Ena Harkness Beats Strong Field

Press, Volume CI, Issue 30007, 17 December 1962, Page 5

Ena Harkness Beats Strong Field

"The Press" Special Service

AUCKLAND, December 16.

Ena Harkness, a light-weight from Takanini, dealt severely with several well-regarded Auckland Cup chances when a clear winner in the Hugh Dent Handicap at Pukekohe yesterday. Her first success in open company represented also a notable achievement by her owner-trainer, Mrs P. O. O’Brien, and the apprentice rider, R. W. Delahunty.

The previous week Ena Harkness finished fourth in first open race, the W S Goosman Handicap at Te Aroha, behind Beauzami, White Strand and Lampada ■Hiis ti me Prince Argon and My Contact chased her home One of the disappointing failures was Don Filou and Marwon was another

Don Filou, from which a really good Auckland Cup trial was expected, came fourth and Marwon. his

bracket-mate on the totalisator, finished about tenth Marwon did not run the last furtong anywhere near his best and to all appearances there was not much sting in Iton Filou's finish.

It is only since the ground firmed after the early spring that Ena Harkness has looked I ke being a chance to make good company and her last seven starts have brought in three firsts, a second, and two fourths.

For the Hugh Dent Handicap she was the seventh favourite straight out and third for a place, paying £l4 and £3 8s 6d

The honours were all the way of Ena Harkness Seventh or eighth was her position in the middle stages of the running. Coming to the straight she ran about fifth and when a furlong out, sne appeared fairly certain to win. In the finish she had a length on Prince Argon, which beat My Contact by a neck for second. Excepting Don Filou. the next closest were Commodore Roberts and Conference, and they were right at hand.

ima Harkr.ess is a five-year-old mare by* Le Filou from Century, and If not an Auckland Cup possibility she is at least worth consideration for one of the other good distance events at the Auckland summer carnival.

The TAB. double, worth £862 5s for £l, was completed by High Mark, which was close to a rank outsider in the second kg. the Shaw Handicap. High Mark, a five-year-old mare, had not previously shown sprinting form of much account. What was more, she had only just recently returned to racing after a fair spell.

In a field of 22. which Included two totalisator brackets, she was the 16/15 win and place favourite, and paid £Bl and £l6 High Mark comes from Te Aroha, where she is prepared by D. J. Arnott She was ridden by S. J. Ganiev, an apprentice In Arnott s employ. It was Ganley's first win. Pipe Dream. the popular fancy to win. came fifth “*ter ruining his chance by dwelling in the starting gates. In between High Mark and Pipe Dream at the finish were Preferable ( second). Grasher (third), and Gold Raider (fourth). Conditions were good, the weather be:r.g fine and warm and the ground in excellent order. SLOW AWAY Prince Argon began slowly in the Hugh Dent Handicap, and before long Galonzo and Beau Way were with him at the back of the field. With a round to travel. Dashing Star and Nett Price were the first two. going at a good pace a couple of lengths ahead of Red Robe. Sybeau. Ena Harkness, My Contact ana Fairend a. Making the bend into the back Nett Price drew out by a length from Dashing Star and Red Robe Sybeau kept a close position and Ena Harkness and Don Filou were handy fifth and sixth. My Contact was next, then Marwon. Coming to the half-mile Dashing Star joined Nett Price Idarwon was right up on their quarters in the next half-furlong. Fairenda. Ena Harkness and My Contact were close. Nett Price and Dishing Star were being hard oressed with a furiong to go. and Marwon looked about

9/6 PRINCE ARGON (17) 7-1 B. F. Andrew* 2 5/7 MY CONTACT (1) 6-7 G. F. Hughes 3 1/1 Marwon, 1/1 Don Filou, 10/12 Dashing Star. 2/5 Commodore Roberts. 12/13 Beau Kay, 6/4 Bemuse, 3/2 Conference, 11/ 11 Summer Mom, 10/8 Gay Gavotte, 13/14 Miss Raye, 8/9 Nett Price, 4/10 Sybeau, 17/18 Galonzo, 15/15 Red Robe. 14/16 Smart Move, 16/17 Fairenda also started. Length; neck. Don Filou fourth. Time, 2:31. Win: £l4. Places: £3 8s 6d, £4 0s fid. £4 9s. NETHERTON HANDICAP, £400; It.— lo/10 ALAMANDA 19) 7-9 car. 7-12 W J. Mudford 1; 3/3 GREAT VENTURE (6) 7-11 car. 7-4 R. W. Delahunty 2; 13/14 STELLA SUMMA (4) 7- R. Fisher 3. Scratched: Collynie. Hi-Swanee, Pot of Gold. One length and a quarter; half a head. Sure Ann fourth. Time, 1:26 2-5. Win: £2O 18s. Places: £6 Is. £2 15s, £ll 8s 6d. SHAW HANDICAP, £700; 6i. 16/15 HIGH MARK (18) 7-0 car. 7-0 J S. J. Ganley 1 12/12 PREFERABLE (23) 7-0 R. Lang 2 3/2 GRASHER (12) 7-5 car. 7-5 J .. G. L. Willetts 3 4/4 Poet’s Pride. 1/1 Mali. 1/1 Pipe Dream. 1/1 Forever, 6/8 Terrorist, 19/17 Gullfax, 11/11 Speedwell, 10/9 Fair Merit, 9/10 Yonda. 15/16 Tormod, 2/6 Kitty Kildare, 17/18 Persian Fair, 13/ 13 Calveron, 8/3 Hello Polly, 8/3 Commodore Smith also started. Long neck; one length and a half. Gold Raider fourth. Time, 1:11 4-5. Win: £Bl. Places: £lO 17s, £lO 4s 6d, £3 Is 6d. WAIKINO HANDICAP, £425; 6f.—4/2 KENNEDY (20) 7-13 I. Medcalfe 1; 2/3 OVERDALE (9) 8- N. B. Holland 2; 9/7 PESO (1) 9-0 N. Eastwood 3. Scratched: Brown Hair, Manipulate, Proud Princess, Chatsmede. Long neck; neck. Rio Bravo fourth. Time. 1:13. Win: £8 Is. Places: £2 Bs. £2 12s 6d. £5 Bs.

