Our Own Gains Good Win Over Trotters

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29973, 7 November 1962, Page 5

Our Own Gains Good Win Over Trotters

Our Own, a place-getter at her four previous starts, gained an overdue win and brought a change of luck to her part-owner and trainer, D. G. Jones, when she forced most of the pace and ran out a decisive winner in the Worthy Queen Handicap.

Our Own, a five-year-old mare by Light Brigade from Rewa Scott, will now be one of the favourites for the Dominion Handicap, one of the feature races on the second day of the meeting on Friday.

Our Own and Spinster Scott began best, with Control, Pbhutukawa, Min Scott, Diamhus Gird, Resistor and Moon Boy losing ground. Kennoway was on terms with Our Own with six furlongs left. They were still together racing to the straight where When had moved up on the outside of them. Spinster Scott, Dianthus Girl. With You, Flaming Way and Reprimand were also prominent.

Kennoway broke about the furlong post, leaving Our Own dear. She ran on gamely to win by a short length from With You, which beat When by half a length. Spinster Scott broke short of the post, taking fourth place half a neck away, with two lengths to Moon Boy. which came home boldly along the inner after attempting to improve wide out in the back straight. Min Scott was dose up, ahead of Flaming Way, Kennoway, Reprimand and Pohutukawa. Second Leg Gay Baron swung round at the start of the second leg of the double, the Canterbury Handicap. Master Alan, Florita, Aquaplane. Va Vite and Ballista gave ground. Urrall led out, being passed by Gildirect with nine furlongs and a half left. Oreti took charge a furlong later and set a sound pace. Bonny Starlet moved into second place behind Oreti racing to the straight, with Gildired, Florita, Urrall, Master Alan and Queen Ngaio handy. Oreti raced right away from his rivals over the final furlong and won with something in hand by three lengths and a half. His win qualified him to start in the Auckland Cup next month.

Gildirect was close to the lead throughout and battled on for second, more than two

lengths in front of Master Alan, with a length and a half to Va Vite, which made up ground. Urrall was a fair fifth, clear of Queen Ngaio, with Gay Baron, Ballista and Florita following. Vanity Scott was pulled up with five furlongs to run. Jay Ar’s Sprint Jay Ar, a firm favourite, led throughout the Final Handicap and held off a determined challenge from Robin Dundee. Jay Ar set a strong pace, which had many of his rivals struggling before the straight entrance, where Rustic Lad, Robin Dundee, Frown, Massacre. Kingsdown Patch, Ingemar and Axis were handiest to him.

Jay Ar was not seriously tested in the run home and he won most convincingly by half a length from Robin Dundee, which had every chance. She made a game effort to overhaul the winner in the straight, but found the task beyond her. Kingsdown Patch showed that he was returning to his best form when he finished gamely for third two lengths and a half behind Robin Dundee. Rustic Lad, which was making a fresh start, was two lengths back fourth, a head in front of Axis with a length to Light Mood, a short length to Ingemar, and narrow margins to Frown, Bonny Starlet, Pagliacci and Massacre.

Aquaplane, which was pulled up, Axis, Massacre, Pagliacci, Morano Boy, Locator and Light Mood gave ground early. Stayed On

Maharaja, a slow beginner, raced up wide out to take the lead with more than three furlongs left in the Spring Handicap. He ran on too well for his rivals and won handily, Maharaja is now within striking distance of New Zealand Cup class and requires only two distance wins to earn a tain 23sec rating for two miles. Smoke Screen, which had forced most of the pace, turned into the straight just behind Maharaja, with Meadow Scott, which had been four wide over the final round, next, ahead of Junior Royal, Autumn Folly, and Johnny Thunder.

Maharaja looked likely to be troubled, but when asked for a serious effort he had sufficient in reserve to win by a length from Meadow Scott, which paced a great race.

Junior Royal battled on for a close third, well clear of Stormont and Smoke Screen, with Johnny Thunder and Autumn Folly next.

Antonins broke when in the lead at the end of six furlongs, and was pulled up. Autumn Folly, King Anjou and Gay Reel also lost ground early. Surprise Van Rebeck caused an upset when he won the Empire Handicap and paid £22 15s 6d for a win. He made a splendid beginning and after leading for the first three furlongs he received a good run not far from Kyle View*.

Kyle View was joined by Guest Star racing to the straight, with Van Rebeck and Adioson together next, ahead of Great Credit, which had improved along the inner in the back straight. Stormlight, Avante and Van Rush were also showing up. Guest Star soon shook off Kyle View, but then Van Rebeck put in his claim. Van Rebeck held on gamely to win by half a length from the fast - finishing Stormlight, which beat Guest Star by half a head. Great Credit showed speed to finish fourth a length and a half away, with two lengths to Cairnibrae, which was tailed right off early. Avante, Van Rush and Kyle View were next.

Guest Star, Cairnbrae. Great Credit, Winona and Van Rush lost ground early. Grand Run

Spark Gap trotted boldly through the slush to win the Introductory Handicap, a race for which he was favourite. He broke at the end of about a furlong and was towards the rear most of the way. He improved on the inner near the three furlongs, but was switched to the outer racing to the straight, where he was behind Robert Medoro, Composite, Astralight, Welburn and Our Jimmy. Spark Gap finished in grand style and won by two lengths from Robert Medoro, which had attemepted to lead over the last nine furlongs and a half. He broke at the end of five furlongs and covered extra ground early. His effort was full of merit.

Astralight was handy enough all the way and battled on for third two lengths behind Robert Medoro, with a similar margin to Composite, which broke Inside the last furlong, but trotted across the line. Our Jimmy was less than a length away fifth, with gaps to Welburn and Minnow.

Anak, Doctor Kyle, Free Return, Storm Lord, Mina Lass and Composite made mistakes.