STARSHELL AND CONGO SONG AT ASHBURTON

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 June 1948, Page 7

STARSHELL AND CONGO SONG AT ASHBURTON

[SPECIAL TO STAR] ASHBURTON, .Tune 5. From fourth at the turn for home. Starshell finished brilliantly to win the Durbar Handicap, the principal event at the Ashburton Trotting Club’s meeting today. She was well placed all the way, and when her driver, F. G. Holmes, asked her for an effort in the last furlong, the Sandydale mare came away to win comfortably. Congo Song earned the right io the title of the best ihree-year-old of the season when he brought his record to six wins and five minor plaeings in 15 starts with a dashing display to win the New Zealand Futurity Stakes from Shalimar and Beckleigh. He took the lead before the straight was reached and thereafter was not troubled.

Carisbrook, Bay Machine, Likely, Novelda and Pony Express all lost ground at the start of the Durbar Handicap, Hal Derby beginning quickly to lead from Tony Grattan, National Velvet, Starshell, Gough’s Pride, Clueless, Trustee, Palava, Minoru and Duncraig. With half the journey covered. Trustee broke when he appeared to strike trouble and in the mix-up which followed Gough’s Pride and Minoru were seriously checked. Palava took the lead in the back straight and with six furlongs to go he was closely followed by National Velvet, Magnificent, Likely, Duncraig, Hal Derby, Lyndale, Tony Grattan, Make Believe, Clueless and Scottish Brogue. Starshell followed Palava, Novelda and Duncraig into the straight, and her driver, F. G. Holmes, patiently waited until less than a furlong from home before issuing his challenge. Once she was allowed to do her best Starshell soon settled the issue, winning comfortably by a length from National Velvet, with the favourite, Novelda, a neck away in third place. Novelda, which was making her first appearance since being trained at Hornby by J. B. Pringle for Mr C. E. Dillon, gave an outstanding performance to finish third after losing ground when she began slowly. Congo Song accelerated quickly in (he Futurity Stakes, but his driver steadied him and allowed his bracketmate, Chief Officer, to take the lead in the first furlong. Once she was properly balanced, J. B. Pringle took Fortuna into the lead, and with a mile to go she was followed by Chief Officer, Belmont Hall, Quarterdeck, Congo Song, Ada Scott, Shalimar and Bed Flight, with gaps to Demetrius, Pierre, Beckleigh, Highland Belle and Victory Globe. Congo Song took over the role of pacemaker approaching the entrance to the straight, and lie carried on to win decisively by two lengths from Shalimar, with the fast-finishing Beckleigh third. Beckleigh was the unlucky runner. After ■ being caught off balance when the barriers were released, he was soon v giving away long starts, and in the circumstances his third was full of merit. Trotting at his brilliant best, Java outclassed his field when he won the Stewards’ Handicap in 3.21 from a 3.32 mark. Jimmy Wharton. Billy Loyal, Christmas Queen, Sandy’s Epic, and Sandy Duval all made their task too hard when they broke in the early stages. Billy McElwyn was the

quickest to begin and at the end of half a mile he was setting the pace from Morning Wings, Francis Grattan, Gold Weed, Jimmy Scott, Swanee River, Java and Belle Header. G. McKendry improved his position with Java and after taking the lead approaching the entrance to the straight, he carried on to win with the greatest of ease from Jimmy Scott, with Jason’s Quest third. Jason’s Quest put up a fine performance to reach third place after being well back in twelfth place with half a mile to go. The weather was fine, the track was fast, and there was a large attendance. The totalisator handled £64,418, compared with £52,246 10s on the corresponding day last year. Remaining results: — Improvers’ Handicap, of £300; 4.53 class; two miles. —2-2 Milford Lad, scr (L. F. Berkett), 1; 5-4 Tekau, scr (L. O. Thomas). 2; 3-3 Piquant, scr (G. Cameron), 3. Also started: 3-3 Cavaliar bracketed Piquant, 1-1 Fernbrook Jack and Mobile Globe bracketed, 16-15 Kildare, 10-9 Loyal Velvet and Sure Nut bracketed, 8-6 Bay Jack, 22-21 Bedelia, 18-18 Commentator, 9-10 Esperanto, 23-23 Fanciful, 24-24 Gazette, 7-7 Lucky Dan, 18-19 Lucky Irish, 15-14 Lumber Jack, 20-22 Pretty Dillon, 17-17 Sandy Chimes, 13-13 Sir John, 11-12 Swithindale, 4-5 Vicereine, 21-20 Cash Bond, 12-11 Te Pura, 14-16 Big Ben, 6-8 Worthy Chum. Three lengths: three lengths. Mobile Globe was fourth. Times: 4.32 2-5, 4.34, 4.35. New Zealand Futurity Stakes, of £775; lor one mile and five furlongs.—l-1 Congo Song (M. Holmes), 1; 8-8 Shalimar (C. R. Berkett), 2: 3-4 Beckleigh (R. Donald), 3. Also started: 6-6 Ada Scott, 2-2 Belmont Hall, 1-1 Chief Officer bracketed winner, 4-3 Demetrius, 5-5 Fortuna, 12-12 Highland Belle, 7-7 Pierre. 10-10 Quarter Deck, 11-11 Red Flight, 9-9 Victory Globe. Two lengths; half length. Quarter Deck was fourth. Times: 3.33, 3.33 2-5, 3.33 3-5. Durbar Handicap, Of £1000; 4.36 class; two miles 7-6 Starshell, scr (F. G. Holmes) 1 •5-4 National Velvet, 12 (D. C. Watts)" 2 1-2 Novelda. 36 (J. B. Pringle) 3 Also started: 18-17 Hal Derby, 8-8 Palava, 14-16 Pony Express, 17-18 Tony Grattan, 12-13 Clueless and Darrington Hall bracketed, 3-3 Gough’s Pride, 13-15 Likely, 11-9

