RACING HOKITIKA FIRST LEG TO EXPLAIN

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29746, 13 February 1962, Page 4

RACING HOKITIKA FIRST LEG TO EXPLAIN

Totara Lad Completes Double (From Our Own Reporter) GREYMOUTH, February 12. The off-course double at the Westland Racing Club’s summer meeting at Hokitika today was won by Explain and Totara Lad. The combination paid £37 12s 6d for £l. Explain, which was also successful in the main event on the first day, is a three-year-old filly by Clarification from Khantor, owned and trained at Riccarton by Mr H. O. Baker. She was again ridden by M. J. Skelton.

The second leg, the L. F. Hogg Memorial Handicap, was won very easily by Totara Lad, which was beaten by a nose earlier in the day by Master Conclusion.

Totara Lad broke a spell of ill-luck for W. D. Skelton, who was given an ovation upon returning to scale. The on-course double, won by Taxman and Master Conclusion, paid £l9 15s for £l. The meeting was held in fine, warm weather, but the attendance for a holiday was a little disappointing. On - course investments amounted to £10,150, including £lOl4 10s on doubles, compared with £12,315 10s on the corresponding day last year. The total for the meeting was £21,916 as against £19,805 10s last year. Convincing Win Explain gave a very convincing performance in winning the L. F. Hogg Memorial Handicap. She was capably handled by M. J. Skelton, who was content to occupy fifth place until two furlongs from home. The order for the first six furlongs was Come On Boy, Hunting Melody, Skyrain, Julloch. Explain, Gay Sailor and Volterra. Skelton moved Explain forward rounding , the home turn, Come On Boy was still two lengths in front entering the straight, but in the run home Explain outclassed her opponents to win by two lengths. Come On Boy beat Julloch by half a head for second with Gay Sailor fourth two lengths back. Hunting Melody and Vol terra crossed the line together with Skyrain a poor last. Second Leg Star Cheval began well in the Ruatapu Hack Handicap but after a furlong and a half W. D. Skelton took Totara Lad to the front. Going down the back straight Totara Lad gradually widened his lead and at the straight entrance was out by four lengths from Star Cheval which had led the chase after him throughout.

to seven lengths from Queen of Sheba, which finished better than the others. Gay Fiancee was a length and a half behind Queen of Sheba. Then there was a gap of four lengths to Brokette. The hot favourite, Star Cheval, was a disappointing last. Taxman Wins Taxman, one of four horses trained by C. J. Walsh, at Omoto, for Mr A. Clouston, of Upper Hutt, gained an impressive win in the Whataroa Stakes. R. J. Skelton had Taxman away smartly from the stalls and he led to the straight from Rajah, Puff and Sumptuous. Taxman lost a little ground through running wide entering the stnaighit. Rajah drew level with him at the furlong but vigorous riding by Skelton enabled him to regain the lead and win by a length. Sumptuous finished third, half a length behind Rajah. Puff was two and a half lengths back fourth. Then came Rose Command. Montez, Susie Darling and Sir Donninigton. Just Got Up The second leg of the oncourse double, the Woodstock Hack Handicap, resulted in a narrow win for the topweiigfhit, Master Conclusion, which found the easy going to his liking. Totara Lad endeavoured to lead all the way. With three furlongs to run he was three lengths clear of Master Conclusion, Pictavia Girl, Coral Lagoon, Black Simper, Fair Polly and King Panair.

Totara Lad had increased his lead to five lengths at the straight entrance, but Master Conclusion then challenged strongly and gradually reduced the pacemaker's lead. It was a sbride-for-

stride finish with the decision going to Master Conclusion by a nose. Pictavia Girl was third a length and a half back. She beat Fair Polly by two and a half lengths. Then came Black Simper, King Panair and Coral Lagoon. Mystic Succeeds Mystic, which was having her first start at the meeting, won the Kowhitarangi Stakes comfortably. Mystic shared the lead all the way to the straight with Taxman. which had been penalised 101 b for his win earlier in the day. Underwood Lass and Montez were a few lengths behind this pair. Once in line for home Mystic drew out to win by a length and a half from Taxman. Montez was a poor third three lengths away, half a length in front of Underwood Lass. Then came Sir Donnington, Rajah, and Inland Revenue. Pictavia Girl Pictavia Girl, a minor place-getter in her two earlier races at the meeting, gave R. J. Skelton Ns second winning ride for the day When she won the Lake Mahinapua Hack Handicap. Ashleich made the pace for the first half-mile before Skelton took Pictavia Girl to the front. She was followed round the home turn by Ashleiiglh, Totara Lass, and Master Conclusion, with Zayton at the rear. Pictavia Girl looked to be in for a comfortable win until Zayton came on the scene with a strong late challenge and ran her to a long neck. Master Conclusion was third half a length behind Zayton. The odds-on favourite, Ashleigh, was fourth and Totara Lass was last.

In the run home Totara Lad increased his advantage