SPORTING Signal Officer Wins Decisively

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 April 1946, Page 5

SPORTING Signal Officer Wins Decisively

Favoured for Great Autuinn Surprise Success to Atreus [SPECIAL TO “STAR.”] CHRISTCHURCH, April 23. Signal Officer performed an excellent trial for the Great Autumn Handicap to-day when he decisively won the Dominion Handicap on the second day of the Canterbury Jockey Club’s meeting. He was near the rear of a bunched field for the greater part of the journey, but soon after entering the straight he forged through on the fence to take over from the /pacemaker, Caithness, a furlong from the post and win going away. Catterick Bridge, fourth into the straight, finished on to cut Royal Victor out of second money, and Lance Wing came from the rear to secure fourth place from Al Sirat, with Honest Sal, Amor]ad and Caithness next. Master Dash was sent out at a short price for the four-horse Tasman Stakes, and he had a decisive win. Pensacola had a three lengths’ lead from him through the middle stages with Foxhaven and Golden Souvenir together in close attendance. Pensacola was still in front entering the straight from Master Dash with Golden Souvenir improving his position to be handy to Master Dash commencing the run* home. Pensacola soon compounded and Master Dash drew to the front. Golden Souvenir then put in a promising claim, but it was short-lived as the favourite was never off the bit and won in an effortless manner. Foxhaven was a creditable third, while Pensacola was some 10 lengths back. The first half mile was run in 52 3-5 and the second half in 47 4-5. Trained at Omoto. The Beau Pere gelding, Atreus, owned by Mr. D. McKendry, of Greymouth, and trained by W. J. McKendry at Omoto, was a surprise winner of the Christchurch Handicap, and he returned a dividend of just over a quarter of a century. Grill was made first choice but was never in a likely position and finished a moderate fourth. Atreus went to the front early and had his pursuers in trouble throughout. He was followed into the straight by Double Cross and Leigh 'Barton and the trio finished in that order with length margins between them. Grill was two lengths back, just in front of Grand Forest and Authentic.'

The first choice, Notary, was first away in the Wigram Hack Handicap, Fiery Knight, Balcherrie and Scotch Tweed being the slowest _to leave. Notary led into the straight from Lexia, Deep Harmony, Lyndon Lea. Denary and Espadrille. Notary was done with inside the last furlong and Denary and then Espadrille challenged Lexia. In an exciting tussle Denary wore down Lexia to beat her in the last stride and Espadrille was finishing on to be a close third. Half a length away Deep Harmony and Lyndon Lea were almost on terms, with Velvet Slipper and . Dash o’ Dink next. Main Sprint. There were only seven starters for the £750 Templeton Handicap, the strength of the field being indicated by the top weight carrying 7.9. Wantwood was sent out an evqn money favourite’and once the run home was commenced there was no doubt about the result. Wantwood followed Whitley and Burberry on to the course proper and gradually working his way to the front won easing up from Whitley. The West Coaster, Dinki Di, was a close third, three lengths in front of Derene, with Burberry and Periwig next. Rout, the other West Coast horse in the field, was hopelessly left. Lord Elgin, favourite for the Shirley Handicap, went to the front at the half mile and led into the straight from Ever Ready. Court Judge. Bittersweet, Avonbridge and Belle Leonne, with Thornbridge, who was slow to move off, most prominent of the remainder. Lord Elgin appeared to be in for a win a furlong from home but Thornbridge, unwinding a powerful run from the middle of the field, reached the front 50 yards from the post and won well. Belle Leonne put in some solid work over the final stages and got up to beat Lord Elgin on the post for second money. Sir Bernard was finishing on into fourth place, a length away, with Lost Art, Altruist, Lalla Meer an*d Belfort following. Close Finishes. One of the closest finishes staged at Riccarton for some time was provided by the Autumn Nursery Handicap. Julius Caesar,* Revolte, Malanui, Graeme, Palomino and Shining Ring were the most prominent on to the course proper. The firstnamed trio were fighting out the issue when Graeme pushed his way through to gain a very narrow verdict, while Grand Melee came with a late and brilliant run wide out to snatch second money from Re volte on the line. Malanui was a head away, a head in front of Julius Caesar. Indian Dawn and Fort Silver headed the remainder. Graeme is trained by V. A. Lee and owned by Mr. T. Rothwell, both formerly of Greymouth. The Opawa Handicap, highweight conditions, resulted in a spectacular finish. Prize Ring was the early leader and was still in charge turning for home from Carnforth, Lord Broiefort, Lady Welbeck, Wane and Olga’s Choice. Prize Ring was in trouble nearing the post and Wane headed him. Lady Welbeck then appeared with a late run and Lord Broiefort and Olga’s Choice also joined in. Wane; just lasted to hold off Lady Welbeck with Lord Broiefort close up a neck in front of Prize Ring, who was a similar distance in front of Olga’s Choice.

The track was in good order, though not as fast as on the first day. For an off day, the attendance was good, and the totalisator handled £85,618/10/-. No comparisons are possible, as the second day last year was held on a Saturday. The last time the second day was held on a week day was in 1941, when the totalisator handled £35,972/10/-. Remaining results:—

Dominion Handicap, of £1500; one mile and a quarter.—l-1 Signal Officer, 9.2 (R. J. Mackie), 1; 7-7 Catterick Bridge, 7.11 (£3. H. Brodie), 2; 2-2 Royal Victor, 8.1 (A. C. Mes>ervy), 3. Also started: 3-3 Al-Sirat, -6 Lance Wing, 4-4 Amorlad, 5-5

Caithness, 8-8 Honest Sal. Two lengths; neck. Lance Wing was fourth. Time, 2.5 2-5. Wigram Handicap, of £400; hack conditions; seven furlongs.—2-2 Denary, 7.8 (A. C. Messcrvy), 1; 3-3 Lexia, 8.3 (C. McDonald), 2; 14-13 Espadrille, 7.7, car. 7.3 (D. Stove), 3. Also started: 7-6 Money Bird, 1-1 Notary, 10-10 Te-Muka, 5-5 Balcherrie, 11-12 Dash o’ Dink, 13-14 .Lyndon Lea, 4-4 Armont, 8-8 Legal Label, 6-7 Air Lord and All Quality, 12-1! Deep Harmony, 15-15 Velvet Slipper, 9-9 Scotch Tweed, 17-1 ( Siegwood. 16-16 Fiery Knight. Neck; neck. Deep Harmony was fourth. Time-, 1.2 G 3-5. Templeton Handicap, of £750; six furlongs.—l-1 Wantwood, 7.0, car. 7.1 - (K. Nuttall), 1; 2-3 Whitley, 7.9 (M’ McClintock), 2; 6-6 Dinky Di, 7.0, car. 7.2| (H. Ford), 3. Also started: 3-2 Derene, 4-4 Burbeiry, 5-5 Rout. 7-7 Periwig. Half a length; length. Derene was. fourth. Time, 1.12 2-5.

Christchurch Handicap, of £500; one mile. —9-7 Atreus, car. 8.3 (C. Stokes), 1; 4-3 Double Cross, 7.11 (H. Ford), 2; 2-2 Leigh Barton, 8.4 (C. McDonald), 3. Also started: 6-6 Grand Forest, 10-10 Authentic, 1-1 Grill, 5-5 Good Friend, 3-4 Salary, 8-8 Justitia, 7-9 Fearless. Length; length. Grill was fourth. Time, 1.39 1-5.