REREWAKA SCORES

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 103, 29 October 1945, Page 10

REREWAKA SCORES

BEST UNHOPPLED TROTTER

The hitherto unreliable Rerewaka registered a sound performance in the Nai Nai Handicap, being in the van practically throughout. Trotting solidly, he never looked like making a mistake, and won untroubled from Bel Esprit, who, after being, in third or fourth place for most of the journey, held on just long enough to hold Off the favourite. Toushay, who finished on after being a long way back entering the straight. Suzerain, who had every chance, being in the leading bunch throughout, lacked a finishing effort and was beaten into fourth. After breaking in the rarly stages Valola displayed plenty of speed to join the winner in the lead at the half-mile, but soon faded out in the straight. Aerial Scott made mistakes during the journey, while Tolerate and "All Credit similarly spoilt their chances. A LARGE DIVIDEND.

Backers were well off the, mark in the Sharpe Handicap, when Larry Grattan, who paid over a quarter of a century, came with an overwhelming

run at the finish to score decisively. It was a good performance on the part of the winner who, after being in fifth place at the* half-mile, tangled and thereby lost many lengths. The runner-up,-Rawehe Grattan, also put up a fine effort as she was a long back early and, after making a sustained run in the straight, she just failed to retain her lead over the last 100 yards. After attending the pacemaker, Professional, to the turn, Indian Quest ran through in the straight and was the leader with a furlong to go, but he failed to pull out an extra effort at. the finish. Professional faded out in the run home to be fourth, followed by Daphne Grattan, the favourite, Lucky Meg, who dropped back at the half-mile, Rangi's Star, and Lord Peterson

AN EASY WIN.

Driven with supreme confidence, the warm favourite Water Ranger was never asked to do his best to win Railway Handicap. Setting a slow pace, Certify made the running for the greater part of the journey, followed by Fulwood, Diamond Trust, Noble Reta, and Water Ranger in Indian file. Noble Reta was the first to make a move and she improved her position to follow Certify and Diamond Trust at the half-mile. Diamond Trust was the first to turn for home, but Water Ranger quickly ranged up on the outside and had the issue v/ell in hand a long way from the post. Noble Reta was a moderate third, with the tiring Certify next, and Fulwood beaten oil.

EXCITING FINISH

The-chief event, the Sir. Thomasj.-Wil-ford Memorial Handicap, provided a thrilling finish in which the first hve horses finished practically in line. The winner, Golden Shadow, received the run of the race, being in fourth position on the rails practically throughout and,' getting an opening half-way down the straight, he fought on courageously to beat the favourite, Scottish Emperor, by the narrowest of margins. After beginning well, Scotr tish Emperor soon ran into a handy position and.vhen he got to the front in the straight seemed sure to win, but he just failed in the last few: strides. After dashing into the iead half a mile from home, Characteristic stayed on gamely to . hold off Zingarrie, who, after-losing; a.-little ground at. the start, went1 one of..bis best races. Bel Hamed, who was also a little slow to move off, paced a: fine race and, after being cramped for room in the straight, seemed a shade unlucky not. to be closer than fifth. After making a sharp run to be in the lead early Imperial Lady faded out in the run home, while Jack's Son, after making a promising move on the outside at the turn, also failed to go on with it. FAVOURITES BEATEN.

The third fancy Sir Michael finished too solidly for the other three-year-olds in the Wellington Stakes, and his win was clear cut. Highland Fling lost several lengths at the start, while First Globe went away in a tangle, the early running being taken up by Scholarship from Town Talk, Sir Michael, Captain Gaillard, and Globe. Direct, with ten lengths to Highland Fling. At the half-mile Town Talk went up to join Scholarship in the lead with Globe Direct improving into third place and Sir Michael a couple of lengths away. The two leaders weakened after entering the straight and Sir Michael joined issue with Globe Direct; the former finished the better and won going away. Highland Fling, who was never pacing kindly at> any stage, came into the picture late to be a poor third just ahead of Town Talk. The next to finish were Scholarship and Captain Gaillard, with First Globe a long way back.

