SPORTING PRIVILEGE WINS IMPRESSIVELY AT ASHBURTON!

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 September 1946, Page 7

SPORTING PRIVILEGE WINS IMPRESSIVELY AT ASHBURTON!

THORNBRIDGE SCORES

WHITLEY OUTCLASSES THE SPRINTERS [SPECIAL TO STAB.] CHRISTCHURCH, September 14. Chief interest at the Ashburton meeting to-day was centred m the John Grigg Stakes, the first of the season’s classic races in the South island. This was won impressively by" the first choice, Privilege, who is raced on lease by Mr. J. Crawford, of Wellington, and is trained lor him at Riccarton. She went to the front early and led throughout but was stopping near the finish. Leeston and Palm Bearer were the slowest to move off and with two furlongs covered Privilege had charge from Fort Silver with Rahine, Hart Royal and Leeston next. Privilege was clear of Fort Silver entering the stiaight with Rahine, Leeston, Hart Royal, Palm Bearer and Lovemorn in a bunch next. Rahine drew up to Privilege commencing the final furlong and the pair had a hard tussle home. Rahine looked like wearing Privilege down nearing the post, out the latter responded to a final call and secured a half length verdict. Palm Bearer threw out a likely challenge a furlong from home, but could' not do better than beat Lovemorn by a head, for third money. Indian Dawn, Hart Royal and Foit Silver followed. Palm Bearer was probably the unlucky contestant as she was slow to get going, and when making up ground rounding the home turn, she was taken out wide by Hart Royal, and she had to carry on near the middle of the course. She may not have won in any case, but with better treatment she would have made the fipish much more interesting. Favourite Beaten. Bridge Acre was considered the best proposition in the Ashburton Handicap, but was beaten into third place after being a good way from the leaders over the first half of the journey. She put In some solid work over the last two furlongs, and but for being kept so far out early she would .have given more trouble. The race was won by Thornbridge, who was having his first race for some time, and who will be an interesting candidate for some of the big spring handicaps, including the New Zealand Cup. Lexia_went to the front from the barrier rise and led to the home turn from Double Cross, Joy Rosa, Authentic, and Thornbridge. Lexia was first to the straight entrance from Double Cross but did not carry on and Thornbridge showed out from Double Cross, Joy Rosa and Bridge Acre. Thornbridge appeared to be in for an easy win but had to be hard ridden in the last lew strides to ward off a late run by Joy Rosa. Bridge Acre also finished fast to be a close third with a gap to Double Cross and another to Swingalong. Notwithstanding his good recoid last season -Whitley was allowed to go out at a surprisingly good price in the Spring Handicap. This was his first race for some months, and that fact no doubt accounted for lack of support by the public. He went to the trout from the rise of the barrier and led throughout. He had a break of about four lengths turning lor home‘from Sanskrit, Grand Forest and Al Sirat. Sanskrit made a game attempt to bridge the gap but Whitley had too big an advantage to overcome. Grand Forest held on to beat oft' Al Sirat. Gold 2ft Souvenir was well back clear of Graeme, both being slow away. Over Hurdles.

