RACING Morris Francis Beats Dark Seaman Finely

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30682, 23 February 1965, Page 6

RACING Morris Francis Beats Dark Seaman Finely

(From Our Own Reporter)

WESTPORT.

After a thrilling tussle over the last 100 yards Morris Francis just held off Dark Seaman to win the Patterson Handicap, and first leg of the T.AB. double on the second day of the Westport Jockey Club’s meeting yesterday.

Morris Francis came from well back at the six furions to challenge Dark Seaman but the latter came again to fight it out. Morris Francis prevailed by a head.

Morris Francis had been successful over a similar distance at Patterson Park in May last year, but this was his first win of the present season.

The totalisator on-course handled £15,581 compared with £15,038 on the second day last year. The total for the two days was £31,288 compared with £28,277 15s last year.

The weather was fine and the track was fast. There was a moderate attendance.

The T.A.B. double, won by Morris Francis and Opportunity, paid £l7 13s for £l. Persian Sea and Even Chance completed the on-course double which was worth £62 14s 6d for £l. FIRST LEG RUNNING Rae’s Hope, Totara Lad, Lady York annd Dark Seaman were the leading division at the half-mile in the Patterson Handicap, and Foxy Boy was also handy. But in the run home Morris Francis and Dark Seaman went clear of the field. Tax Evader came on well for third ahead of Rae’s Hope, Totara Lad, Foxy Boy, Lady York and Subair. The Washdyke candidate Opportunity came on the inside, from a good position at the straight entrance to win the second leg of the double, the Arthur Clouston Hack Handicap. It was another stirring finish, with Patrician, Charlborough, Glenmist and Jaydee close up behind the winner.

The top-weight, Carnbeg, which was up a warm favourite with Lady Dilemma, failed to come on after taking the lead early and lasting till the straight.

Opportunity gave J. R. Dowling, last season’s top rider, his third success of the day. He rode the first leg winner, Morris Francis, and also Persian Sea, winner of the Novice Stakes No. 1. Persian Sea, a Blenheimtrained and owned gelding, came with a fast run to win the Novice Stakes No. 1 in a close finish with High Bank, Mira Ceti and Valbaean. Takatua was a close fifth place ahead of the pacemaker Debbie Maria. Valbaean, Princess Donnington and Dawning Sky led the chase after Debbie Marie till the home turn but, in the run home Persian Sea came through in the last 50 yards to beat High Bank. Mira Ceti was third and Valbaean fourth. Even Chance confirmed his first-day form by winning the Joe Brown Hack Handicap in style from Slantre and Mushtara, which dead-heated for second. The favourite, Lady Dilemma, was a close fourth ahead of Mystic. The others were beaten off. WELL-EARNED SUCCESS

The North Island mare, Valbaean, which had raced consistently for minor places at the meeting, had its turn in the Novice Stakes No. 2, in which she beat Indian Chief, and Alten Fiord. Red Spec came from well back for fourth.

Valbaean gave the Opaki trainer, J. T. Walker, his fifth success at the meeting. Mister Bud, the shortest priced favourite at the meeting, justified that confidence when he outclassed the field in. the Slee Hack Handicap. Mister Bud was given time to settle down, but over the last furlong he swamped the opposition for finishing speed.

His Host was second and Corneil third.

NOVICE STAKES NO. 1, £150: 6f.—7/4 PERSIAN SEA (6) S-10 J. R. Dowling 1; 4/5 HIGH BANK (3) 8-10 D. N. Hadfield 2; 3/3 MIRA CETI (1) 9-6 M. J. Skelton 3. Scratched: Alten Fiord, Red Spec. Half length: length. Valbaean fourth. Time, 1:16 1-5. Win: £8 Ss 6d. Places: £2 9s 6d. £2 15s, £1 19s 6d.

