PHOTO FINISH!

Evening Star, Issue 25939, 2 November 1946, Page 8

PHOTO FINISH!

INTEGRITY WIKS THE COP DESPERATE BATTLE WITH JOSEDALE GRATTAN COUNTY ANTRIM TAKES THE STAKES (Special.) -CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 2. In one of the most exciting finishes in the history of the New Zealand Trotting Cup, Integrity this afternoon annexed the richest • prize of light harness racing in the southern hemisphere. Integrity and the Aucklander, Josedale Grattan, fought it out nose and nose at the finish, and for the first time in the South Island the judge called on the photo-chart apparatus to confirm the decision. The huge crowd was in a fever as the two drivers, D. C. Watts and F. J. Smith, awaited the verdict. It is interesting to note that during the previous 10 years first favourites on the totalisator succeeded only twice. They were Indianapolis in 1936 and Bronze Eagle in 1944. Last year Gold Bar was .5-7 in the bettjng, and Haughty was 4-3 on both occasions 'she won. In 1941 Josedale Grattan was 3-3, in 1940 Marlene was 4-4, in 1939 Lucky Jack was 2-2,‘in 1938 Morello (coupled with King’s Play) was 2-2, and in 1937 Lucky Jack was 7-7. ■ There was a huge crowd at Adding- . t,nn for the big race. The day was beautifully fine and the track in firstclass order. VICTORIA HANDICAP, £I,OOO. 2m. 3-3— Plunder Bar, 12yds (M. C. (McTigue) 1 ... ... ... ... ... 1 1-I—iGlobe Direct, scr (M. Holmes). 2 9-9—Lou Hall, scr (W. A. Thomas) 3 Scr: Minmi Boy. Half a length; three lengths. Times: 4.19 1-5, 4.20 . 2-5, 4.21 3-5. After being back in eleventh place with a mile to go, Plunder,Bar moved tip smartly to follow Stimulant into the straight. Globe ■ Direct put in a strong challenge out in the centre of the track, but Plunder Bar on solidly to win by half a length., Nola Scott and Globe Direct were slow to fill their hopples, but the latter recovered quickly to be in fifth, place behind Tenpennybif, Stiriiulant, Scottish Emperor; and Worthy ’Hold with a mile and a-half to go. The order was practically unchanged until the final circuit was entered upon, where Gamble King, made a fast move on the out- * side of the field, and Stimulant took over the lead from Tenpennybit and Globe Direct. Plunder Bar moved into fourth position behind the horses named with three furlongs to run, and after following Stimulant into the straight he won narrowly from Globe Direct, who shaded Lou Hall, Stimulant, and Dillondale.

SPRING HANDICAP, £§so. lm. sf. 3-3—Toushay, 48yds (L. F. Berkett) 1 3-3—Endowed, 60yds (C,. R. Berkett) ... 2 2 r l—Royal Dale, 36yds (A. Cameron) ... ... 3

. . Scr: Frank Scott. Length; five lengths. . Times: 3.33. 2-5, 3.32 3-5, 3.36. First and second were coupled. The bracket, Toushay, arid Endowed, both made a good beginning an’d after working their way through the. big field were handy to the leaders with a round to go. Toushay went into the lead with .three furlongs to run and was closely followed into the straight by-' Endowed, this pair being five lengths clear of the field. Betty Maxegin, Strummer, Mamanuas, Bel Esprit, Maximum, Royal Stone, . Freckles, Toushay, Lee Berry, Castigate, and Royal Dale were all prominent for the first mile. Passing the post with six fiirlorigs to go Castigate broke up when ■with the leaders and Mamanuas took up the running with Lee Berry, Toushay, Betty. Maxedn, Strummer, Freckles, and ‘Endowed, with the remainder of the field well strung out. Toushay and Endowed turned for home clear of Freckles, and after a keen tussle Toushay got the verdict, while Endowed was well clear of Royal Dale, who came with a late run to snatch third prize from Freckles. RICCARTON STAKES, £750. ljm. 3- County Antrim, scr (L. O. Thomas) ... ... 1 6-7—Henry of Navarre, scr (M. C. McTigue) 2 4- —Gay Piper, scr (G. McKendry) 3 All started. Length and a-half; three lengths. Times : 2.44, 2.44, 2.5, 2.45 1-5. ~ County Antrim ran to the front shortly after the start, and carried on to lead. from end ■ to end. Snowflhke lost ground early, and after ranging up on the outside of the leaders over the final circuit she broke when the pressure was applied at the straight entrance. .Corinty.Antrim was followed over the early stages by Jay Piper, Henry of Navarre, Baadin, Palette, Antrim Hal!, Trixie Hall, Fillmore, and Snowflake. The .order was unchanged over the first mile except that Snowflake had moved up to be on the outside of the three leaders. County Antrim still had charge entering the ' straight from Henry of Navarre, Snowflake, Gay Piper, and Coral Princess. County- Antrim finished full of running to beat Henry of. Navarre, with Gay Piper in third place ahead of Coral Princess and Snowflake. NEW ZEALAND CUP, £7,500. 2m. 1- — lntegrity, Mr V. Lecming’s ch g by Trevor de Oro—Cheetah, aged,' 12yds (D. C. Watts) 1 2- —Josedale Grattan, Mr F. J. Smith’s b h, aged, scr (Owner) ... ... ... 2 5- Mr B. Grice’s b ni, : ' ’ aged, 36yds (G. McKendry) 3 Integrity was responsible for a sterling performance in lifting the 1946 Trotting Cup by a narrow margin from the 1941' winner, Josedale Grattan. Integrity was back in ninth position with a’round to go, but flew round the outside of the field going down the back the last time round to join Double Peter and Josedale Grattan in ■the- lead. A stirring finish resulted with Integrity gaining the decision after a photo-chart had been called for. The field went away in good line, except for Sea Born, with Double Peter taking .'up'the. role of pacemaker. Volo Senwood was tucked in on the rails next, followed by Bulldozer, Knave of Diamonds, Josedale Grattan, Clockwork, Happy Man, and Integrity. At the end of half a mile Double Peter was showing the way to Volo Senwood; Josedale Grattan, Knave of Diamonds, Bulldozer, Haughty, Clockwork, Countless, Happy Man, Integrity,; Burt Scott, Sea Born, and Bronze Eagle. This order was maintained until the field entered upon the final lap. At this stage Integrity was pulled out to make his winning run. and Haughty went with him. The issue was in doubt all the way down the straight, .with Josedale Grattan and' Integrity measuring strides just ahea‘(J of Haughty and Double Peter,

the placed horses flashing past the post in that order. Volo Senwood broke badly turning for home, and interfered with Knave of Diamonds, who fell and lost his driver, O. E. Hooper. CANTERBURY HANDICAP, £1,250. • 2m. 6-7 —Loyal Peter, 12yds 1 5-6—Dundee Sandy, 24yds ... 2 4-4—Navigate, 24yds 3 All started. Loyal Peter left the barrier smartly and immediately took up the running. He opened up a gap on the field the last time round and was not seriously challenged in the run home. Loyal Peter returned a dividend olf just over double figures. Pre-eminence, Liberty Bond. Scottish Lady, Sir Michael, Dunmore, and Navigate followed the winner over the early stages. Nothing had a chance with Loyal Peter in the run home, while Dundee Sandy finished fast to beat Navigate for second place.