TROTTING DIAMOND HANOVER EASILY

Press, Volume C, Issue 29633, 2 October 1961, Page 4

TROTTING DIAMOND HANOVER EASILY

Flying Stakes Win At Ashburton

Diamond Hanover gained an overdue win and graduated to New Zealand Cup class when he beat Ceremonial and Smokeaway in the Ashburton Flying Stakes on Saturday. This race, which was ior horses close to or already in New Zealand Cup class, was the feature event and second leg of the double at the Ashburton Trotting Club’s spring meeting. Few excuses could be offered for the horses to finish behind Diamond Hanover. He made a safe beginning from No. 8 on the front line and his trainer-driver, D. J. Townley, sent him to the front with nine furlongs left.

Diamond Hanover aet a fairly eaay pace in the back straight, but nont of the drivers of his rivals were prepared to make a move. The pace quickened near the half-mile, the last four furlongs being paced by Diamond Hanover in 1ml;' 4-5 sec. So it was no wonder tnat the horses trying to give him a start of 18 to 24 yards at the half-mile and beat him home were faced with an impossible task. Diamond Hanovers win was popular as Mr J. H. G. Peterson s stallion had raced

without any luck earlier in the season when solidly supported. He will now be seriously considered as a sound prospect for the big Addington race next month. Ceremonial received a perfect trail behind Diamond Hanover, but could not obtain a clear run until the

race was almost over. However, she did not look to be making ground on Diamond Hanover at the finish. Although she might not have beaten him, she would have made him work harder for

victory had she worked clear near the furlong.

Highland Heath did best of the horses already in cup class. He had to be pulled from a bad pocket on the rails near the tail oi the

field racing to the straight and finished almost against the outside fence in tenth position. Lady Belmer and Invicta went pleasing races for twelfth and thirteenth respectively, and Showdown •was seventeenth. Looksway eighteen'h and Fourth Edition last.

The first leg, the President’s Handicap, resulted in a good win for Urrall over Meadow Scott. Urrall gained an overdue win and now that he has struck form, should carry on to good

company for his Hinds owner-trainer-driver, W. E. Lowe, a steward of the Ashburton club. The Urrall —Diamond Hanover doubles combination paid £lB for £l. The meeting was held in fine but cool weather before a moderate crowd. The track was in surprisingly good order after rain early in the morning. On-course totalisator investments amounted to £43,364 10s, including £5843 10s on the double, compared with £51,979 last year. Flying Stakes Frown, after delaying the start tangled for a few strides in the Ashburton Flying Stakes, but did not lose much ground. Lookaway. Banjo and Aquaplane lost several lengths. Ceremonial led out from Queen Ngaio, Finestra, Kiwi Grattan, Diamond Hanover and Smokeaway. Diamond Hanover moved up sharply and took the lead with nine furlongs left. Frown moved up on the outside of Ceremonial near the mile post, securely pocketing her. There was little change racing to the halfmile where Lookaway was still last and Invicta three wide just ahead of him.

Diamond Hanover led by about a length racing to the final furlong, with Frown holding Ceremonial in a pocket. Gildirect, Finestra, Queen Ngaio, Smokeaway, Kiwi Gra tan. Patchwork, Lady Belmer and Aquaplane were handiest of the others. Diamond Hanover did not

have to be driven out to win by a length and a half from Ceremonial, which was never really clear over the final furlong. Smokeaway was making up ground at the finish half

a length behind Ceremonial, with a head to Queen Ngaio and half a neck to Frown. Con Scott made up ground to be sixth hatf a head back, a length and a half in front of Gildirect, with a nose to Kiwi Grattan, a head to Patchwork, a length to Highland Heath, a neck to Finestra, a length and a half to Lady Belmer, a length to Invicta and a neck to Zany, Lookaway had only Banjo and Fourth Edition behind him at the finish. Urrall’s Win Urrall returned a fine staying performance to win the President's Handicap. He was slow away, but improved to be on the outside of the leader, Lucks Way, with slightly less than one mile left. Urrall continued to race in the open and racing to the final furlong was shading Lucks Way and Latest, with Calumite, Admit. Meadow Scott and Dillon’s Fashion handy. Meadow Scott, another very slow beginner, was the only horse capable of making a race of it with Urrall. The latter did not have to be driven out to win well by a neck. Meadow Scott’s performance was his best for the

season. He was a length and a half in front of Dillon's Fashion, which was late working clear from an awkward position. She came home solidly and was well clear of Joylyn, which got up to beat Admit by a short length for fourth. Massacre, which broke early,

made up ground for sixth, ahead of Robin Dundee. Lucks Way, Calumite and Latest. Robin Dundee, O’Dearo and Leslie Grattan made mistakes.