A LOCAL SUCCESS

The locally-trained Bel Esprit scored a well-deserved success in the Taita Handicap, reversing the positions with Rerewaka, who had beaten him earlier in the day in the Nai Nai Handicap. Bel Esprit was, always within striking distance of >the leaders, and, after fighting off Aerial Scott in the straight, he stayed on under a hard drive to withstand a determined challenge by Rerewaka. After making a lapse in the first round, Rerewaka stood the leaders up a big start over the last two furlongs and looked unlucky not to repeat his earlier success. Aerial Scott went an improved race, and with half the journey over was travelling like a winner in second place behind All Credit, but he failed to pull out a finishing effort in the straight. After being the pacemaker until the turn All Credit faded to be a moderate fourth. Playful and Port Chalmers were next. Quite Right and Vaiola. after being slow to move off, further ruined their chances by failing to trot evenly. A HARD FINISH.

Lucky Meg, who was unlucky _in breaking a strap when in a winning position in the Sharpe Handicapearlier in the day, made amends by

taking the Belmont Handicap under a hard drive from Lord Peterson. The winner began smartly, and, after being allowed to drop in behind the leaders, she came through on the inside at the distance to withstand a determined challenge from Lord Peterson, who after making up his handicap quickly was always within range over the last half-mile. Daphne Grattan, the back-marker, came from well back at the turn to get third" from Indian Quest, who had assisted in the early pacemaking. Professional and the favourite, Colin Waters, were next, after being the first to turn for home. The earlier winner, Larry Grattan. loomed up in third place at the turn, but he failed to sustain his effort.

A SPIRITED DUEL,

The favourites, Jack's Son and Characteristic, fought out a stirring finish in the concluding event, the Wellington Handicap, the latter finishing a shade the better and winning by a narrow margin. Characteristic made a fast move to join Jack's Son in the lead half a mile from home, and they raced neck and neck for the remainder of the journey. Modern Maid, Gallant Maid.

Syncopate, and Golden Shadow were their closest attendants at the turn, but it was left to Imperial Lady, who came with a belated challenge after receiving a rocky passage early, to get third from Zingarrie, who also appeared on the scene late. Golden Shadow, Modern Parrish, and Gallant Maid finished in that order next. THE RESULTS. The track was fast, and good times were registered. The totalisator handled £86,905 as against £59,156 last year, an increase of £27,749. The results were:— ■, Nai Nai Handicap, £275; 3.43 class; IV 2 miles'.—s-4 Rerewaka, scr (W. J. Doyle), 1; 7-6' Bel Esprit, 24 (D. G. Nyhan), 2; 1-1 Toushay, 60 (L. F. Berkett), 3. Also started 6-7 Vaiola, 12-12 Betterwah, 8-8 Port Chalmers, 4-3 Tolerate, 9-9 All Credit, 2-2 Siwerain, 3-5 Aerial Scott, 10-10 Playful, 11-11 Axworthy Star. Two lengths; half. Suzerain was fourth. Times: 3.26, 3.24 2-5, 3.23. Winner trained by W. J. Doyle, Leeston. Sharpe Handicap, £275; 3.16 class; 1 mile and 3 furlongs.—lo-10 Larry Grattan, scr (K. Young), 1; 13-11 Rawene Grattan, scr (D. (J. Xyhan), 2; 6-6 Indian Quest, scr (D. McKendry), 3. Also started: 2-2 Remlap, 16-10 Ayisha, 5-4 Professional, 15-14 Paratax, 7-5 Lucky Scott, 4-7 Nelsonova, 1-1 Lucky Meg. 9-9 Cue, 18-17 Little Trevor, 14-14 Highland Pride, 8-S Rangi's Star, 12-12 L'Amour, 17-18 Admiral Fraser, 3-3 Lord Peterson, 11-13 Daphne Grattan. One length; three-quarters Professional was fourth. Times: 3.6 1-5, 3.6 2-5, 3.6 3-5. Winner trained by J. YouniS, Christchiirch.' ..Railway Handicap, £400; 4.44 class; 2 miles.—l-1 Water Ranger, 48 (P. G. O'Reilly), 1; 5-5 Diamond Trust, 24 (A. W. Broughton), 2; 2^2 Xnble Reta, ,48 (D; ..- A. Morland), 3. Also' started : 4-4.r Certify' 3-3" Fulwood. Three lengths; -one and a; half. Certify was fourth. Times: 4.32,. 4:35; 4.34. Winner-trained by P. G. O'Reilly, Rakaia. |