Olga’s Choice was sent out favourite for the County Hurdles but afterlooking likelj r turning for home he weakened and finished m fourth place. Sea Dog, having his first race, acted as pacemaker for three parts of the journey and passed the half mile post just in-front df FoxspQciv with Montello dOio, Scindy Cape and Olga’s Choice close up. Foxspear had charge as soon as the run home was reached, and although ridden hard with the whip over the last furlong he was never in .danger of being overhauled. Sandy Cape - wore down Montello d’Oro from the I last fence and beat him comfortably for second money. Olga’s Choice was! half a length back and returned in a lame condition. The Novice Stakes was run m two divisions. In the first Lorna Leigh led into ' the straight from Cloud Song, Palomino, Le Sonnet and Grand Melee. Inside the final furlong Le Sonnet, a brother to Air Ace shot to the front and soon placed the issue beyond doubt. Grand Melee finished resolutely to gain second money from Palomino, with Lorna Leigh two lengths away. Wild Knock, Antibes, Paeanism, Penetrate, Robingay and Beautiful were most prominent entering the straight in the second division and with a furlong to go Robingay was in front, but Penetrate then challenged wide out and drew over to Robingay. After a short sti uggle Penetrate came away to win easily from Robingay, with Antibes a lair third clear of Beautiful. Avonbridge Surprises. The Penscroft Hack Handicap provided a periodical surprise from C. Emerson’s stable. Boon Companion led to the home turn from Botany, but when the straight was reached Avonbridge had charge from Botany, Tomahawk and Siegwood. Avonbridge increased his advantage early in the run home and had his pursuers in trouble from that stage. Botany'held on to second place clear of Siegwood, who beat Belfort by a length. Gay Joy and Tomahawk were next. The favourite, Detain, was slow away and was never in the picture. Desert Victory, Mister John and Sahdy’s Pride were also slow away. ’ . Trotting Events. In the Selma Trotting Handicap Glen Devon and Thelma Grattan led the field for a mile and a half, where the former dropped out, and Thelma Grattan and Make Believe entered the straight in front of Tolan, Rural Lady and Shadow Chimes. Make Believe appeared to be the winner a furlong from home, but Shadow Chimes pushed his way through on the fence to get up irf the last few strides to beat him. Lady Ngaio finished very fast from a good way back only to fail to overhaul Make Believe by a head. Rural Lady was two lengths back in front of Mis? chief, Thelma Grattan and Tolan,

Sir Carol was first a\yqy W the Rakaia Trot, and led for over a Hille, then giving way to Scholarship, who was first into the straight from Nyallo Scott, Mountain Hall, First Globe, Special Effort and Lady Ngaip. First Globe ran up to Scholarship inside the final furlong and gradually drew away to beat him fairly comfortably. Nyallo Scott finished fast to get to, withip half a length of Scholarship, with a break of three lengths to Silver Light, who was closely followed by Lady Ngaio and Mountain Hall. The favourite, Indigo, broke in the first furlong through being interfered with and was never in the picture. The club had a record meeting on Saturday, though a strong northwesterly wind, which continued with varying intensity throughout the day, made conditions rather unpleasant at times. The totalisator handled £50,888/10/-, as against £43,771 at the corresponding meeting last year. Detailed Results County Hurdle Handicap, of £250; one mile and five furlongs.—2 r 2 Foxspear 9.1 (R. Register) 1; 6-5 Sandy Cape 10.2 (E. Corboy) 2: 7-7 Montello d’Oro 9.0 (O. Ferrall) 3. Also started: 1-1 Olga’s Choice; 4-4 Amorlad; 3-5 Big Top; 5-6 Sea Dog; 8-8 Bank Raid- Two and a-half lengths; two and a half lengths. Olga’s Choice fourth. Time, 2.58 3-5. . Novice Stakes, of £300; six furlongs.—First division: 10-10 Le Sonnet 8.0 (K. Hickey) 1; 7-5 Grande Melee 8.0 car. 8.2> (C. Stokes) 2; 2-3 Palomino 8.0 (M. McClintock) 3. Also started: 6-1 Dres sßehearsal bracketed Robingay; 11-12 Beau Ideal; 14-14 Beechwood; 15.-16 Lady Coolbane; 19- Wee Mac; 21-22 Cloud Song; 18-18 Dunky; 1-2 Lorna Leigh; 9-8 Regal Lily; 8-9 Victory Bells. Two lengths; length. Lorna Leigh fourth. Time, 1.13 2-5. Second Division: 5-6 Penetrate 8.0 (O. Ferrall) 1; 6-1 Robingay 8.4 (K. Nuttall) 2: 4-7 Antibes 8.0 (W. Paterson) 3. Also started: 3-4 Beautiful; 20- Handshake; 23-23 Paeanism; 13-11 Duncan’s Quib; 22-21 Front Page; 12-13 Lady Melrose; 17-16 Lord Robin; 16-15 Rebel Knight; 9-8 Responsive; 8-9 Wild Knock. Two lengths; three lengths/ Beautiful fourth. Time, 1.14 2-5. Selma Trot Handicap, of £250: 4.53 class; two miles. —5-1 Shadow Chimes scr (D. Townley) 1; 13-13 Make Believe scr (C. M. Laing) 2; 4-3 Lady Ngaio 60 (B. Lynskey) 3. Also started: 17-18 Bay Jack; 6-6 Economist; 14-11 Glen Devon; 2-2 Hal Derby; 10-10 Lucky Dan; 9-12 Lyceum; 16-17 Magnificent; 8-7 Mischief; 3-8 Nimmo; 7-5 Rural Lady; 1-4 Steeplejack; 20-21 Swaledale; 15-16 Thelma Grattan; 19-19 Tolan; 21- Tungsten * Steel; 12-14 West Point; 18-15 Lodestone; 11-9 Tonnby. Length and a half; head. Rural Lady fourth. Times: 4.39, 4.39 2-5, 4.34 3-5.

