FINE ART’S TRACK RECORD

Evening Star, Issue 23124, 25 November 1938, Page 5

FINE ART’S TRACK RECORD

Logan Derby’s Popular Win Close Finishes at Forbury Park Successful Opening Day The spring meeting of the Forbury Park Trotting Club opened yesterday afternoon in bright sunshine and before an excellent crowd, which included many visitors from Canterbury, Southland, and North Otago. The track was never, in better condition, and general regret was expressed that the Australasian champion, Lawn Derby, was not on hand to make an attempt on the mile record. His owner was among the visitors, and made a number of complimentary remarks regarding the track and appointments. The racing was interesting, and most of the finishes close, but the defeat of several heavily backed horses was costly to the punters, and only two first favourites scored during the afternoon.

The principal handicap for which the Australian visitor Logan Derby was sent out an odds-on favourite, was an uninteresting race over the first mile and a-half, the whole field running in Indian file. Then Logan Derby gave the crowd an exhibition of the speed he can muster. From sixth place his rider pulled him out from the rails, and he ran round the field, catching Sea Gift on the home turn. He did not have much to spare at the finish, as Southern Smile, who had been running third all the way to the home turn, then put in a challenge, and the little Australian pacer had to be driven out to beat her by half a length. The race was run just to suit the visitor, the first half-mile taking Imin 10 2-osec, the mile 2min 18 l-osec, the mile and a-half 3min 25sec, and' Logan Derby was timed to run his last half in a tick over a minute. He was accorded an enthusiastic reception on returning to the enclosure.

Nell Grattan, and Morewa, with the favourite, who began very quickly, just on the tail of a bunched field. Wynan and Fremont, practically on even terms, led Nel'l Grattan and Golden Cross into the last lap, with the favourite still last. Fine Art moved up a little racing along the back, and bad to go outside the field racing across the top. Wynan and Fremont were together turning into the straight, clear of Nell Grattan and Wee Wrack, then the favourite commenced a run in earnest. Nell Grattan took charge about 100yds from the post, and looked to have the race in safe keeping, but Fine Art, finishing with a wonderful burst of speed, just got up to beat her a short neck, with Morewa half a lenafh away third. Golden Cross, Fremont, and Wynan were next. Times: 3min 14 4-ssec (track record), 3miu 17sec, 3min 17 l-ssec.

DOMINION HANDICAP, £200; second 35, third 10. In harness. For unhoppled trotters only. Class 5.36. One mile and five furlongs. 2—GYRATE, Messrs T. and W. B. M’Cone’s b g, by Nelson Bingen—Glade, aged, 48yds (I). C. Watts) 1 1— Swift Guy, Mr S. Easton’s b g, aged, 24yds (M. Holmes) ... 2 s—Golden Bingen, Mr J. F. Harris’s ch g, aged, scr (J. Walsh) 3 Also started: 6 Bosun scr, 4 Parrish Chimes 24yds, 3 Manna's Son 36. Betting: Swift Guy (1,474), Gyrate (876), Manna’s Song (760). Bosun and the favourite broke at the start, the latter losing at least Bsec before he struck his gait, and Manna’s Son broke shortly after the start. This left Golden Bingen, Gyrate, and Parrish Chimes in front, and at the end of three furlongs it looked as if they had the race to themselves. Entering the last lap, Swift Guy had made up his lost ground, and with three furlongs to go he ran into second place to Golden Bingen, and they were followed into the straight by Gyrate. Halfway down the running Swift Guy took charge and appeared to have the race in hand, when Gyrate caine with u late run and beat the odds-on favourite home a length. Golden Bingen was another length away third, then gaps to Parrish Shimes and Manna’s Son. Times: 3niin 41 2-ssec, 3min 43 4-ssec, 3rnin 46sec. DASH HANDICAP, £350; second 60, third 20. In harness. Class 2.44. One mile and a-quarter. 7—SATIN KING, Mr W. M‘Donald’s b g, by Erin’s King— Harold Wilkes mare, aged, sor (D. C. Watts) 1 2 Gienrossie, Mr J. MTlonald’u bg, aged, scr (L. O. Thomas) 2 s—Graham Direct, Mr .1. B. Westerraan’s b g, aged, scr (F. G. Holmes) 3 Also started: 4 Frisco Lady 12, 1 Morello 12, 3 Renown’s Best 12, 6 Rocks Ahead 24. ~' Betting: Morello (1,945), Gienrossie (865), Renown’s Best (803). Both Renown’s Best and Frisco Lady broke badly at the start, and Satiii King led out from Gienrossie, Graham Direct, and the favourite. At the end of two furlongs the last named broke. With three furlongs to go Graham Direct ran up into second place, and Satin King led him into the straight, with Gienrossie on Graham Direct’s wheel. Gienrossie made a good challenge in the straight, but failed to reach Satin King by a length. Graham Direct was half a length away third; then a gap to Rocks Ahead, the others a long way back. Times: 2min 44 2-sscc, 2rnin 44 4-ssec, 2min 45soc.

