METROPOLITAN TROTS

Evening Star, Issue 25638, 12 November 1945, Page 3

METROPOLITAN TROTS

HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL MEETING SURPRISE Hi SPRINT CHAMftSNSIHP HAPPY MAN WHIfS TO LIGHT (Special.) CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 11. The Metropolitan Trotting Club's meeting was concluded in fine weather, and there was an excellent attendance. The track was in good order.

The totalisator handled £141,727 10s, compared with £135,686 10s on the corresponding day last year. The total for the three days was £488,088 10s, compared with £290,751 for two days last year.

An inquiry was continued from the previous day into interference between Sea Max and Steel King in the Avon Stakes. W. J. Doyle, the driver of Sea Max, was ifioed £2O for careless driving. . Integrity won his first race for over a year when he triumphed in the principal event. His previous victory was at Greymouth, in 1944. Since then he ran secondl to Bronze Eagle in last year's New Zealand Cup, and second to Gold Bar this year. To-day's was his twelfth win, and his stake earnings bow total over £9,600. Sir Michael, winner of the Wellington Stakes last month, had a narrow victory in the New Zealand Derby. He is a half-brother Jo Bronze Eagle, and races in the colours of his 'breeder, Mr C. Tasker. Came From the Back. Loyal Nurse, favourite for the November Handicap, had to put up an outstanding performance to win. Bhe had practically the whole of the field in front of her with three furlongs to go, but once the run home was under way she drew to the front and went on for a very decisive win. Liberty Bond, in second place all the way, held on to beat Technique, who was pacemaker to well into the straight. Jeeves was a neck away, a head in front of Princess Maritza, with Play Safe close up. Castlebar, Traverse, and Jill broke up at the start, and the lastnamed was pulled up.

Fancied Horses Break. Dannv Malone was sent out first cKoice in tha Intermediate Handicap, but was never going freely and failed to gain a place. Hidden Note broke up at the start and failed to settle down, and Safari lost his chance by leaving his feet shortly after the start, while Strummer broke up after half a mile had been covered. "With a round to go Indian Arrow had charge from Royal Stone, but Jimmy Dillon made a fast" run on the outside rounding the home turn and led into the straight from Indian Arrow, Royal Stone, Flying Scott, Bancor, and Believe Me, all in a bunch. Royal Stone drew past Jimmy Dillon about 60 yards from the line but broke and her driver was not able to get down again. The mistake allowed Jimmy Dillon to regain the lead and to win by half a length. Bancor finished on into third place, clear of Flying Scott, with Danny Malone and Indian Arrow next. The judicial stewards held an inquiry into Royal Stone's galloping past the post and decided to relegate her into third place and to promote Bancor, who was two lengths away at the post to second place. Outsider's Success.

The William Hay ward Handicap was won by the outsider of the field of eight. This was Bulldozer, who had broken up in his two previous races. He went to the front with a mile to go and had a three lengths' lead entering the straight from Sea Born, with a similar gap to Medical Student, Loyal King, and Acropolis. Bulldozer was not in any danger in the run home and maintained his earlier margin to the post, winning easily from Medical Student, who wore down Sea Born nearing the line. Cabin Boy was next.

The Big Event. Integrity justified his favouritism for the Ollivier Handicap by a narrow but creditable success. With seven furlongs covered Clockwork rushed to the front, and, under a strong pull, led for the nWt circuit from Indian Clipper, Loyal Friend, Parshall, Double Peter, and Shadow Maid, with Integrity and Bronze Eagle in the rear but not tar away. Clockwork was still clear entering the straight from Shadow Maid, Integrity, War Guard and Indian Clipper, but was passed by Shadow Maid after the final furlong was tackled. Integrity then put a solid claim and, although kept up to his work by Shadow Maid, had a length to spare from the latter at the post. Knave of Diamonds put m some strong work in the straight to gam.™ money, four lengths m front of Guard, who beat Clockwork on the post. Indian Clipper, Burt Scott and Parshall followed, with Double Peter Loyal Friend, and. Bronze Eagle tailed off.

