WAIHOPAI PRINCIPAL WINNER AT WAIMATE HUNT MEETING

Evening Star, Issue 26152, 14 July 1947, Page 3

WAIHOPAI PRINCIPAL WINNER AT WAIMATE HUNT MEETING

The Waimate Hunt Club’s meeting opened in ideal weather, but the track was heavy. There was a record attendance. Concluding results: — WAIMATE HUNT CUP STEEPLECHASE, £2OO. About 2lm. 3- — Waihopai, 9.1 (Hillis), bracketed with Ballyaggan 1 2-3—The Raker, 11.3 (Corboy) .... 2 1-I—Court Dress, 10.11 (Mr Curtis) 3 Scr: Royal Donald, Topple. Six lengths; half a length. Time, 5.8. WAIHAO HACK HANDICAP, £lO5. 6f. 1- Sandy’s Pride, 8.8 (R. J. Cochrane) 1 7-6—Coxswain, 8.4 (A. Stokes) ... 2 5- —Soft Light, 8.4 (J. M. Cappie) 3 Scr: Homestead. Three lengths; one length. Time, 1.19 3-5. MORVEN HANDICAP, £125. lm 75yds. 6- —Sir Tague, 7.8 (A. Stokes) ... 1 4- Dash o’ Dink, 7.7 (A. M. Ellis) 2 2- —Lord Dundonald, 8.2 (E. Hunt) ... 3 Length; length. Scr: Hunting Charm, Periwig,, Burberry. Time, 1.53 1-5. NGAHKRE HACK AND HUNTERS’ STEEPLECHASE, £l4O. About 2lm. 3- —Bravura, 9.7 (W. Barr) 1 4- —Topple, 9.0 (B. Langford) ... 2 2-I—Appeasement, 9.12 (A. Stove) 3 Scr : The Raker, Tamerlane. Sir Saladin, Waihopai,' Sunstorm, Ballyaggan. Three lengths and 50yds. Time, 5.9 1-5. REDCLIFF HACK AND HUNTERS’ FLAT HANDICAP, £IOO. lm 75yds.

1- — Wee Mac, 8.5 (Corboy) ... 1 2- —Bcechwood, 8.0 (P. Jones) ... 2 8-10—Dowlair, 8.0 (Wright) 3 Also started: 5-5 Solver, 4-4 Aldis Lamp, 6-7 Turf Topic, 9-8 Kosciusko, 3-3 Vanity King, IJ-14 Corry-choillie, 7-6 Jolyan, 10-9 Homestead. Two lengths, 12 lengths. Time, 1.55 1-5. WINTER TROT, £lls. l}in. —First Division.— 1- —All Ashore, scr (Gunning) ... 1 2- —EI Sandra, 36yds (Carmichael), coupled with Sandv Drive ... 2 Times: 3.39 4-5, 3.40‘2-5. —Second Division.— 6-6— Sea Craft, C. M. Laing, coupled with Special Match 1 —-Blue Match, scr (Brosnan) ... 2 Times: 3.37, 3.38 3-5. COMMENTARY ON THE RUNNING (Special.) CHRISTCHURCH, July 12. An unusually big field of 13 paraded for the Studholme Hack and Hunters’ Hurdles, and investors fared reasonably well. _ Periwig, having his first race as a jumper, was the leader for the first half-mile, but he gave way to John« Gav with a round to go. ‘The latter screwed badly at the hurdle in front of the stands and. lost his place, and Periwig again took charge, to remain in front for the remander of the journey. He was followed into the straight by Turf Topic, Lord Broiefort, and Kassai. There was no change in the run home, Periwig having a comfortable win from Turf Topic, .with Lord Broiefort beating Kassai by half a length for third. Beechwood Untroubled. Beechwood was one of the early beginners in the Novice Stakes, leading in to the straight clear of Bright News, Royal Saleve, and Vanity King. He was never in danger of being challenged. Bright News held on for second with heads separating Vanity King, Renege, and Royal Saleve. Tl;e winner is a four-year gelding uy Lang Bian, and is raced on lease from D. Grant by his trainers, Register and Hanrahan.

Spectacular Race. The Waimate Hunt Cup Steeplechase, although won easily, provided the most spectacular race on the course for many years. Waihopai jumped to the front a mile from home and soon opened up a big gap. He was several lengths clear , entering the straight from The Raker, Courtdress, the Ballyaggan. The Raker was responsible for a solid effort in the last half-mile, but could not make, much impression on the leader. Courtdress. ridden by his owner, made up a lot of ground over the closing stages, and had The (Raker all'out to beat him by half a length. There was then a gap to Ballyaggan, who was bracketed with the winner. Sunstorm ran off at the second fence. Staunch Favourite.

Sandy’s Pride justified her staunch favouritism for the Waihao Hack by a comfortable win. Coxswain had a substantial lead from her rounding the •home turn, but once into the straight Sandy’s Pride gathered him in to win going away. Soft Light was a good third, three lengths in front of Royal Sal and Connaught together. Leigh Note lost her' rider shortly after the start, . and Irish King fell near the half-mile post, Bright News falling over him. Good Cast Fails.

Good Cast was the best supported in the Morven Handicap, but was never in a likely position. Lord Dundonald went to the front early, and rounding the home turn was some 10 lengths in front of Dash o’ Dink and Sir Tague, with another gap to All Quality and Sphere. The leader commenced to weaken starting on the final furlong, and Dash o’ Dink had his measure. Then Sir Tague came with a telling run to draw to the front to win fairly comfortably front Dash o’ Dink, with. Lord Dundonald next, six lengths in front of All Quality. This was Sir Tague’s first race since being trained at Riccartou by E. J. Jennings. Easy for Bravura.

Bravura went to the front after two fences in the Ngahere Hack and Hunters’ Steeplechase, and with half the journey covered was some 20 lengths in Trout of Irish Wit and Topple. Irish Wit commenced to leduce the gap with a mile to go, but crashed at the second of the stand doubles. Topple, a brother to Sphere, completed his task well for a novice, but Bravura, although tiring badly, was not in danger. Appeasement was always under pressure and was several lengths away, a poor third. Firechase fell at the second fence. Bravura made only one bad jump half a mile from home, and his rider narrowly m'=«ed losing his seat. Irish Wit was going well when he misjumped at a light brush. He had not been asked for an effort up to that stage.

Wee Mac in the Redcliff. Wee Mac outclassed his opponenis over the last mile of the Redcliff Hack and Hunters’ Flat. He had. a clear advantage entering the straight from Kosciusko. Vanity King, and Aldis Lamp, and was not threatened in the run home. Beechwood came from the "ihldle of the field to beat easily Dowlair for second money, with Jolyon a length away in front of Aldis Lamp.

Trot in Divisions. The Winter Trot had to be run in two divisions. The first was won l-y All Ashore, trained at Tenmka by ‘l. H. Gunning. He followed El Sandra into the straight and headed him inside the final furlong. Supplement was a fair third, two lengths in front of Templar. Seaeraft was responsible foi a sterling performance in winning the second division. He was one of the last to move off and appeared to be out of the contest with less than a mile to go, but made up ground rapidly in the back stretch. When the straight was reached he was in second place to Blue Match, with Sandy Drive next. Seaeraft wore down the leader in the last furlong ami heat him going away. Sandy Drive held on for third, two lengths in front of Arawa Lad and Bonny Gold together.