Mhor And Newbrook Win Rangiora Double

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30274, 29 October 1963, Page 4

Mhor And Newbrook Win Rangiora Double

Mhor justified win favouritism with a sound win, though a rather narrow one, in the Rangiora Handicap on the second day of the North Canterbury Racing Club’s meeting yesterday.

Mhor won by a neck from Gay Defoe and then there was a length to the topweight, Personify.

This was Mhor’* first win for the season, but the Christchurch - owned, Riccartontrained seven-year-old showed solid form towards the end of hig winter campaign, being placed twice at the Grand National meeting, and at Ashburton on August 31. Yesterday’s race was his first stoce his Ashburton fourth. Mhor is a powerful entire owned by Miss J. E. and Mr

L. W. Storry, and trained by D. J. O'Connor. He was ridden by D N. Hadfield. Hadfield probably had his worries early in the race when everyone was apparently trying to dodge the pacemaking. Mhor was left three wide and pulling hard close behind Meandering and Gay Defoe. Personify looked much better placed in the trailing position on the inside. Positions changed before the race was half over. Picket, which had lost a length or so from the inside barrier position at the start, moved around the field and led past the six furlongs by a neck from Meandering.

Pulled Hard Mhor was stilling pulling hard wider out and Personify had lost the trailing position when Meandering was eased in behind Picket, Picket led into the last half-mile by three-quarters of a length from Mhor, but the latter ranged alongside on the home turn, and bounded clear on straightening up. Mhor was nicely clear st the furlong, but Gay Defoe was cutting into his lead quickly at the end, and there was only a neck in it. However, the winner was confidently ridden. It was Gay Defoe’s first show of form for the season and it could have been a pointer to a win at Riccarton, where he has won two Metropolitans and other races. Personify had a run in him when he appeared to meet trouble on the home turn. Picket was fourth in a gap of four lengths. Ground lost at the start cost him a place chance. White Skies, Meandering, Happy Venture, and Wyebank were almost in line with Picket, but they appeared to have their chances. Double For Meeting Newbrook came through the meeting unbeaten when he was first home by inches from Seaend in the Dr. T. A. Will Memorial Handicap, second leg of the double. Newbrook and Seaend had a speed duel in front for the last half-mile or so, and none of the others could reach them in the straight. Everything depended on the last stride, and it favoured Newbrook by a nose. Newbrook. which was ridden by B. S. Finlayson, was one of W. D. Skelton's five successful mounts on the first day of the meeting. Newbrook has become something of a Rangiora specialist for Mr J. S. Shaw. He also won am open sprint there last year. Double. a dominating favourite, improved two or three positions from the home turn, but it wes not the sharp run of a top sprinter in top form. None of her win backers had reason to feel hopeful at the furlong. Canadians, which had a hand in the pacemaking for a good way, weakened to fourth, three lengths behind Double.

A minor feature of the race was a late rally by Gay Filou to finish fifth in a line with four of his rivals. There were noses to Candida, Safe Harbour, and Picright, then a neck to Silver Wood, and a nose to Pieca Leigh. Lola was in a small gap at the tail of the field.