Thrilling Finish. First Globe, although not appearing as an acceptor, was included in the field for the New Zealand Derby, and! his bracket with Globe Direct was in most demand. Loyal Guest, Globe Direct, and Dandy Grattan broke at the start, and Right Royal broke after three furlongs had been covered. With a round to go, Sprayman had charge from Local Gold, Sir Michael, and Sir Gaillard, with Globe Direct and Highland Fling near the rear. Sprayman still had charge entering the straight from Sir Michael, First Globe, Local Gold, Town Talk, and Captain Gaillard, with Globe Direct at the head of another bunch. A thrilling finish ensued, Sir Michael getting up in the last stride to beat Sprayman with another narrow margin to First Globe. Captain Gaillard finished fast to gam fourth money, a head in front of Globe Direct, with another head to Local Gold Town Talk and' Dandy Grattan followed. Highland Fling was never likely.

Won Without Effort. The Ashhurst-trained .Willie Winkle was confidently supported to win the Sockburn Handicap, but after being one of the leaders to the home turn, faded out of the contest. Punctual broke up at the start, and Sea Gem followed suit after a furlong. Castigate got away well, but broke up after three furlongs. With a round to go, Willie Winkle was in front from Mae Wynne, Firewater, Modest Maid.-Steel King, Sea Gem, and Ordnance, but passing the three-furlong post Firewater had tnken charge from Steel King. Mae Wynne. Fnntoni, Sure Lady, and Forewarned. Firewater did not concede any around in the run home, and won without any effort. Steel King held on for second, with Mae Wynne a close third. Sure Lady was a length back, with another length to Fnntoni, Modest Maid, and Willie Winkie.

An exciting tussle was staged over the final stages of the Le Lievre Handicap. Scottish Emperor Jed into the straight from Cameronian, Scottish Lady, Golden Shadow, Pre-eminence Turoo, and Emulous. Scottish Lady drew out commencing the final furlong, and opening up a useful lead, appeared to be in for a comfortable win, but Emulous came with a late telling run and got up in the last two strides to snatch the honours from Scottish Lady on the post. Gallant Maid, who was hemmed in rounding the home turn, finished] very fast into third place, half a length' in front of Turco, with a similar margin to Golden Shadow and Zingarrie. Poppotunoa aud Pre-emi-nence were next. In spite of his failure in Friday's free-for-all, Gold Bar was made a good favourite for the Premier Sprint Championship, but be was again beaten by. an outsider, this time by Happy Man, who paid slightly over a quarter of a century. Gold Bar soon drew out and with a round to go was four lengths in front of Clockwork, Ronald Logan, Shadow Maid, and Happy Man. The last-named moved up into second place in the back stretch and reduced the gap to two lengths when the straight was reached. Gold Bar was in trouble a furlong from home. Happy Man gradually overhauled him to beat him narrowly but decisively. Haughty put in a telling run from well back to be a fair third, half a length in front of Shadow Maid, with Ronald! Logan and Loyal Friend next.

Concluding details

LE LIEVRE HANDICAP, £BSO. 2m. 3-3 Emulous, 36vds (Tatterson) ... 1 2-2—Scottish Lady, 12 (M. Holmes) 2 Maid, 12 (Stewart) ... 3

Also started: 10-10 Scotch Music scr, 8-7 Poppotunoa 12yds and Golden Shadow 24 bracketed, 11-11 Special Force 12, 6-6 Zingarrie 12 and Turco 48 bracketed, 1-1 Cameronian 24, 5-5 Nola ■Scott 24 and Scottish Emperor 36 bracketed, 4-4 Characteristic 36, 7-8 Pre-eminence 36. Half a length; length. Turco was fourth. Times: 4.22, 4.24 1-5, 4.24 2-5.

PREMIER SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIP, £9OO. IJm. 10-B—Happy Man (King) ... ... ] 1-I—Gold Bar (A. Holmes) ... 2 3-3—Haughty (Hooper) 3 Also started: 11-11 Burt Scott, 2-2 Clockwork, 5-5 Countless, 9-9 Double Peter, 8-10 Indian Clipper. 7-7 Loyal Friend, 4-4 Ronald Logan, 6-6 Shadow Maid. Half a length; six lengths. Shadow Maid was fourth. Times: 2.36 3-5, 2.36 3-51 2.39 1-5.