NOVEMBER MEETING

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 108, 2 November 1940, Page 11

NOVEMBER MEETING

WEATHER UNPLEASANT

EXCELLENT GOING

(By "Rangatira.")

There was a sharp drop in the temperature with threat of rain overnight, and the weather later became dull, breezy, and rainy for the Wellington Trotting Club's November Meeting at Hutt Park today. \ As a. result of the drying days during the week the track was firm and fast. There was a very satisfactory attendance, and the racing was keenly contested. Results were:— PETONE HANDICAP, £175; for trotters; 3.42 class; 1 £ miles. . 1_1 —c. Christensea's • b g Short Wave, by Travis AxworthySecurity, aged, 24 (J. .A. Gerhard) 1 3—2— G. Logan's b g Hamel Bey, 12 (R. Donald) 2 4—3 — W. Fairbairn's eh m Elite Rey, 24 (W. Doyle) •• •• 3 Also started:' 2-4 Patti Nelson scr, 10-10 Worthy Audubon scr, 6-6 Expensive Lady.scr, 7-5 Danzie Guy scr, 5-7 j Peter Harvester scr, 9-9 Fire King scr, I 8-6 Allworthy 108. Won by a length and a half; two lengths. Times, 3min 26sec, 3min 27 3-ssec, 3min 27 4-ssec. Winner trained by J. A. Gerrard, Ashhurst. Short Wave, having his first face for the season, always had the edge on his opposition over the last six furlongs of the Petone Handicap, in ' which only four of the ten runners ! had any serious chance shortly after the start. The favourite went to the lead past Patti Nelson three furlongs from home and then, without having to feel the whip, comfortably held off challenges from Hamel Bey and Elite Rey, who both finished in the air. Patti Nelson was a moderate fourth, with Expensive Lady well back next.

SHORT HANDICAP, £175; 3.5 class, . • 1 \ miles. I—l—A. J. Mitchell's eh g Ben . Travis, by Travis Axworthy, syrs, scr (P. Gallagher) 1 2—2—D. G. Nyhan's b g Gold Flight, ■••:.-■■ scr (Owner) 2 3—s—J. A. Mitchell's eh- g First Call, scr (J. A. Gerrard) 3 Also started: 9-10 Prince McElwyn scr, 10-8 Quite True scr, 8-7 Mickey Rooney scr, 6-3 Falaise scr, 7-9 Antarctic Star scr, 5-6 Solicitor scr, 11-11 Castella Del Oro scr, 4-4 Don Walla • 48. Won by a length; a length. Times, 2min 49 3-ssec, 2min 49 4-ssec, 2min 50 ,2-ssec. Winner trained by P. Gallagher, Washdyke,.

The Short Handicap had a sensational ending when Ben Travis came • again under a hard drive in the last furlong and won going away by a length from Gold Flight, who had raced round on the turn and drawn out clear in the straight. First Call, who went to the front early/ "showed signs of weakening at the three furlongs, .but also came on again for a good third. Prince McElwyn, who broke at -the start, was finishing on fourth, with .Solicitor and Don Walla ahead of the others.

BOROUGH HANDICAP, £225; 4.54

. class; 2 miles. 2—l—B, Grice's blk m Single Star,

by Nelson Derby—Queen's Treasure, syrs, scf (O. E. Hooper) .. I—.2—F. S. Ball's eh g Neutrality,

■■',' scr (M. Stewart) 3—4—-L. Gaskill's b g William Potts,

24 (R. B. Berry)

Also started: 8-8 Jack Spratt scr, 5-5 Blue Diamond scr, 6-7 Titus scr, 4-3 S.capa.Flow scr, 7^-6 Kosha 12. Six lengths; a head. Times: 4min 28 2-ssec, 4min. 31sec, 4min 29 l-ssec.

(Winner trained by owner, Ashburton.)

Taking the lead at the end of the first furlong, Single Star set a strong pace out in front in the Borough Handicap, a slow-class two-mile race that was an innovation at the Park, and over the last three furlongs he had matters all his • own way, winning easing up by half a dozen lengths. Neutrality and Titus went round the tiring Blue Diamond in pursuit when the winner commenced to draw away and Neutrality just hung on for second from the fastrfinishing William Potts, Titus weakening into fourth.