OPALTOWN AGAIN

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 149, 26 June 1944, Page 6

OPALTOWN AGAIN

REGAL NIGHT'S HANDICAP

(Special to "The Post.")

HASTINGS, June 24,

Conditions were excellent for the Hawke's Bay Winter Meeting, although the track was a trifle dead. The attendance was hardly up Lo expectations, and the totalisator handled £29,656 10s, as compared with £32,331 In the Hawke's Bay Steeples Opaltown ran up to Malacca live furlongs from home, and taking the lead approaching the final obstacle went on to win by two lengths from Malacca, with Rhodes making up ground for third. Unfortunately, the last-named pulled up lame as a result of spreading a plate and striking himself. It was-Opaltown's second successive win, he having placed the Matilda Steeplechase at Manawatu to his credit. The principal flat honours went to Regal Night, who after being several places back early ran to tne front with Catterick Bridge inside the distance. Boulder Dam challenged, but Regal Night held on nicely to oeat the latecomer by three-quarters of a length, with half a length to Catterick Bridge. A thrilling finish was witnessed in the Hawke's Bay Hurdles, First Edition narrowly accounting for- Epping and High Morale, the latter pair deadheating for second place. Another keen finish came in the Hastings Hack Hurdles, Siglow beating Combination by a head, with Blue Title third. The winner had to survive an inquiry for boring near the finishing line, the stewards considering' that, it did not affect the result.

Honours in.the Maiden Race went to Kauri Queen and-Da Vinci, both of whom are two-year-olds. In the Havelock Hack Handicap Skyhawk took charge early and was never in danger of defeat. Royal Heir was next to "finish, with Findon a poor third. Queen's Charm won the Rotopai Hack Handicap very impressively from Haughty Queen, with Roto Parera at an interval. Over the final "furlong of the hack seven-furlong event Pink Bonnet wrested the lead from Piko Piko and then stalled off a late challenge from Kincrop, with Piko Piko holding on for third.

Detailed results were:—

Hastings Hack Hurdles, £200; V& miles.— 2-4 Siglow, 10.5 (A!' Midwood), 1; 0-6 Combination, 9.0 (W, Skiftlngton), 2; 1-1 Blue Title, 9;9 (W: Steven's), 3. Also started: 5-5 Travancore, 7-8 Black Saint, 3-3 .Tideovor, 4-2 Oisuara, 8-7 Timothy, 10-10 Teddy Lac, 9-9 Gold Dip. Head; two lengths. Time, 2.54. *

Hastings Maiden, £180; 6 furlongs.—First division: 3-2 Kauri Queen, 8.0, car. 8.3]A (A. C. Messervy), 1; 10-9 Glad Fox, 8.7 (G. Walker), 2; 9-10 Ganges, 8.! (W. Connor), 3. Also started: 7-6 Lady Premier, 2-3 Beneve, 12-12 Yarramananna, 4-4 Treasure Tee, 5-5 Ann Hattield, 15-15 Zingari Song, 14-14. Master Gary, U-10 Royal Molton, 6-7 Sllvestre, 6-7 Royal Duce, 8-8 Laurium, 13-13 Curiallty. Three lengths; two. Time, 1.17. Second division: 13-13 Da Vinci, 8.0 (M. Edwards), 1; 8-8 Silver Rod, 8.0 (L. Clutterbuck), 2; 9-10 Gynette, 8.7 (W. Connor), 3. Also started: 7-6 Desert Ace, 2-3 Kinzano, 4-4 Wliangai, 5-5 Fairy Godmother, 10-9 Rough Passage, 14-14 Jeter's Girl, 1-1 Foxspear, 11-10 Master Peter. 6-7 Ausar, 3-2 Cardoness, 3-2 Casilda, 13-13 Kaheka. Half a neck; two lengths. Time,

1.16 1-5. Brackets: Kauri Queen, Cardoness, and ..Casilda; Glad Fox and Kough Passage; Da Vinci, Kaheka, and Curlality; Silver Bod and\ Laurium.

HAWKE'S BAY HURDLES, £300; about ■■.." ■■.;. 1% miles. 2—3—First Edition^ 9.5 (W. Stevens) .... 1 I—l—Epping,ll.o (A. Lord) t 4—2—High Morale, 9.0, car. 9.1% (W. Murray) .-■■ t tDead heat for second. Also started: 3^4 Flying Spy, 5-5 Pompit, 6-7 Kilmanagh, 7-6 Lindrum. Half a length; dead heat for second. Time, 3.18. Havelock Hack Handicap, £200; 6 furlongs. —2-2 Skyhawk, 9.12 (P;' Atkins), 1; 4-4 Hoyal Heir, 8:6, car. 8.8 (A. Midwood), 2; 1-1 Fihdon, 8.6 (W. Broughton), 3. Also started: 6-6 Magnus Lux, 13-13 Peata, 12-12 Gay Rajah, 7-7 St. Bill, 3-3 Lady Nahleen, 5-5 Silver Ball,- 10-11 Star Peer, 10-10 Gold Quest, 9-8 Barrosa, S-9 Arai. Four lengths; two. Time, 1.15 1-5. " ■ . ■ ■ . HAWKE'S BAY STEEPLECHASE, £400; about . ■■ . . 2% miles. 2—4—Opaltown, 9.11 (E. Deslandes) .... 1 s—s—Malacca, 10.8 (R.. Hawes) ........ 2 I—l—Rhodes, 9.0 (W. Carter) , 3 Also started: 3-3 Lucullus Boy, 7-7 Osyopia (fell), 6-6 Captain Star, 8-8 Exit,, 4-2 Tigreterre. Two lengths; 100 yards. Time, 5.26 1-5. Kotopaiv Hack Handicap, £200; 1 mile.—l-2 Queen's Charm, 10.0 (A. Jenkins), 1; 4-4 Haughty Queen, 8.2 (M. Edwards), 2; 5-5 Koto Parera, 8.0, ear. 8.1 (W. Broughton). 3. Also started: 3-3 Mr. Valiant, 2-1 Nightward, 6-6 Dashup. Half a length; three. Time, 1.45. 'Winter. Handicap, £300; 1%- miles.—2-1 Regal Night, 7.0, car.' 7.6% (S. Waddell), 1; 1-2 Boulder_Dam, 9.0 (W. Broughton), 2; 5-4 Catterick Bridge, 7.2, car. 7.0 (H. Pearce), 3. Also started: 3-3 Kinneff, 4-5 Ivar, 6-6 Lenardo, 7-7 Circular Note, 9-9 Waipukurau, 8-8 Greenfeast, 10-10 Lutanist. Three-quarters of a length; half a length. Time, 2.11.

Final Hack Handicap, £200, 7 furlongs.— 7-7 Pink Bonnet, 8.0 (W. J. Mudford), 1; 4-3 Kincrop, 9.0 (S. Waddell), 2; 5-4 Piko Piko, 8.3 (V. Sellars), 3. > Also started: 1-1 Royal Pageant, 3-2 'Hula Chief, 6-6 Master Meruit, 2-5 Alondi, 9-9 Gale Duchesse, 8-8 Kinconda. Half a head; length. Time, 1.30.