RACING

Evening Star, Issue 25419, 26 February 1945, Page 3

RACING

/ METROPOLITAN TROTS ' CASTLEBAR'S OUTSIZE DIVIDEND NEAR CENTURY AND HALF The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club held its patriotic meeting at Addington on Saturday in fine weather and before an excellent attendance. The track was in good order. Castlebar, the winner of the Churchill Handicap, paid a win dividend of nearly a century and a-half. The totalisator investments amounted to £85,399. compared with £67,623 10s at "a similar meeting held on March 18 last year. Mixed Reception. '.The principal event, the United Nations’ Handicap, was' won well by Warfield, who paid double figures for a win. Jack’s. Pal led for over a mile and a-half, where Warfield and Gold Pot raced past him. Warfield was first into the straight from Gold Pot, Worthy Cross, Acropolis, and Lady Dawn. Of these Worthy Cross did the best, but ' he had no chance with Warfield, whose success met with a mixed reception. Lady Dawn was third, finishing on two lengths in front’ of Acropolis and Claremorris. Warform and Golden lliver ruined their chances by breaking up in the early . stages. Claremorris also lost a good deal of ground at the start. Loyal King broke twice during the running. Close Finish.

In a close finish, Gold Sheik hold on to win the Royal Navy Handicap. . Preeminence and Scottish Air broke up at the start, and Traverse piloted the field from the early stages. He was still in charge entering the straight from Gold Sheik, Punctual, Imperial Lady ; and Gallant Chief. He was in trouble inside the final furlong, and Gold Sheik, rushing to the front, appeared to be in for an easy win, but had to be driven right out to , hold off a late run by Imperial Lady, who just failed to get up ; Traverse made a renewed effort nearing the post,' and narrowly beat Punctual for third money, with Gallant Chief close up. Bad Start.

The Montgomery Handicap attracted a good-class field, and speculation was widely distributed. The race was spoilt to a large extent by Scott Axworthy, Worthy Cross, and Sports. Guide failing to go away correctly, while Loyal King again 'broke early in the running. Gallant-Chief acted as pacemaker to the home turn, where Watcher went to the front from In the Mood, Knave of Diamonds. and Cabin Boy. This was the order into the straight, but commencing the final furlong, In the Mood shot to the front and was slowing up at the post, allowing Cabin Bov to get within half a length of her. Watcher was a close third from Knave of Diamonds and Warfield. End to End.

Lee Berry won the Air Force Handicap from end to end by a wide margin. He was bracketed with Indian Arrow, who lost his chance by breaking at the start. Zona Grattan ran a solid Tace into’ second place, with (Millie Wrack next. Bancor, George Arliss, Believe Me, Flying Scott, Danny Malone, and Firewater all broke at some stage of the race. Exciting Tussle. Pencarrow went to the front early in the Stalin Handicap, and leYl into the straight from Mine Host, Gay Pal, and.Leonin. In an exciting tussle Gay Pal' squeezed ’through'Jn the last 50 yards to gain a neck verdict from Pencarrow, who narrowly beat Leonin. Mine Host was two lengths away in front of Wee Peg, who was one of the last to leave the mark. Mareeta and King’s Messenger were also slow to move off, and Loyal Chief broke up early in the race. Head Victory.,

Lucky Loyal led into tho straight in the Army Handicap from Hargood’s Pride, Larissa, Technique, Caledonian Girl, and Jeeves. The last-named put in some telling work in the straight and only failed to overhaul Lucky Loyal by a* head. Nola Scott came up to gain third money, beating Broniley Boy by a head. Larissa headed the remainder. Lucky Gem and Cinchona broke at the start, and, trailed the field throughout. Play Safe and Loyal Nurse broke during the race. 1 ’ Broke Near Post.

Invigorator shot to the front a few chains from the post id the Roosevelt Handicap, but broke up, and the Ash-hurst-trained Willie Winkie went on to record a comfortable win. In a close finish for the minor places. Mae Wynne got up to gain second money from Casabianca, who led into the straight, with .Timmy Dillon a head away, another head, in front of Invigorator. Judgment, Nationalist, Paul Parrish, and Castigate broke up at the start. The Big Surprise.

Castlebar scored a surprise win in tne Churchill Handicap, and paid close on a century and a-half. Cameronian went to the front half a mile from home, and led! into the straight from Castlebar, Dinghy, and Max Baer. Castlebar ran past Cameronian inside the last furlong-, and carried on for an easy win from Dinghy, who got up to beat Cameronian on the post. Max Baer was some 15 lengths back. The winner’s time for a mile and five furlongs closely approaches a record , for the course.

Concluding details: — - . Churchill Handicap, £350. lm sf. 11-13 Castlebar, 36yds (H. Williams) 1, 1-1 Dinghy, 12 (J-. McLennan) 2, 4-4 Cameronian, scr (L. 0. Thomas) 3. Scr: Characteristic. Two lengths; head. Max Baer was fourth. Time, 3.27 4-5. ' Montgomery Handicap, £6OO. lim. -—2-2 In the Mood, scr (W. J.. Doyle) 1, 4- Cabin Boy, 12yds (P. Gallagher) 2, 5- Watcher, scr (M. Holmes) 3. Scr: Golden River, Warform, Jack’s Pal, Lady Dawn, Integrity. Half a length; two lengths. Knave of Diamonds was fourth. Time, 2.39 2-5.