PETERSON HANDICAP TROT, £180; 2:20 class: Um.—B/7 CHERIE GLOBE <3l It T. K. Rooney 1; 4/4 GOLD HERITAGE <10) 24 G. D. Shand 2; 6/5 YORKSHIRE LAO (13) 24 M. C. White 3. Scratched: Beau Tassin, Nephrides, Doctor Jim. Two and a half lengths: length. Harker fourth. Times: 2:51, 2:49 3-5, 2:49 4-5. Win: £lB Is. Places: £4 6s, £2 Ils 6d, £2 16s.

JOE BROWN HACK HANDICAP, £200; 7f.—3/3 EVEN CHANCE <9) car. 7-64 P. J. Dalv 1; 2/2 SLANTRE (3) 8-6 J. r‘. Dowling and 4/4 MUSHTARA (5) car. 7-12 A. R. Soanson deadheat 2. Scratched: Carnbeg, Llanstar, His Host, Indian Chief, Jaydee. Two lengths: dead-heat. Lady Dilemma fourth. Time, 1:29. Win: £4 13s. Places: £1 Bs, £1 6s 6d (Slantre), £1 9s 6d (Mushtara). ROBERT PATTERSON HANDICAP, £400; Im. 2/2 MORRIS FRANCIS (5) 8-4 .. J. R. Dowling 1 1/1 DARK SEAMAN (4) 8-5 B. S. Finlayson 2 7/7 TAX EVADER 7-5 A. H. Eastwood 3 3/3 Foxy Boy, 5/4 Totara Lad. 4/5 Lady York, 6/6 Rae’s Hope. 7/7 Subair also started. Head; two and a half lengths. Rae’s Hope fourth. Time, 1:40 Win: £3 6s. Places: £1 19s 6d, £1 10s 6d.

Bracket: Tax Evader and Sub air.

NOVICE STAKES NO. 2, £150: 6f.-—3/3 VALBAEAN (7) 8-10 W. H. Beck 1; 1/1 INDIAN CHIEF (3) 8-10 J. R. Dowling 2; 2/2 ALTEN FIORD (8) 8-4 D. N. Hadfield. Scratched: Dawning Sky, High Bank, Debbie Marie. Length; two lengths. Red Spec fourth. Time, 1:17. Win: £3 10s. Places: £1 6s 6d, £1 Os 6d. £1 2s 6d.

SLEE HACK HANDICAP. £200: 6f.—l/1 MISTER BUD (2) 8-7 F. H. Skelton 1; 5/5 CORNEIL (6) car. 8-0 M. J. Skelton 2; 4/2 HIS HOST (3) 8-5 D. N. Hadfield 3. Scratched: Lady Dilemma, Jaydee, Persian Sea. Two lengths; half a length. Mira Ceti fourth. Time, 1:14 2-5. Win: £1 14s. Places: £1 5s 6d, £3 9s, £1 10s. ARTHUR CLOUSTON HACK HANDICAP, £200; Um. 4/3 OPPORTUNITY (7) 8-1 J. R. Dowling 1 9/9 PATRICIAN (11) 7-10 J. M. ' Cappie 2 3/2 CHARLBOROUGH (2) 8-12 F. H. Skelton 3 1/1 Carnbeg, 1/1 Lady Dilemma, 2/2 Glen Mist, 6/6 Summer Lad, 8/7 Handsome Lass, 7/8 Glen Harp, 5/5 Jaydee also started. Head: neck. Glen Mist fourth. Time, 2:9 1-5. Win: £5 10s. Places: £1 9s £lO 19s, £1 6s 6d. COAL DRIFT HANDICAP TROT, £180; 2:20 class; 13f.—2/2 FLYING VISIT (4) It K. J. Powell 1; 3/4 QUALITY INN (10) 36 W. S. Cummings 2: 6/6 RACEDAY (11) 36 T. K. Roonev 3. Scratched: Beau Tassin, ‘Rosedale Hanover, Cheriglobe. Length; six lengths. Harker fourth. Times: 3:42, 3:39, 3:40 3-5. Win: £3 19s. Places: £1 14s, £2 10s, £3 14s.