Mighty Hanover Back To Form

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30106, 15 April 1963, Page 4

Mighty Hanover Back To Form

Mighty Hanover gained his first win for more than two years when he got up to shade the Dominion Handicap winner, Spinster Scott, in the New Zealand Hambletonian Handicap, one of the most spectacular races at the meeting.

Mighty Hanover was lucky to escape serious trouble when Free Return broke near the five furlongs. However, he was soon handy again and he finished boldly to win narrowly but well to give his trainer, R. Young, his second important driving success for the day.

Our Jimmy set the pace, but he was beaten near the three furlongs wh6re Pohutukawa rushed clear. He raced dear and was three lengths in front of Our Own ■racing to the straight, with Spinster Scott, Cur Jimmy, Mighty Hanover, Poupette, Flaming Way, Spark Gap and Free Return handy.

Pohutukawa was soon in trouble and was joined inside the furlong first by Spinster Scott and then by Mighty Hanover. The lastnamed did best to win by a bead.

Spinster Scott, which was near the tail of the field for the first mile, held on well for second, a length in front of Pohutukawa, with another length to Flaming Way, which shaded With You. Then came Dark Lorene, Spark Gap, Free Return and Scotleigh. The hot favourite. Our Own, stopped badly tc twelfth in the run home. Dark Lorene, Spark Gap, Front Line, Reprimand, Pohutukawa and Mighty Brigade lost ground early. Scotleigh and Dianthus Girl made mistakes in the running. Trade Fair’s Sprint Trade Fair returned to top form with an easy sprint win in the Au Revoir Handicap He made a splendid beginning from 12 yards and was fifth at the end of a furlong He worked to the lead with five furlongs and a half left and was still clear racing te the straight, where Antonius Flying Blue, Adios Heather Gold Globe. Avante, Admit and Fox Able were prominent.

Trade Fair was always in command and he finished strongly to win by a length. Adios Heather, after being handy all the way, finished well for second, a length in front of Fox Able. Massacre, after breaking badly early, made up a lot of ground for fourth, just ahead of Oreti, which was one of the tailendens at the turn. Stonmlight, Ahumai, Admit. Flying Blue and Antonius were next. Dandy Briar, Admit, Gold Globe, Van Rush, Andy's Gift and Massacre lost ground early. Consistent Flying Blue brought his recoxd for the season to ’ix wins and 1 placings from 25 starts when he won the Wilkin Handicap. D. G. Jones had him perfectly positioned behind the pacemaker, Antonius, until the straight entrance. Then, without driving hist: out. he moved him up to the leaders and held on to win easily by a short length. Van Rush, after breaking at the start and being last until the two furlongs, finished solidly for second, a short length in front of Notify and Garrison Royal.

which aead-heated for third, two lengths in front of Ahumai and Gold Globe, with Aerobee and Antonius beaten off. Harbour Light, the backmarker on 36 yards, and Gay Jillian, which broke on the post, dead-heated for first, half a head in front of Astralight in the Intermediate Handicap. After an inquiry Gay Jillian, which started at odds of almost 80 to 1, was relegated to third. Hot FHvourite The Wyndham-owned mare. Deft, was backed down to odds-on in the Monte Carlo Handicap and she stayed on well to win impressively However, she gave her many supporters some anxious moments. She was slow away and was well back for most of the race. She waa tenth at the half-mile and had not improved two furlong# later where her chances looked remote. Deft was wide out behind Pharaoh, Bonnieburn, Terrace Dale, Young Betty, Loyal Brig. -le, Vanese and Peat Moss She finished in grand style and won decisively by two lengths. Vanese came home, well for second, half a length in front of a bold finisher in Vanderford, with another half length to Peat Moes, which was followed by Loyal Brigade. Worthy River and Storm Water. Kyle View made amends for recent failures with a stylish win in the Members' Handicap. He broke at the start and was last when the field settled down. He was still one of the tailenders at the half mile and did not look a threat until he joined the leaders late in the race He finished on boldly to win by two lengths. Deep Lead made ground tor second, shading Cushie Doo and Carver Doon, with Inglemead, which did not get clear, a close fifth, ahead of Young Dieman, Johnny Dean, Lilt, Moose and Dyson.