SPORTING Dark Arrow Wins Again For Greymouth Owner At Dunedin J.C. Meeting

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 June 1948, Page 7

SPORTING Dark Arrow Wins Again For Greymouth Owner At Dunedin J.C. Meeting

[SPECIAL 10 STAR] DUNEDIN. This Day. ‘Confidently ridden, the Greymouth-owned Dark Arrow put up a fine performance to win the Provincial Handicap, the principal flat event on the Dunedin Jockey Club’s second-clay programme yesterday, ■thus completing a splendid double for the meeting. Dark Arrow took the lead five.■ furlongs from home and he shot awav in the last furlong, but Falconbridge managed to get within a head of him when his rider appeared to take the opposition a little too cheaply nearing the post, Dark Arrow has.been a good proposition for Mr L. S. Robertson and, though he has reached the top of the handicaps, he should continue to pay his way.

The big jumping event'of the day, the Wingatui Steeples, went to Eleanor Star, who stayed on to beat Lisheen by a narrow margin. The Siegfried gelding, Young Bob, stayed on to win the June Hurdles in impressive style from Sphere. Verdant was the early leader m the Provincial Handicap from Thornbridge, Hart Royal and Dark Arrow, with Hunting Charm, Fine Night and Joygiver next. Into the back Hart Royal took the lead from Verdant and Hunting Charm, with Dark Arrow on the outside of them. Thornbridge, Desert Victory and Graeme were next. In the next furlong (five from home), Thornbridge drifted and Graeme and Pride of Mossburn moved up smartly to tail Dark Arrow, which went into the lead. They were followed to the straight by Falconbridge, Fine Night, Verdant and Foxchase. Dark Arrow quickly drew clear, but nearing the post his rider took the opposition a little cheaply and Falconbridge just failed to head him. Verdant came again for third, four lengths away. There was a length to Graeme, and Fine Night was fifth. The favourite, Lisheen, made a gallant effort to win the Wingatui Steeplechase, and in a spirited finish failed by half a length to catch Eleanor Star. Siglow, which made the running for more than two miles and a quarter, was six lengths away, in third place. There was no pace over the first half of the distance and that did not suit Lisheen. With a mile to run, Siglow drew out to a four lengths lead from Eleanor Star, with the same margin to Lisheen and a length to Indian Sign. Along the back Siglow increased his lead to six lengths, but Eleanor Star set out after him over the last half-mile. Eleanor Star headed Siglow going to the last fence, which he took clear of Siglow and .Lisheen. Lisheen finished solidlv and was overtaking Eleanor Star at the post. Siglow weakened into third place, well clear of Indian Sign. Strong Finish Relishing the conditions, Triumphal finished strongly to beat the outsider. Winning Cheer, in the Members Handicap, with Special Flight holding on for third and the favourite, Magnaform, finishing fast for fourth. Theocritus was first out but before a furlong had been covered Haughty Dick and Alamode headed him, and in turn they were headed by Geisha Girl, Super Flight and Connaught. Super Flight joined Geisha Girl, and they were followed by Connaught, Alamode, Theocritus, Faites vos Jeux, Triumphal and Haughty Dick. On the home turn, Triumphal moved up to follow Geisha Girl and Super Flight into the straight, with Connaught, Theocritus, Haughty Dick and Magnaform most prominent of the others. Geisha Girl was soon beaten and Triumphal soon had the measure of Super Flight, and won by a length from Winning Cheer, which came with a late run. Theocritus was fifth. . Dark Chief was slow away m the Aerodrome Handicap, but was moved up to join Queen Argosy in; the lead at the mile, and the pair! were followed by Tenorman and Sword Dancer, with St Simper. Detract and Some Sal next. Minion was at the rear with Royal Mint. Across > the top, Sword Dancer joined Dark; Chief, and the pair led to the straight; from Detract, Some Sal and Minion. ( Minion came through on the inner | and drew out to beat Sword Dancer by two lengths, with a similar margin l to Some Sal. which held on to beat Detract by half a length. Dark Chief headed the others.