SIR THOMAS YVILFORD MEMORIAL HANDICAP', £700: 3.22 class; V/j miles.

j_4_(; o lden Shadow, scr (R. Young) 1 l_l_Scottish Emperor, 24 (G. B. Noble) 2 I_s—Characteristic,, 12 (R. Donald) 3

Also started: 4-5 Syncopate, bracketed with third horse, 3-3 Jack's Son, 9-9 Stuart Lee, 6-6 Bel Hamed. 10-10 Gallant Maid, 8-8 Zingarrie, 3-2 Imperial Lady and Prince Grattan, bracketed, 7-7 Jack High, l-l Nola Scott, bracketed with second horse. Half a head: neck. Zingarrie was fourth. Times: 3.18, 3.16 1-5, 3.17 3-5. Winner trained by J. Young, Christchurch.

WELLINGTON STAKES,

£600; for three-

year-olds; \>h miles. 3—3—Slr Michael. (It. Young) I—l—-Globe Direct (O. K. Hooper)

2—2—Highland Fling (D. McKendry)

Also started: 6-6 Captain Gaillard, 5-5 Scholarship, 4-4 Town Talk, 1-1 First Globe, bracketed with second horse. Length and a half; three. Town .Talk was fourth. Times: 3.16 1-5, 3.16 3-5, 3.17 l-o. Winner trained by C. A. Tasker, Christehurch. Taita Handicap, £275; 4.59 class; 2 miles.— 2-1 Bel Esprit, 36 (D. G. Nyhan), 1; 1-2 Rerewaka, rebandicap 60 (W. J. Doyle), 2; 5-o Aerial Scott, 60 (D. Greenhorn), 3. Aleo started: 6-6 Port Chalmers, 3-3 Quite Rl»ht, 9-9' Betterwah, 4-4 Vaiola, 7-8 All Credit, 8-7. Playful. Length; three and a half lengths. Quite Right was fourth. Times: 4.43, 4.41 2-5, 4.44. Winner trained by D. G. Nyhan. Petone. Belmont Handicap, £275; 3.37 class; 1% miles.—s-4 Lucky Meg, scr (D. C. Watts). 1; 4-5 Lord Peterson, 24 (O. E. Hooper), 2; 9-9 Daphne Grattan, 48 (I. Morrison), 3. Also started: 14-15 Ayisha, 6-6 Professional. 13-13 Paratax, 2-2 Indian Quest, 1-1 Colin. Waters, 7-7 Lucky Scott, 12.-11 Volo Silk, 16-16 Little Trevor, 11-12 Highland Pride, 3-3 Larry Grattan, rehandicap 48, 8-8" 'langi's Star, 15-14 Admiral Fraser, 10-10 L'Amour. Length; two and a half lengths. Indian Quest was fourth Times: 3.19 4-5, 3.18, 3.17. Winner trained Iby K. B. Berry, Christchurch.

WELLINGTON HANDICAP, £500; 3.1 class;

1 mile and 3 furlongs. 2—2—Characteristic, 24 (K. Donald)

l—l—.Tack's Son, scr, (H. G. Walker) 3_3— Imperial Lady, 24 (A. Holmes)

Also started: 8-8 Modern Parrish, 5-4 Elation, 2-2 Syncopate, bracketed with the winner, 4-5 Golden Shadow, rehandicap 36, 7-7 Zingarrie, 6-6 Bel Hamed, 9-0 Gallant Maid. Neck; half a length. Zinjrarrie was fourth Times: 2.57 1-5, 2.59 2-5, 2.58. Winner trained by C. S. Donald. Christchurch.