STEWARD SURPRISES

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 130, 4 June 1945, Page 8

STEWARD SURPRISES

DUNEDIN'S OPENING

AMORLAD WINS NARROWLY

(Special to "The Post")

DUNEDIN, June 2. Brilliance was at a discount at Wingatui today, horses with the strength necessary to pull tired feet out of the sodden, clinging turf at the end of hard races under trying conditions coming into their own. ' Though several of the winners were at long odds, there were some spirited finishes, particularly in the Birthday Handicap, when Amorlad gained a laststride win from Sir Saladin. The Otago Steeplechase was a lifeless race, with Steward winning easily, and Arabian Night outclassed the Otago Hurdles field. Both Steward and Arabian Night were maiden jumpers. Steward ran into the lead at the start of the Otago Steeplechase, but was soon steadied and trailed the leader, Safe Light, until the end of the first round, where he went to the front and was never afterwards troubled. He jumped cleanly to run in ,ten lengths clear of Roman Son. Steward had been placed in three earlier attempts over country, and will improve. Roman Son had been troubled by soreness and was not schooled before the meeting. He was never further back than third after the field had settled down, but was always giving the leader a. good break, and could make no impression on the winner over the final half-mile, though he beat the rest very easily. Hollyford jumped patchily, but battled on for third, with Shadow Boy, who was never, dangerous, at the head of the others. True Range was not forv/ard enough to run on under his weight, and his bracketed mate, Noko, dropped his rider at the post and rails starting the final half-mile, though he was then in a hopeless position. Two other well-supported candidates, Phil Boa and Strip, were eliminated through faulty leaps. Phil Boa bumped his rider off at the first fence, while the post and rails at the bottom of the straight laid Strip low. Amorlad was lucky to win the Birthday Handicap, yet he would have been: unlucky had he failed. He was under a strong hold at the rear of the field for the first mile, and up to that stage was giving the leaders a start of eight lengths. When urged along he raced up brilliantly to be third to Hunting Charm and Sir Saladin starting the run home, but was then disappon>'d when trying to get through on the inside. His task .looked hopeless when taken to the outside, but he fought on, and when Sir Saladin weakened badly just short of the post he got his head in front in the final stride. Sir Saladin was much more favourably placed all the way than Amorlad, having the advantage of the pacemaking,- first by Alpine and then by Hunting Charm, but he tired badly in-the final 50' yards, though he seems to have recovered his form. Pride o* Mossburn was a. poor third, with Platform, who veered over to the outside rail and then finished' very fast, next. Arabian Night had the finish of the Otago Hurdles to himself, forcing the pace over the last five furlongs to win by five lengths from Inscrutable, who had no difficulty in racing past the tiring Maharajah, though he was under pressure in an effort to reach the leader and never got near enough to challenge. ,■■»-•, Joygiver, a half-brother by Man s Pal to Steward, returned to form by surprising in the Winter Handicap, though he was aided by the fact that the start was a poor one, several riders being under the impression that it was a false start. Joygiver was always handily placed behind the leaders, and finished strongly to wear Great Coon down and v/in by a neck. Bridgehead was well beaten into third place, and Minority and Ring Chief, ran themselves out helping Great Coon with the pacemaking. Dearo, Air Ace, and Tring were the worst sufferers at the Stait THE DETAILED RESULTS. The first day of the Dunedin Jockey Club's Meeting was held in fine but bleak weather. The totalisator handled £45,510, compared with £38,974 10s last'year. ~.,-, ~ Following are the detailed results:— Tahuna Hack and Hunters' Steeplechase, £300; Itt miles.—B-7 Whiphand, 9.0 (F. J.