DAPHNE GRATTAN HAD RUNAWAY WIN AT AWAPUNI

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 April 1947, Page 5

DAPHNE GRATTAN HAD RUNAWAY WIN AT AWAPUNI

Daphne Grattan registererd her most convincing victory to date 'when she outclassed the opposition in the Woodfield Memorial, main attraction on the opening day of the Manawatu Trotting Club’s annual meeting at Awapuni on Saturday. The victory was too clear-cut for any semblance of excuse for the beaten candidates. In actual fact the race was a foregone conclusion with a mile to go, for at this stage Daphne Grattan had .gained an advantage of fully 15 lengths, and it was apparent that only a miracle would bring about her defeat. The miracle did not eventuate, and Daphne Grattan coasted home so far in front that the finish could be simply summed as a case of Daphne Grattan first and “daylight” second. It is not suggested that Daphne Grattan would have been beaten under any circumstances, but it did appear as if the drivers of the beaten horses committed an error of judgment in making little attempt to reduce the commanding advantage held by the pacemaker passing the six furlongs. At this stage Daphne Grattan was the best part of 20 lengths clear, and it would have taken a phenomenal performance on the part of any candidate to have overhauled and beaten her. . Daphne Grattan has previously shown evidence of stamina in her 'races to date, but in the past has been inclined to jeopardise her chances by breaking at the start. On this occasion, however, she was one of the first to begin and soon adopted the role of pacemaker to have the race in safe keeping a long way from home. A repetition of the 5 same form would probably see her winning again at short notice, but it is possible that she will not have the same latitude. ’ - She is a five-year-old mare by the New Zealand Cup winner, Josedale Grattan —Crocus, and is trained by E. Kennerley for Messrs R. Harman and A. Walker. Leading Two-Year-Old Lady Christine is the season s leading two-year-old winner with £3«ao in stakes from her five wins, one second, and three thirds in nim. starts. She will .not race again before the new season, when she should be a good three-year-old. She is a chestnut filly by the Phalaris horse Christopher Robin from Lady Oratress, by Laughing Prince—Oratress, bv Demonsthenes —Equitas, by Advance. Lady Oratress did not race, but she is a half-sister to Oratress •(winner of the New Zealand Cup), Concentrate (Auckland and Wellington Cups and New Zealand and Great Northern St. Legers), and Oiatory (Great Northern Oaks and Wellington Thompson Handicap). OiaTress, the dam of Lady Oratress, wo the New Zealand Cup and ian i a dead-heat with Kilmoon m the Wellington Cup.

Name For Colt Claimed To Be By Bernborough SYDNEY, April 15. The application by J. Bach, of Wellcamp, near Toowoomba, for the registration of the name “Mr Bernie for a colt which is claimed to be by Bernborough from Miss Shirley is being considered by the registrar 01 racehorses. The rising three-year-old colt is being trained at Dalby, and will appear at the Dalby races on exhibition on Saturday. Magnificent injured a suspensory ligament during the Doncaster Handicap, and will be retired from racing. Probably he will be sold as a stallion. He is one of the fifst crop of horses sired by Ajax, and showed outstanding form at two years and as an early three-year-old.