BANKS PENINSULA MEETING

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 March 1946, Page 7

BANKS PENINSULA MEETING

BENBECULA DISAPPOINTS SUPPORTERS Im ■

GUNGA DIN WINS GOING AWAY [SPECIAL TO “STAB."] CHRISTCHURCH, March 2. . Benbecula was considered unbeatable in the Peninsula Handicap, but a solid pace set by Derene, whom he chased for most of the way, had him in trouble when he made an effort to up to her in the straight, and he finished in -fifth place. Derene appeared likely to be in for a win until she commenced to weaken nearing the post, and Gunga Din, always in third place to the home run, closed on her, and after a brief struggle he won going away from her. Racket was slow early, and appeared to be hopelessly out of the reckoning, but she came home solidly for third mone’- in front of Palfrey, who was also affected by the fast pace. Al-Sirat was responsible for an outstanding performance in winning the Kinloch Handicap. He was last to move away and when Whitley entered the straight three lengths in front of Centime, he was still well back but improving his position. Continuing his run he gradually overhauled the leaders and had them beaten half a furlong from the post, winning by three lengths from Centime, who came in with an injured leg. Whitley was a good third with Double Cross and Swingalong next.

Third Successive Win.

Leigh Barton recorded his third successive win in three starts to date bv outclassing the- field for the Ahuriri Hack Handicap. He soon Went to the front and had a break of six lengths at the half mile. He drew further away in the run home and won by a wide margin without ever looking in danger. Fading Light made up a lot of ground to get up for second money from Armont, who also lost ground at the start. Leigh Barton is a stable-mate of Palm Bearer, who also won her first three races.

The Chokebore two-year-old Wide Range was sent out a strong favourite for the Bradley Stakes, but with several other runners, had his chance settled by a ragged despatch. All Quality was the early leader, and led into the run home where Deficiency, who was slow away, put in a determined claim. In a hard tussle, Deficiency got up on the post to beat All Quality, with Language finishing on into third place in front of Espadrille. The winner is a halfbrother by Defaulter to Synthetic and races in the same interests. Hot Favourite Beaten. Lady Welbeck registered her first success after several attempts early in the season when she brought about the defeat of a short-priced favourite in Peculate in the Terawera Highweight Handicap. Peculate led into the straight from Belle Leonne and Lady Welbeck. The last-named ran up to the fair in front, but bore out, and had to be straightened up again and it was only in the last stride that she secured a neck margin from Peculate with Belle Leonne a head away. Bannockburn was 10 lengths back. Lord Elgin was supported down to a short price in the Parkinson Hack Handicap, but was slow away and never recovered, finishing in fifth place. Falconbridge was first to enter the straight and appeared to be in for an overdue win, but Nightchild, who was always handy, unwound a determined run which landed him a winner on the post. Big Top was a close third. M. Holmes Wins Treble.

The three trotting contests held at the Banks Peninsula Racing Club’s meeting on Saturday were won by horses driven by M. Holmes. In the Wairewa Trot he won the first division with County Clare and the second with Valolo, and won the Waihora Trot with County Clare. He had a close call with County Clare in the first race, as Lyndale finished on after appearing to be beaten nearing the post, and County Clare only secured a nose margin. Fire Bar was a poor third in front of Tungsten Steel. Valolo outclassed her opponents in the second division, winning easily after being in front throughout, with Mountain Hall narrowly beating Minmi Boy for second money. Sura Wave led into the straight in the Waihora Park Trot but was soon passed by County Clare, who carried on for a comfortable win from Sura Wave with Lydnale again finishing on into third place in front of Worthy Jack and True Potts. Minmi Boy and Mavis Grattan broke up at the start. The weather was fine and the course was in excellent order. The totalisator investments were £41,471, compared with £43,686/10/- in the spring and £68,751 a year ago, when the meeting was held at Riccarton. Detailed results were:—

Bradley Stakes, of £250; special conditions; six furlongs: 2-1 Deficiency 8.4 (C. T. Wilson) 1; 7-8 All Quality 8.4 (E. Rosewarne) 2; 4-4 Language 8.4 (L. J. Ellis) 3. Also started: 6-7 Fortitude, 12-14 Real Night, 10-10 Robingay, 3-2 Wane, 11-11 Bootees, 5-5 Espadrille, 14-12 Nurse, 13-13 Pacific Star, 9-9 Penetrate, 1-3 Wide Range, 8-6 Regal Lily. Head; head. Espadrille fourth. Time 1.16.

