Air Ace At False Price At Wingatui Meeting

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 February 1948, Page 2 (Supplement)

Air Ace At False Price At Wingatui Meeting

[SPECIAL TO STAR]

DUNEDIN, This Day. Air Ace won the Victory Handicap at Wingatui yesterday with a strong finishing i’un, and he was at ajridiculously false price. When the field had settled down Sanskrit was making the running, with Nigger Lad, Magnaform, Wild Cry, Sea Power, and Air Ace in close attendance. With three furlongs to go, Merry Lancer and* Wild Cry took over the lead from Sanskrit, with Magnaform, Nigger Lad, Air Ace, and Great Coon close up.'

' Merry Lancer and Wild Cry led into the straight from Sanskrit, Magnaform, Air Ace, Great Coon, Sea Pdwer, and Black Light, but with 100 yards to go Air Ace took charge arid, went on to score by a length from Sanskrit, who beat Merry Lancer by half a Length.' Lovemorn finished on to be a length back fourth, with Great Coon, Magnaform, and Sea Power next.

The Hob was all the rage for the Bernicia Handicap, but Finigin beat him going away over the last furlong, after the two had disputed the lead to the home turn. Aberdare, Assault, and Idle Jest missed the jump out, and Finigin and The Hob soon drew clear of Running Brook, Card Money, and Baygundi. Finigin and The Hob had a two-length advantage straightening up for the run in, and over the last furlong Finigin drew away and beat The Hob by two lengths. Running Brook was a neck away third, and a length clear of Baygundi, who was followed home by Hatrack. Phenomenal Performance

Grand Pal put up a phenomenal performance in the Edinburgh Handicap, coming from second last over the last half-mile to win going away. Dowlair took charge going into the back and was followed past the six by Desert Victory, Encounter, Defendant, Beechwood, Manatone, and Grand Pal, who drifted to second last at the far turn. Dowlaii - was first into the straight from Desert Victory. Lady Melrose, Beechwood, Defendant, and Grand Pal, who was wide out. Grand Pal continued his run

and took charge near the post to win by a length from Responsive, with Bobby Dazzler a head away third, and a similar margin to Vanity King. Beechwood, Dowlair, and Desert Victory were next.

Sea Venture was a pronounced favourite for the John Wickliffe Handicap, but after looking all over a winner a furlong from home, she weakened over the last 50 yards, and Heroic Girl got up to beat her in a blanket finish. With about half a mile to run, Flying Control and Heroic Girl were leading a bunched lot, including Sea Venture, Gipsy Major, Jan, Royal Lark, and Bren Gun. Racing across the top, Heroic Girl joined Flying Control in the lead, with Jan, Royal Lark, Sea Venture, and Bren Gun close up. Heroic Girl ran wide- at the turn and Sea Venture shot clear immediately she was straightened up. Venture began to weaken over the last 50 yards and Heroic Girl beat her by a neck. Jan was a neck away third and just shaded the fast-finishing Sally Gai zelle. Comfortable Victory ! Incitatus was one of the leading division all the way in the Early Settlers’ Hurdles and he took charge racing to the last fence, where he drew away for a comfortable win. First Out took the lead near the six and was a length clear racing past the half from Filibeg, with Incitatus, Wee Mac, and Percy close up. Filibeg broke down at the home turn and First Out was first into the straight from Incitatus, Percy, and Wee Mac. With a little over a furlong to go, Percy had the measure of First Out and Incitatus put in his claim. Incitatus was first over the last hurdle and came on to score an easy win by four lengths from Percy, who beat First Out by three lengths. Wee Mac was a length back fourth, and then came Gunther, who made up a lot of ground over the last half-mile. Filibeg broke a sesamoid bone and his racing clays are over.

The Haere Mai Handicap was won in convincing style by the littlefancied Kildare Lad, who came from third place at the home turn and was going away at the finish. At the halfmile Faustina and Grania were disputing the lead with Ara Chief, Helio, Flibbertigibbet, Billy Mac, and Kildare Lad all handy. Faustina was joined by Helio racing to the home turn and Kildare Lad moved into third place, followed by Wild Spec, Ara Chief, and Eton Lad. Helio was clear at the distance, but Kildare Lad had his measure in the last 100 yards and beat him decisively by half a length. Wild Spec was three lengths away third, and just beat the fastfinishing Waiau King by a head. Super was fifth, followed by Victory Star, Ara Chief, and Billy Mac. The meeting opened in fine weather and there was a record crowd. .The totalisator handled £94,091 10s. No true comparison is possible as the meeting takes the place of the autumn meeting. On the opening day of that meeting last year £46,185 was handled. Remaining results: —

Dunedin Centennial Cup

Of £4210; one mile and threequarters.— 6-6 Eriskay, 7.8, (W. F. Ellis), 1 15-15 Sumra, 7.0 car 7.4, (G. W. Wright), 2 3-4 Spare Part, 8.8, (A. E. Did-

ham), _• o Also started: 1-1 Howe, 4-3 Signal Officer. 2-2 Indian Dawn, 7-7 Detain, 12-12 Authentic, 11-11 Thornbridge, 9-8 Fine'Night, 5-5 Sir Garnish, 8-9 Kartikeya, 14-11 Grill, 13-13 Loyal Ladv, 10-10 Sea Flower. Length; half a head. Fine Night was fourth. Time, 3.1 4-5.

Bernicia Handicap, of £500; five furlongs.—2-3 Finigin, 8.0, (A. Stokes), 1: 1-1 The Hob, 8.1, (L. J. Clutterbuck), 2; 8-8 Running Brook, 7.4, (W. D. Skelton), 3. Also started: 3-2 Card Money, 4-5 Baygundi, 5-4 Kosher, 9-9 Aberdare, 10-10 Hatrack, 6-7 Assault, 11-12 Attractive Air, 12-11 Excellent Flight, 7-6 Idle Jest. Two Lengths; neck. Time, 1.1 2-5. ■

Victory Handicap, of £500; one P.iile. —13_9 Air Ace, 9.7 car 9.0. (R. E. Page), 1; 3-3 Sanskrit, 8.7, (A. E. Didham), 2; 5-5 Merry Lancer, 8.8, (W. F. Ellis). 3. Also started: . 7-7 Sea Power, 12-13 Benbeccula, 9-11 Freat Coon, 2-2 Lovemorn, 4-4 Loyal Lady, 1-1 Magnaform, 6-6 Nigger Lad, 10-10 Black Light,* 8-8 Wild Ribbon, 11-12 Antibes, 15-14 Wild Cry, 16-16 Air Lord, 14-15 Triumphal. Length; half a length. Lovemorn fourth. Time, 1.39 1-5.

Edinburgh Handicap, of £500; one mile and three furlongs.—s-6 Grand Pal, 8.9, (J. W. Dooley), 1; 3-3 Responsive, 8,3, (L.. J. Ellis), 2; 9-9 Bobby Dazzler, 7.11, (W. F. Ellis), 3. Also started: 4-4 Beechwood. 8-8 Desert Victory, 6-5 Dowlair, 2-2 Lady Melrose, 1-1 Royal Sal, 12-12 Manatone, 10-10 Vanity King, 7-7 Defendant; 11-11 ■ Too-Hdo; z 13.-13 Encounter/ Length; head. Vanity'King fourth, Time, 2.21 2-5,