lengths behind Thumper and two lengths and a half clear of the top-weight, Morelia. Milord only made slight progress for fifth, and none of the o’hers showed ability The Riccarton-trained Py-

rites fell at the second hurdle.

Little To Spare

Royaloil, a rangy halfbrother to the brilliant sprinter. Mighty Dollar, was first home but with little to spare in the Trial Stakes, which produced the best finish of the day. Royaloil stalled off a late challenge from Patwood and won by half a neck. Dame Rumour was one of the fastest finishers in the race, and his run gave him third by inches from Natlin. which was third on, the home turn. Arowood, the each-way favourite, ran the last furlong strongly for fifth close up. The second favourite. Great Heights, was the best of the others. Unchallenged South Canterbury gallopers filled three of the first four places in the St. Kilda Handicap. Tutton, a Waimate owned and trained Isaac of York gelding, spurted from a trailing position in the straight and won easily by two lengths. He was one of the form runners after a third at Ashburton a weak earlier but paid £l3 16s for a win. Tutton is owned and trained by Mr C. E, Leighton, and was ridden by the Wingatui jockey, L. W. Hare, who has not been having much success.

Cantelo gave the others a stiff chase to the straight, and it was a straggling field at half-way. Mary Tee had the speed to run in second position. and came to the front for a time in the straight, but Tutton outfinished her. Persian Light came from far back for third clear of the tiring Cantelo. Wandering Willie, the win favourite, lost a chance when one of his rivals weakened in front of him before the race was half over. Knight, a winner at Ashburton a weak earlier, was little fancied and finished nineteenth. Winning Debut South Canterbury gallopers were the first three home in the Promotion Stakes.

After a battle of changing fortunes in the straight. Double won by three-quarters of a length from Royal Pic. which outfinished Avast Royal Pic had to change ground to get. a run in the straight, and might have been unlucky. But there was merit in Double's win in her first apnearance in a race. She was soon in front alongside Avast, which felt the strain near the furlong, and finished a length behind Roval Pic.

Fair Note, the each-way favourite, could not quicken after trailing and finished fourth.

The others w. re outclassed Lucky Streak (fifth) was in a gap of six lengths.

Mon Roi Wins '

Mon Roi, a close relation of the great race mare. Excellency, lasted a mile out better than Royal Crest to win the Kaikorai Handicap for his Southland owner. Mr J. P Marnane.

Mon Roi was balloted out of each of the races planned for him at the Grand National meeting, and started his racing for the season at Ashburton where he was placed in the high-weight. He came from the middle of the field for his win on Saturday. Royal Crest ran a characteristically sound race. He tvas second last early and had at least 10 of his rivals including Mon Roi, ahead of him at the half-mile. Royal Crest came wide on the turn, and started the last furlong disputing the lead with Mon Roi. Mon Roi ran the last 100

yards just a little bit better to win by three-quarters of a length. Captain Morgan finished solidly for third a | length and a quarter back just beating Mighty Smart. Baalbek was a length and three-quarters back fifth and Super Glen was sixth. Tombob faded to the middle of the field after pacemaking. Sudd el Nil and Orderly, both winners at their previous starts, finished fifteenth and twenty-second respectively.