Terawera Highweight Handicap, of £300; one mile and a quarter: 3-3 Lady Welbeck 9,3 (R. Johnstone) 1; 1-1 Peculate 10.6 (G. Ridgway) 2; 2-2 Belle Leonne 9.0 (R. Register) 3. Also started: 5-5 Gold Nugget, 4-4 Glencathray, 7-7 Campsie, 6-6 Bannockburn. Neck; head. Bannockburn fourth. Time 2.12. Wairewa Handicap Trot, of £330; 2.59 class; one mile and a quarter, first division: 1-1 County Clare scr (M. Holmes) 1; 2-2 Lyndale 24 (G. McKendry) 2; 4-3 Firebar scr (J. Davidson) 3. Also started: 15-12 Lodestone, 19-19 Dilbar, 5-5 Double Deck, 4-3 Sir Vesta, 16-12 Tungsten Steel,’ 8-7 News Agent, 14-11 Hardy Annual, 10-15 Harold Jinks, 10-14 Loyal Volo, 18-17 Lucky Potts, 6-6 Roygl Pageantry, 19-20 Scottish Brogue. Nose; seven lengths. Tungsten Steel fourth. Times: 2.52 4-5, 2.51 2.55. " second division: 1-1 Valola scr (M. Holmes) 1; 10-14 Mountain Hall scr (A. Motz) 2; 12-10 Minmi Boy 24 (R. Townley) 3. Also started: 15-12 Bonny Chimes, 3-4 Calworth, 19-19 Eileen Scott, 5-5 Rustic Gold, 4-3 Tikawe, 16-12 Golden Sheaf, 14-11 Maximum, 10-15 Limerick Pride, 9-8 Sandy’s Comet, 17-16 Sure Spec, 13-17 Queen Jewel, 19-20 Waitikiri, 7-9 Cue. Twelve lengths; half a length. Sandy’s Comet fourth. Times: 2.46 4-5, 2.49 2-5, 2.47 3-5. Peninsula Handicap, of £750; one mile and a quarter: 5-4 Gunga Din 7.8 car 7.10 (L. J. Ellis) 1; 6-6 Derene 7.0 (G. Hampton) 2; 3-3 Racket 7.3 (D. Stove) 3. Also started: 1-1 Benbecula, 7-»7 Whackie, 2-2 Palfrey, 4-5

Authentic. Three lengths; two lengths. Palfrey was fourth.. Time: 2.6 3-5.

Ahuriri Hack Handicap, of £300; seven furlongs: 1-1 Leigh Barton 8.2 car 7.13 (C. McDonald) 1; 3-3 Fading Light 7.7 (K. Nuttall) 2; 5-5 Armont 7.8 car. 7.6 (D. Thistoll) 3. Also started: 2-2 Avonbridge, 6-6 Air Lord, 4-4 Lex, 12-13 Notary, 8-7 Rampage, 9-9, Warfield , 10-10 Fluorescent, 13-12 Capitulate, 7-8 Mister John, 11-11 Miss Elterwater. Seven lengths; two lengths. Lex fourth. Time: 1.27 1-5.

Kinloch Handicap, of £400; seven furlongs: 1-1 Al Sirat 8.11 (C. T. Wilson) 1; 2-2 Centime 7.4 (K. Nuttall) 2; 4-3 Whitley 8.1 (M. McClintock) 3. Also started: 5-5 Double Cross, 3-4 Burberry, 7-6 Swingalong, 6-7 Fearless. Three lengths; neck. Double Cross fourth. Time 1.26 3-5.

Waihora Park Handicap Trot, of £350; 3.33 class; one mile and a half: 4-3 County Clare scr (M. Holmes) 1; 11-12 Sura Wave 12 (G. Withers) 2; 'l-1 Lyndale scr (G. McKendry) 3. Also started: 9-9 Gambler’s Fortune, 3- Lady Ngaio, 8-10 Le Compte, 5-4 Mavis Grattan, 6-6 Minmi Boy, 2-2 Prince Dale, True Potts and Quite Evident bracketed, 14-14 Sponsor, 12-11 True Comrade, 7-7 Worthy Jack, 13-13 Dominator, 10-8 Wee Jack. Three lengths; two lengths. Worthy Jack fourth. Times: 3.22 4- 3.22 2-5, 3.24. Parkinson Hack Handicap, of £300; nine furlongs: 6-6 Nightchild 7.7 car. 7.3 (H. Ford) 1; 3-2 Falconbridge 8.6 (C. T. Wilson) 2; 4-4 Big Top 8.1 car. 8.3 (C. Stokes) 3. Also started: 1-1 Lord Elgin, 5-5 Saint Joachim, 2-3 Detain, 8-8 Appeasement, 7-7 Count Roger. Half head; half a length. Saint Joachim fourth. Time 1.55.