Highland Fling And Free Fight At Addington

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 March 1948, Page 7

Highland Fling And Free Fight At Addington

[SPECIAL TO STAR)

CHRISTCHURCH, March 13. Driven in an excellent race by his trainer, L. F. Berkett, the New Zealand and Wellington Cup winner Highland Fling, gave one of the best performances of his brilliant career when he won the A. I. Rattray Memorial Hnndicap at Addington today on the first day of the New Zealand Metropolitan’s Trotting Club’s Easter meeting. Highland Fling was taken to the front with six furlongs to go and from then on was always going easily. He was not seriously troubled in the run home though he was challenged by Plunder Bar and Emulous. Highland Fling has now won 18 races and £19,630 in stakes. Nyallo Scott, Countless, and Dundee Sandy all lost ground when the tapes were released. Plunder -Bar took the lead from the start from Loyal Peter. With two furlongs covered these two were followed by Aberhall, Acropolis, Turco, and Double Peter, with a gap of three lengths to In the Mood and Knave of Diamonds. Several lengths away, Dundee Sandy was followed by Emulous, Highland Fling, and Nyallo Scott. Highland Fling moved up fast to take the lead with more than six furlongs to run. With half a mile to go Highland Fling was followed by Plunder Bsr, Knuve of Diamonds, In. the Mood, Aberhall, Double Peter, Acropolis and Emulous. Emulous thrilled the crowd as he improved his position in the back straight to be handy to Highland Fling, Knave of Diamonds, Plunder Bar, and In the Mood as the field straightened up lor the sprint home. Highland Fling stayed on to win decsively by a length from Plunder Bar with Emulous a similar distance away in third place. With better luck in the running Emulous might have troubled Highland Fling. He was forced to cover some extra ground when he attempted to make his mn and in the circumstances he put up a fine performance. Free Fight brought his record to four wins and three seconds in his last seven starts when he won the Preliminary Handicap and Autumn stakes Mr D. McFarlane races both Free Fight and his half-brother, Chamber which won the Timaru Nursery Stakes on March 6, on lease from Mr G. Youngson, of Gore. Free Fight won the Preliminary Handicap without being extended and just as easily disposed of the Autumn Stakes field.

The weather was fine and the track was fast, and there was a good attendance. The tsjtalisator handled £97,586 10s, a decrease of £9086 10s on the amount invested on the corresponding day last year. Remaining results: — A. I Rattray Handicap, Of £3000; 4.21 class; two miles. 5-7 Highland Fling 48 (L. F. Berkett) 1 3-4 Plunder Bar scr (M. C. McTigue) 2

2- Emulous 48 (W. K. Tatterson) 3 Also started: 6-6 Aberhall; 10—10 Acropolis; 1-1 Dundee Sandy; Loyal Peter and Turco bracketed; 99 Nyallo Scott; 11-12 Double Peter; 4-2 In the Mood; 12-11 Countless; 88 Knave of Diamonds. Length; length. Aberhall fourth. Times: 4.17, 4.21 1-5, 4.17 2-5. x Autumn Stakes, of £1250; for louiand five-year-olds. Special condimile and a half. 1-1 Free Fight scr (M. Holmes) 1; 5-5 On Approval scr (O. E. Hooper) 2; 6-8 Cuitivator scr (H. Williams) 3. Also started: 8-7 Crown Plate and Likely bracketed; 11-10 Gay Note; 2-2 Henry o£ Navarre; 12-11 His Excellency: 1314 Marcia; 4-4 Novelda; 10-12 Palette; 16-16 Red Arrow; 7-6 Sahara Queen; 9-9 Wedding Ring; 1.5-15 Dandy Grattan; 17-17 Interlace; 1413 Kingcobra; 3-2 Maudeen. Two lengths; four lengths. Gay Note fourth. Times: 3.16 3-5, 3.17, 3.17 4-5. Craven Plate, of £1300; 4.31 class; two miles. —1-1 Final Count scr (G. McKendry) 1; 3-2 Red Hussar scr (R. Donald) 2; 12-12 Imperial Grattan 36 (P. P. Gallagher) 3. Also started: 7-7 Bonny Scott; 13-13 Caledonian Girl and Ben Adam bracketed; 5-6 Democrat; 6-5 Indigo; 4-4 Stirling Castle and Johnnie Lawn bracketed; 11-11 Lord Brooklyn; 8-8 Golden Shadow; 9-9 Lady Vi; 14-14 Radical; 10-10 Commander Scott; 15-15 Margaret Hall; 2-3 Right Royal. Head; nose. Right Royal fourth. Times: 4.27 4-5, 4.28, 4.25 1-5. Stewards’ Handicap, of £1250; trotters; 4.37 class; two miles.—s-6 Great Venture scr (S. A. Edwards) 1; 3- Aerial Scott 72 (R. Young) 2; 1- Sure Harvest scr (W. J. Doyle) 3. Also started: 12-12 Bancor; 9-9 Flying Scott; 6-5 Mine Host; 1-1 Rerewaka bracketed Sure Harvest; 10-11 Castigate; 11-10 Fire Water; 7-7 Frank Scott; 8-8 Mistydale and Range Finder bracketed; 4-2 Toushay; 2- Pardon Me. Three lengths; head. Rerewaka fourth. Times: 4.30, 4.24 3- 4.30 4-5. Speedway Handicap, of £1000; 2.47 class; one mile and a quarter.—3-3 Caudray scr (R. J. Berry) 1; 12-11 Jeeves scr (C. C. Devine) 2; 5-5 Scholarship scr (D. C. Watts) 3. Also started: 13-13 Aspanall; 6-6 Commo'tion; 1-1 Good Review; 4-4 Maida Dilon; 7-8 Mountain Hall; 10-12 Northern Lass; 15-15 Red Setter; 9-9 Tam o’ Shanter; 16-16 Caledonian Girl; 2-2 Bonny Clare; 14-14 Copper Trail; 8-7 Desert Lad and Grattan Drive bracketed; 11-10 Rey. Two lengths; two lengths. Tam o’ Shanter fourth. Times: 2.43 4-5, 2.44 1-5. 2.44 4-5.