Ashbuurton Handicap, Of £600; one mile and a quarter. 4- Thornbridge 7-7 (R. Brunell) 1 3-3 Joy Rosa 7.10 inc. 5 penalty (A. Stokes) .. • ■ • • 2 1- Bridge Acre 9.0 (C. T. Wilson) 3 Also started: 7-7 Honest Sal; 6-6 Salary; 2-2 Lexia: 5-4 Swingalong; 9- Pedantic; 8-8 Double Cross; 1010 Authentic; 11-11 The Shiner. Head; head. Double Cross fourth. Time, 2.5 2-5. John Grigg Stakes, of £350; for three-year-olds; seven furlongs.—l-1 Privilege 8.5 (C. T. Wilson) 1; 4-4 Rahine 8.5 (C. Stokes) 2; 3-3 Palm Bearer 8.5 (L. J. Ellis) 3. Also started: 8-8 Fort Silver; 6-6 Hart Royal; 7-7 Leeston; 9-9 Connaught; 2-2 Indian Dawn; 5-5 Lovemorn. Half length; two lengths. Lovemorn fourth. Time, 1.27 1-5. Penscroft Hack Handicap, of £225; one mile. —11-12 Avonbridge 7.11 (G. Hampton) 1; 10-10 Botany 9.0 car. 8.7 (R. Frame) 2; 13-13 Siegwood 7.8 car. 7.1 (A. M. Ellis) 3. Also started: 3- Desert Victory; 9-8 Tomahawk; 5- Peculate; 6-4 Belfort; 1-1 Detain; 16-14 Wildfire; 4-5 Gay Joy; 8-9 Pandemonium; 12-11 Mister John; 2- Great Chum; 15-16 Croupier’s Pride; 7-7 Spring Water; 17-17 Kinrara; 18-19 Turf Topic; 14-14 Boon Companion; 19-18 Sandy’s Pride. Three lengths; three lengths. Belfort fourth. Time, 1.40 1-5. Spring Handicap, of £350; seven furlongs.—3-3 Whitley 8.0 car. 7.9 (D. Stove) 1; 1-1 Sanskrit 7.10 car. 7.3 (R. Brunell) 2; 6-6 Grand Forest 7.11 (B. Langford) 3. Also started: 4- Golden Souvenir; 2-2 Al Sirat; 55 Graeme. Length; half length. Al Sirat fourth. Time, 1.24. Rakaia Trot Handicap, of £3OO, 3 33 class; one mile and a half.—2-3 First Globe scr (D. C. Watts) 1; 8-8 Scholarship scr (I. M. Scon) 2; 7-7 Nyallo Scott 48 (L. F. Berkett) o. Also started: 4-4 Ardglass and SilverLight; 5-5 Glowworm and Direct Medium; 1-1 Indigo; 3-2 Lady Ngaio, 10- Sir Carol; 9-9 Special Effort; 6- Mountain Hall; 13-13 Daisy Gold; 11- Wee Logan and Nelsonova; 1212 Veritas. Length and a half; half length. Silver Light fourth. Times, 3.16, 3.16 2-5, 3.12 3-5.