Brilliant Win By Emulous At Forbury Park

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 October 1948, Page 7

Brilliant Win By Emulous At Forbury Park

[SPECIAL TO STAB]

DUNEPIN, October 9.

A brilliant performance by Emulous, who broke the track record in winning the Flying Handicap from 60 yards behind, and a decisive win by Mountain Hall in the principal event, the King George Handicap, were the outstanding features of the first day of the Forbury Park Trotting Club’s meeting today. The track was slow for the early races because of overnight rain, but it improved rapidly. The totalisator handled £77,216 10s compared with £77,832 10s on the corresponding day last year. Emulous made up his handicap quickly in the Flying Handicap and with five furlongs to go he was within striking distance of the leaders, Jackie Guy and Positive. Jackie Guy soon, settled Positive but Emulous always had the race in hand over the last half and he came home the easiest of winners from Henry of Navarre and Aberhall. Aberhall was unlucky in the running but, in any case, he would not have beaten Emulous on the day.' Henry of Navarre lost ground at the start but he showed a lot of speed over the last half mile. Mountain Hall’s Success

Special Force and Stirling Castle broke at the start of the King George Handicap, and Minoru was also checked. Minmi Boy was the early pacemaker and led into the straight from Minoru, Indigo, Mountain Hall, Dragoman and Lady Averil. Mountain Hall finished splendidly and won easily by two lengths from Minoru, with Dragoman a length and a half away third. Then came Minmi Boy, Lady Averil, Indigo and Quite Happy. Indigo weakened badly when asked for an effort in the straight. One of the most impressive wins of the day was that of Seacraft in the Dominion Handicap. He led from start to finish and came away in the straight to record 3.14 1-5 from a 3.22 mark. This was Seacraft’s second win on end and he is likely to extend his record further within the next few months.

Consistent Trotter

The principal event for unhoppled trotters was won by Keen Blade, who thus capped a series of consistent performances, having been fourth in his first three races this season. Keen Blade lost some ground at the start but he trotted smoothly smoothly throughout and finished too strongly for Dan Martin in the straight. In appreciation of his effort to lower the course record for one mile to 2min Isec with Highland Fling at the Forbury Park Trotting Clpb’s meeting in May, the trainer-driver, L. F. Berkett, was presented with a suitably inscribed watch by the president of the club, Mr B. S. Irwin, at a ceremony in the bird-cage. Remaining results:— Southland Handicap, of £500; 3.29 class; one mile and a half.—2-3 Demetrius (O. E. Hooper), 1; 1-rl Whipster scr (R. Stevens), 2; 8-9 Admiral Peterson, scr (J. D. Litten), 3. Also started: 7-5 Believe Me, 11-11 Killowen, 4-4 Lucky Potts, 9-8 Marcia, 10-10 Hydro Belle, 5-7 Shadow Chimes, 3-2 West Point, 6-6 Gay Note. Two lengths; one length and a half. Gay Note was fourth. Times: 3.18 1- 3.19 3-5, 3.19 4-5. King George Handicap, Of £1000; 4.31 class; two miles. 3- Mountain Hall, scr (M. Holmes) 1 2- Minoru, scr (L. F. Berkett) 2 4- Dragoman, 24 (H. I. Herbert) 3 Also started: 8-8 Minmi Boy, 9-9

I Special Force, 7-6 Stirling Castle, 5-5 Lady Averil, 6-7 Quite Happy, 1-1 Indigo. One length' and a half; one length and a quarter. Minmi Boy was fpurth. Times—4.3o, 4.30 1-5, 4.28 3-5. Freyi?erQ Of £600; 3.33 class; one mile and a half.—2-2 Keen Blade, 1 36 (L. F. Berkett). 1; 4-5. Dan Martin, scr (R. N. Eden) 2; 6-6 Morning Wings, scr (R. Stevens) 3. Also started: 7-7 Billy McElwyn, 3-3 Mamanuas, 9->9 Sandy Duval, 10-10 Bingen Dal, 12-11 Buncrana, 1-1 Swanee River, 8-8 Belle Header, 11-12 Blackdale, 5-4 Gold Weed bracketed Heir Apparent. Short length; four lengths. Gold Weed was fourth. Times—3.2o 1-5, 3.23 2-5, 3.24.

‘ Peninsula Handicap, of £600; 3.26 class; one mile and a half.—9-9 Wedding Ring, scr (W. R. Butt), 1; 5-4 Theabelle, scr (G. Cameron), 2; 2-5 Belmont Hall, scr (D. C. Watts), 3. Also started: 3-2 Bull’s Eye, 8-6 Dance Haji, 11-11 Melton, 12-12 Mac’s Ace, 5-4 Red * Herring bracketed Theabelle, 14-15 Wee Logan, 15-14 Blue Horizon, 13-13 Dandy Grattan, 10-10 Gold Strike, 6-7 Hall Ace, 16-16 Highland Dale, 1-1 On Approval; 7-8 Sirocco, 4-3 Worthy Dick. Neck!; half a length. Hall Ace was fourth. Times —3min 19sec, 3.19 1-5, 3.19 2-5. Dominion Handicap, of £7OO, 3.22 class, one mile and a half. —4-3 Sea Craft, scr (C< M. Laing), 1; 3-4 National Velvet, scr (D. C. Watts) 2; 8- Daisy Gold, 24 (T. H. Gunning), 3. Also started: 11-11 Clueless, 7-8 Duncraig, 2-2 Fillmore; 5-5 Magnificent, 13-13 Pony Express. 10-10 Tom Gundy, 12-12 Maida Dillon, 6-6 Notus, 1-1 Scholarship; 9-7 Tam o’ Shanter. Three and a half lengths; short length. Scholarship was fourth. Times—3.l4 1-5, 3.15. Flying Handicap, of £800; 3.1 class; one mile and three furlongs.—B-9 Emulous, 60 (W. K. Tatterson), 1; 1-1 Henry of Navarre scr (R. J. Berry), 2; 7-7 Aberhall, 24 (L. C. Frost) 3. Also started: 6-6 Bel Hamed, 10-10 Gamble King, 1-1 Caudray bracketed Hemy of Navarre, 2-2 Jackie Guy, 9- Jack’s Son, 3-3 Positive, 11-J1 Wade Lane, 5-5 Follow Me, 4-4 Navigate. One length and a half; head. Jack’s Son was fourth. Times —2.53, 2.58 2-5, 2.57.