The outstanding performance during the afternoon was Fine Art’s sensational win in the Caversham Handicap and establishment of a new track record for a mile and a-half. He tailed the field for over nine furlongs, and then made a slightly forward move, but it-was not until entering on the last two furlongs that he was sent at top. Going wide outside several sulkies at the home turn, he still had five or six horses to head off, and with a wonderful burst of speed he got up in the last few strides to beat Nell Grattan a short neck in 3min 14 4-5 sec. The previous record for this distance was held by Iraq, who a year ago won the concluding race of the meeting, in 3min 16 2-ssec.

The last two races on the programme were ■ robbed of a lot of interest by cdds-on favourites in Swift Guy and Moreilo breaking so badly that their chances appeared to be hopeless. Swift Guy lost about 100yds at the start, hut gradually made up his lost ground, and actually took charge about halfway down the run home. This effort, however, left him with nothing in reserve to stall off a good challenge from Gyrate in the last 50yds. Moreilo went away well in his race, and was lying in a handy position to the leaders at the end of a furlong and a-half when he went to a bad break, and lost so much ground before settling down again that pursuit'of the leaders was hopeless. This race saw the veteran Satin King return to the winning list after a lapse of about three years since his driver last saluted the judge. He was the extreme outsider of the field and returned the only double-figure dividend of the afternoon.

The management, is to be congratulated upon the excellent conduct of the meeting, and particularly on punctuality observed, the totalisator being closed sharp on the scheduled times. The machine handled £18,573 10s, as compared with £16,442 10s on the corresponding day last year. Concluding results;—

SPRING HANDICAP, £200; second 35. third 10. In harness. Class 3.16 (3.34, 1J miles approx.). One mile and three furlongs. 3—PRIVATEER, Mr O. E. Hooper’s hr g, by Man o’ War ' —Nanette, 6yrs, scr (Owner) 1 11—Jesse Owens, Mr M. Ischia’s ch g, 6yrs, scr (D. Teahen) ... 2 s—Jovial, Mr E. C. M’Dermott’s blk m, syrs, scr (G. Mouritz) 3

Also started: 4 Glenastlo scr, 1 Sentiment scr, 13 Stalwart scr, 8 Stamboul scr, 9 Tritoma scr, 32 Colonel Axworthy 12yds, 6 Diversion 12, 10 Gay Avon 12, 2 Quest 12, 7 Mankind 36, 15 Silver Laddie 48.

Betting: Sentiment (877), Quest (718), Privateer (58S), Glcnastlo (579), Jovial (471), Diversion (541), Mankind (2C6).

Glenastle and Silver Laddie were slow to begin, and Jesse Owens led Stalwart, Jovial, Privateer, Tritoma, and Gay Avon through the straight. At the end of six furlongs Jovial was in charge,from Privateer, Quest, Stal wart, Jesse Owens, with the favourite near the tail of the field. Jovial and Privateer were in charge racing round the far turfa, then the latter broke, and Jesse Owens was just in front of Quest turning for home, with Jovial and Privateer next. Both Jesse Owens and Jovial left Quest halfway down the running, then Privateer got an opening next the rails, and finishing very fast got up in the last stride to beat Jesse Owens a head. Jovial was a neck away third, then Tritoma (two lengths away), Quest, and Mankind. Times--smin 1 4-ssec, 3min 2sec, 3min 2 l-sseo

CAVERSHAM HANDICAP, £225; second 40, third 15. In harness. Class 3.25. One mile and a-half. I—FINE ART, Mr J. F. Grant’s ch g, by Jack Potts—Golden Bond, 6yrs, 36yds (M. C. M’Tigue) 1 4 Nel) Grattan, Mr W. D. M’Leod’s blk m, aged, 12yds (S. A. Edwards) 2 5 Morewa. Mr D. Robertson’s b m, aged, 12yds (D. Teahen) 3 Also started : 9 Golden Cross scr, 7 Wee Wrack scr. 6 Wynan scr. 2 Fremont 12vds, 8 Harlequin 12, 3 Marlene 12 * ’

Betting: Fine Art (1,332), Fremont (1.300), Marlene (702), N'ell Grattan (535), Morewa (4GI). All went away well, ami Golden Cross led Wynan, Fremont, Wee Wrack,