Grand Charge In Impressive Win

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30575, 19 October 1964, Page 6

Grand Charge In Impressive Win

Grand Charge, a good second to Uteena in the corresponding race a week earlier, gained a good win in a spectacular finish to the Star Handicap at Forbury Park on Saturday night. Grand Charge was the second horse produced on the night by A. M. Purdon, who had won the previous race with Gay Robin. He also won with Cloudage and Phoebe Martial at Motukarara a week earlier.

Grand Charge is raced in partnership by Messrs W. E. Desmond and R. C. Iddens, of Chiristouhrch. Mr Desmond, the South Island vicepresident of the New Zealand Trotting Conference, is at present in hospital. Ardleigh, Seven Nights, White Martial, and Trapper broke and lost ground in the first furlong and a half, Ardleigh and Trapper being tailed off.

Gay Jillian took the lead from Good Luck ait the mile post, the pace being an easy one. Trapper made up a lot of ground to be at the back of the bunch at the five furlongs. He then sprinted up and joined Macnamara when that horse went to the front soon after passing the halfmile. Macnamara led Trapper into the straight, with Grand Charge, Gay Jillian, Stylish Moccasins, Seven Nights, Good Luck, Rebel and the breaking White Martial bendy. Grand Charge took control about the half-furlong and fought on to win by half a length. Gay Jillian came home boldly for second, a neck in front of Trapper, with noses to Rebel and Good Luck. Then, right up, came Macnamara, Stylish Moccasins and Seven Nights. Society Maid, which is trained at Gore by her partowner, S. W. Kirby, returned to form with a narrow win over the favourite, Jilaire, in the Recovery Handicap. Society Maid had broken badly in her race a week earlier. Napoleon Hanover took the lead after two furlongs, with Society Maid in second place on the outside of Jilaire. Society Maid took a short lead racing to the straight, with Blonde Piper, Jilaire, Napoleon Hanover, Idle Man, Moose, Strip and Carver Doon handy. Society Maid was strongly challenged by Jilaire over the final furiong, but she fought back strongly to win by a short neck. Blonde Piper came home well for third a length behind Jilaire, with a nose to Idle Man. Moose was a fair fifth, ahead of Aero Scott and Strip. Quesnel, Aero Scott, Paddy’s Day and Trigside gave ground early. FINE EFFORT Disband, which is partowned in Dunedin by Mr C. B. Foon, made a successful first appearance for the season with fine win in the Victory Handicap. She drifted at the start and was well back until the last half-mile. Mitcham took the lead from Lochie rating to the straight, where they were followed by Meadowmac, Don Caesar, Cloudy Bay, Disband, Flying Stop and move. Cloudy Bay took a short

lead on the inside at the furlong, but almost tangled under pressure. Disband then challenged and finished strongly to win by a neck. Cloudy Bay was unchallenged for second, finishing two lengths in front of Meadowtnac, with a neck to Ulove, which was followed in by Don Caesar, Flying Step, Mitcham and Chartie Mack, which were well clear of the others.

La Scala, Highland Raider, Don Caesar and Vauxhall Princess lost ground early. FIELD OUTSTAYED

Happy Ending proved a class above his rivals in the Plunket Handicap. He took the lead near the mile post and from then on he had his rivals well covered. Carina Star made a game effort to overhaul Happy Ending in the straight, but when L. A. Wigzell asked the last-named for an effort, he put the issue beyond doubt and won with a lot in hand by two lengths. Carina Star made up ground for second, a short length in front of Sirretta, which was near the lead all the way. Dominica made up ground for fourth a length back, ahead of Danny’s Pal, Medico, Hustler and Willycan. Bay Prince, Dominica, Flak, which was checked, Black Treasure, Medico, which was checked, and Throwaway lost ground at the start. HELD ON Field Chief gained his first win as a trotter when he led for the last 10 furlongs in the Spiring Handicap. He set a hot pace in the middle stages and he was 12 lengths clear of his rivals at the five furlongs. Phenoma led the others up to the pacemaker, with Sure Bill being four lengths back third at the straight entrance, just ahead of Le Chant and Flying Minstrel. Field Chief tired inside the furlong, but so, too, did the others. Field Chief lasted to win by a length from Le Chant, which made up a lot of ground after drifting. Sure Bill was a length back third, with the same distance to Phenoma and gaps to Flying Minstrel and Morven Lad. Most of the field made mistakes early. Ruling Caste gained an overdue win when she beat the unlucky Dieppe in the St. Kilda Hanjdicap. R. Young bad Ruling Caste prominently placed throughout, not far from the pacemakers, Landlord and Forbid. She took charge inside the furlong and won handily by a length and a half. Dieppe, which was checked twice in the first three furlongs, came from last at the half-mile for second, two lengths in front of the outsider, Lagmhor, which had every chance.