In the June Hurdle Handicap Robot and Young Bob led past the stands from Dowlair, Foreign Ways, Siegform, Royal Robe, .Sphere, Turf Topic and Vanity King. At the mile Royal Robe fell and Dowlair was a casualty at the six furlongs, where Turf Topic and Sphere started to improve. At the five furlongs Young Bob went into the lead and at the half-mile was three lengths in front of Sphere and Robot, which was tiring. Young Bob held on to beat Sphere by a length. Another five lengths back, Siegform just held .off the fast-finishing Vanity King. There were gaps to Detain, Turf Topic and Robot.

After rain yesterday and overnight, the track was very heavy. The weather was. fine and there was a good attendance, the totalisator handling £64,459, compared with £63,368 last year. Remaining results:— June Hurdle Handicap, of £500: one mile and three-quarters.—4-4 Young Bob, 9.0 (A. I. Powell), 1; 3-3 Sphere, 10.10 (D. Dawson), 2; 5-6 Siegform car. 9.4 (W. Barr), 3. Also started 2-2 Arabian Night, 1-1 Turf Topic, 7-8 Detain,: .9-9 Royal Robe, 6-5 Vanity King, 8-7 Foreign Ways, 10-11 Tring; 12-12 Dowlair, 10-10 Robot. Length; five lengths. Vanity King was fourth. Time, 3.25 3-5. Southern Handicap, of £350; seven furlongs.—4-4 Extra Flight, 8.0 (A. J. Stokes), 1; 7-7 Show Boy, 8.7 (C. McDonald), 2; 5-6 Siegtone, 9.3 (L. J. Ellis), 3. Also started: 8-8 Kasimov, 13-14 Plain Pal, 14-15 Cloud Song, 16-11 Paper View, 17-16 Evans Flat, 10- Bonny Royal, 1-2 Sir Raimond, 3-1 Night Owl. 2-3 Lilli Marlene, 11- Cover Drive, 9-9 Recharge, 15-12 Silver Spray, 6-5 Kildare Lad, .13-12 Tattoo. Half a length; length and a half. Sir Raimond was fourth. Time, 1.35 3-5. Wingatui Steeplechase Handicap, Of £750, about two miles and a half. 2- Eleanor Star, 10.2 (B. J. Mears) 1 1-1 Lisheen, 11.6 (W. J. Hillis) 2 3- Siglow, 9.2 (E. Hunt) .. .. 3 Also started: 5-5 Indian Sign, 4-3 Debater. Half a length; six lengths. Time, 5.37 3-5. Provincial Handicap, of £600; one mile and three furlongs.—2-3 Dark Arrow, 9.1 (C. Stokes), 1; 10-10 Falconbridge, 8.3 (A. W. Crombie), 2; 6-5 Verdant, 7.10 (W. F. Ellis), 3. Also started: 15-15 Grill, 3-2 Foxchase, 8-8 Pride of Mossburn, 1-1 Thornbridge, 5-6 Fine Night, li-9 Brockie, 13-14 Desert Victory, 9-10 Pestee, 7-7 Joygiver, 4-4 Graeme, 12-12 Hunting Charm, .13-13 Hart Royal. Head; four lengths. Graeme was fourth. Time, 2.41 2-5. Members’ Handicap, of £450; seven furlongs.—6-6 Triumphal, 8.0 (A. N. Didham), 1; 17-17 Winning Cheer, 8.0 (E. G. Low), 2; 3-3 Super Flight, 8.0 (A. J. Stokes), 3. Also started: 4-4 Alamode, 13-12 Sterling Lad, 6-5 Haughty Dick, 9-9 Connaught, 1-1 Magnaform, 16-16 Te Anau Lady, 8-8 Theocritus, 12-10 Bath Slipper, 11-11 Gold Song, 2-2 Duvaals, 7-7 Geisha Girl, 15-15 Faites vos Jeux, 10-13 Relampago, 14-14 Renege. Length; same. Magnaform was fourth. Time, 1.34 3-5.

Aerodrome Handicap, of £450; one mile and three furlongs.—3-3 Minion, 8.4 (A. J. Stokes), 1; 7-7 Sword Dancer, 8.0 (W. D. Skelton), 2; 2-2 Some Sal, 8.2 (W. F. Ellis), 3. Also started: 12-12 Royal Writ, 1-1 Detract, 8-8 Moonlit, 5-5 Dark Chief, 11-9 Haria, 10-11 Tenorman, 4-4 String Band, 6-6 St Simper, 9-10 Queen Argosy. Two lengths: same. Detract was fourth. Time, 2.34 1-5.