spent My Contact seemed a chance, but ’towards the end Er.a Harkness came fast to score going I awav by a length. Prince Argon I cut Mv Contact out of second by a neck. Don Filou came on I for fourth, followed by Commodore Roberts. Conference, Nett Price. Miss Raye. Bemuse. Marwon. Beau Way. Summer Morn, Dashing Star and Red Robe. RAN CLEAR Kittv Kildare began brilliantlv ’and quickly ran clear in the 'Shaw Handicap. Terrorist headed the chase to the five furlongs, and Preferable (inside). Pine Dream and Grasher were next. High Mark, Yonda, Gold Raider. Mali. Royal Dee, and Commodore Smith followed, ahead of Forever. At the half-mile Kitty Kildare led bv two lengths and a half from Pipe Dream and Terrorist. A couple of lengths further back was Yonda, then Gold Raider and Preferable. After a further short gap came Grasher. Calveron, Mall, and High Mark. Kitty Kildare continued at a strong gallop into the straight, followed bv Terrorist and Pipe Dream. Gold Raider came fourth, ahead of Yonda. Preferable and Calveron. The front runners tired. High Mark became verv prominent and kept on a strong run to score by a long neck from Preferable. Grasher. which showed up prominently at the furlong, ran third. Gold Raider was a close fourth, followed by Pipe Dream. Terrorist. Persian Fair, Royal Dee, Kitty Kildare. Yonda. Fair Merit and Forever. Results:— It'RL’A HIGH - WEIGHT HANDICAP, £400; about Ijm.— 1/1 FAIR TO FINE (6) »-l M. V. Coon 1: 15/15 WAITAKI (16) 9-0 G. Walters 2: 4/3 SEA BATTLE (15) 9-0 A. T. Haitana 3. Scratched: High Regard. Nose: half a length. Curzola fourth. Time. 2:34 2-5. Win: £3 14s. Places: £1 Ils 6d, £lB 9s 6d. £2 12s 6d. karangahake handicap. £410; two-vear-olds; 5Jf. —First Division—2/3 KEBIR (1) 8-4 L. G Coles 1; 11/11 ALPINE ECHO (8) 7-8 T Rvan 2; 10/10 OUR PRIDE 7-2 car. 7-3 R. L. Murrav 3. Scratched: Chlngling. Half a length: four lengths. Queenwood fourth. Time, 1:7 2-5. Win: £2 4s. Places: £1 13s 6d, £7 4s fid. Second Division: 5/2 ZARASHAH (6) 7-8 car. 7-11 J R. C Forbes 1: 3/4 DON JOSE (5) 7-10 car. 7-11: N. B. Holland 2; 6/6 IN-THE-BLUE 7-5 R. Lang 3 Scratched: Belle Helene. Nose: one length and a quarter. Acapulco fourth. Time, 15 3-5. Win: £4 18s. Places: £1 Us 6d, £2 3s 6d. Brackets: Zarashaih, Princess Charm and Royal Technique; Don Jose and Dark Intrigue. QUEEN ELIZABETH PLATE, £1250: weight-for-age; IOJf 1/1 STIPULATE (8i 9-3 RJurv 1; 5/6 GAY FILOU (3) 9-3 N. Eastwood 2; 3/2 LAMPADA (4) 9-3 J. P. Riordan 3 All started. Length: two lengths and a half. Otematata fourth. Time. 2:14 4-5. Win: £2 0s 6d. Places: £1 4s 6d £3 5s 6d. £1 17s 6d duke of Edinburgh HANDICAP, £425: about Um 3/4 ROYAL RUTH (3) 8-9 R. Fisher 1: 1/1 KUMLUCKY (1) 9-0 N B. Holland 2: 6/6 ROYAL REQUEST (10) 8-1 G. F. Hughes 3 Scratched: Astrazami. Half a length: long neck. Ollvene fourth Time, 2:32 2-5. Win: £6 19s 6d. Places: £2 9s 6d. £1 Bs. £5 2s. HUGH DENT HANDICAP, £1000: about Ijm. 7/3 ENA HARKNESS (12) 7-2 car. 7-3 R W. Delahunty 1