Magnificent, 2-1 Make Believe, 9-10 Trustee, 10-11 Carisbrook, 4-5 Duncraig, 6-7 Scottish Brogue and Bay Machine bracketed, 14-12 Minoru, 19-19 Water Ranger, 16-14 Lyndale. Length: neck. Scottish Brogue was fourth. Times: 4.26, 4.25 1-5, 4.23 1-5. Stewards Handicap, of £500; trotters; 3.33 class; one mile and a half. — 4- Java, 12 (G. McKendry, 1; 17-17 Jimmv Scott. 24 (W. R. Butt). 2. 2-.> Jason’s Quest. 36 (T. H. Gunning , 3 Also started: 22-22 Billy Loyal, 10-10 Billy McElwyn, 13-11 Christmas Queen, 14-15 Frances Grattan la-14 Jimmy Wharton, 16-19 Kathleens Voyage, 1-2 Morning Wings, 6-6 Pay Boy, 7-8 Sandy Duval, 12-9 Sandy s Epic and Quartermaster, 8-7 Sure Maid, 20-21 Terrytoon, 9.12 Bingen Dale, 5-4 Swanee River, 19-18 Buncrana, 21-20 Lucky Bill, 11-13 Blackdale, 3-1 Gold Weed and Heir Apparent bracketed, 18-16 Belie Header, 23-23 Paul Parrish, four lengths: two lengths. Morning Wings fourth. Times: 3.21, 3.21 2-53.21 3-5. Autumn Handicap, oi £,.aU, 3.<y> class; one mile and a hall. —3-3 Sirocco, scr (W. K. Tatterson), 1; 2-2 Lusty Bingen, scr (D. C. Watts;, 5- Hineora, scr (R. Donald), 3. Also started:—s-6 Sir Gamble bracketed Hineora, 8-7 Sir Hall and Avon Hall bracketed, 19-18 Special Merit and Valola bracketed, 4-4 Contempt and Worthy Chum bracketed, 3-3 Fulgent bracketed winner,, 18-1 i Farnborough and Ima Grattan bracketed, 6-8 Gallian and Peggydale bracketed, 2-2 Goldcase bracketed Lusty Bingen, 14-13 Blue Match 13-11 Chamfer, 9-9 Garl'orth, z-5 Glenrowan, 23-23 Karen Hall, 11-14 Minstrel Hall, 20-21 Pampero, 12-15 Vistula, 16-16 War Glory, 10-10 Ipso Facto, 17-20 Margaret Logan, 24-24 Sure Jinks, 1-1 Wayfarer, 15-12 Ikaroa, 22-22 Supplement, 21-19 Max Grattan. Two lengths; four lengths.' Avon Hall lourth. Times: 3.20, 3.20 1-5, 3.21 1-5. Harvest Handicap, of £450; 3.29 class; one mile and a hall. 1-2 Attack, 12 (I. M. Dickie), 1; 6-7 Hall Ace, 12 (I. Herbert), 2; 2-1 Gay Piper, scr (G. McKendry), <>. Also started- 12-13 Awadale and Killowen bracketed, 19-19 Direct Heir and Rural Lady .bracketed, 9-11 Double Deck and Special Agent bracketed, 15-14 Emily Volo and Zulu bracketed 4-4 Fan Tan, 11-9 Gallant Ruth and Makarewa bracketed, 2-1 Swaledale bracketed Gay Piper, 14-12 Golden Sheaf and Waroonga bracketed 10-8 Gold Nip, Crown Plate and Belle Potts bracketed, 7-5 Maliari Dhu and Grattan Gold bracketed, 3-3 New Venture and Super Scotch bracketed, 5-6 West Point, 1-2 Sowden Beck bracketed winner, 18-18 Golden Game and Peter’s Pal bracketed, 6-7 Volodale bracketed Hall Ace, 17-15 Kimono Girl and Gay Note bracketed, 23-23 Pirouette, 21-20 Lottie Jinks and Worthydale bracketed, 16-16 Melton and Tudor Minstrel bracketed, 20-21 Nelsonova and Sunnv Nelson bracketed, 8-10 Goldina, 13-17 Sunny Hall, 22-22 Expensive. Two lengths; half-length. Gay Note fourth. Times: 3.18 2-5, 3.18 4-5, 3.20. Rakaia Handicap, of £750; 2.4 a class; one mile and a quarter. —2-o Loyal Nurse, 12 (C. V. May), 1; 6-a Countless, 12 (A. G. Collison), 2; .>-2 Sprayman. 12 (C. King), 3. Also started: 7-7 Elation, 1-1 Navigate. 4-4 Pre-eminence, 5-6 Trusty Scott, i'-vo lengths; two lengths. Navigate fourth. Times: 2.41 4-5. 2.42 1-b, ~.4<-3-5. Driver Changed A well-known Chinese. Percy Chew Lee, was semaphored as the driver of Loyal Velvet in the improvers’ Handicap at the Ashbuiton Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday, but, after a discussion with the stipendiary stewards in the bii dcage, Lee who races Loyal Velvet in partnership with Mr O. G. Davies, agreed to let A. Townley take the drive. Chinese horsemen are rare in New Zealand, but in Sydney the 21-year-old E. Doon has been riding with success for some time.