Dillondale Surprises At Meeting At Forbury

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 April 1949, Page 4

Dillondale Surprises At Meeting At Forbury

(SPECIAL TO STAR] DUNEDIN, This Day. | Dillondale brought off a major sur- ! prise in the principal event, . the Ritchie Memorial Handicap, at For- | bury Park on Saturday, winning by i half a length from another outsider | in Dragoman, with the win favourite, I Gough’s Pride, third. Dillondale was the outsider of the field, and returned his supporters a win dividend of more than £6O. Favourites had a bad run until Duncraig was successful in the Renown Handicap, and, apart from Dillondale’s outsize dividend, there were some respectable prices posted on both the win and the place totalisators.- ’ „ _., Single Task, who won the Bayfield Handicap from the unlucky Conceit, returned a dividend approaching double figures, as did Brynawelon in the St Clair Handicap. Mr J. R. McKenzie’s Light Brigade colt, the three-year-old Red Emperor, was at odds of more than a dozen, Glenrowan, who' finished well lor second behind Red Emperor, paid nearly double figures for a place, and Hilda Scott, who was similarly placed behind Brynawelon, was at good odds also. ' , , Highland Kilt unfortunately broke with four furlongs to run in his attempt on his mile trotting record of 2.19 1-5, but he settled down fairly quickly to give a fine exhibition lot the remainder of the journey. He was unofficially timed to run the mile m 2£o 2-5 —a very good effort under the circumstances. Jpine but overcast weather brought a large crowd to the park, and the track was in good order. Gay Knight came with a fine run to win the Flying Handicap, and his finishing effort in the straight to catch Dragoman, who had streaked away in the lead after passing the two furlongs, was a high-class performance. He was a warm favourite on each machine. His run was all the more meritorious when it was noticed that he returned to the birdcage with a fiat tyre. ‘ In the main event Dillondale was the outsider of the field, and after, being handily placed all the way he came on under a hard finish to defeat Dragoman in a photo-finish. Gough’s Pride swung sideways at the start and caused Trustee to lose ground. Belmont Hall was the early leader ahead of County Antrim, Sanpiper; Dillondale, Dragoman, Indigo, Jackie Guy, and Gough’s Pride. Passing the stands the second time, Battle On moved up fast, and he took over to lead Belmont Hall, Sandpiper, County Antrim, Gough’s Pride, and Dillondale, with Dragoman and Indigo in close attendance. Belmont Hall was still prominent over the final circuit, and he was just clear of Battle On, Sandpiper, County Antrim, and Gough’s Pride at the three, with Commander Scott and Dragoman moving swiftly from the back. Sandpiper and Dragoman turned for home with Dillondale alongside wider -out, and the two last-named drew away to fight out a stern struggle, with Dillondale the winner by a head. Gough’s Pride finished on to be half a length back third, with Commander Scott the same distance away fourth, ahead of Sandpiper. There was a gap to Snowflake who had been well back for most of the journey, with County Antrim and Jackie Guy following. The totalisator investments amounted to £82,685 10s, against £122,945 last year, when the Centennial meeting was held. Results of races held after the Evening Star went to press on Saturday, are as follows: — Ritchie Memorial Handicap, of £l5OO. 4.28 class. Two miles.—ll-11 Dillondale 12 C. King 1; 7-6 Dragoman 36 H. I. Herbert 2; 1-3 Gough’s Pride 12 A. Motz 3.

5-7 Belmont Hall; 9-9 County Antrim; 2-1 Battle On bracketed Sand Piper; 6-5 Good Review; 3-4 Indigo; 4-2 Trustee bracketed Jackie Guy; 10-10 Commander Scott; 8-8 Snowflake also started. Half a length; length. Commander Scott ’fourth. Times 4.19 2-5; 4.17 3-5; 4.20.

Victory Handicap, of £BOO. 3.48 class. One mile and five furlongs.— 3-1 Tatsydale by Sandydale 12 V. Alborn 1; 1-2 Belshazzar 36 C. R. Berkett 2; 6-6 Royal Stone 24 , J. B. Pringle 3. 5-5 Lucky Bill bracketed Frank Scott; 4-4 Big Guy; 7-7 Sure Money; 2-3 Jimmy Dillon also started. Length and a half; two lengths and a half. Jimmy Dillon fourth. Times 3.35 3-5; 3.34; 3.35 2-5. St Clair Handicap, of £6OO. 3.29 class. One mile and a half.—3-3 Bry-part-owner, Mr A. G. Silk, is reported to have refused an offer of up to £95,000 for the horse. Russia, which is fifth on the list of Australian stake winners with £39,323, was tender in the near foreleg as he returned to the enclosure and may not race again. Through most of the two-and-a-quarter-miles race Carbon Copy led Russia by a length. When called upon in the last half-mile the veteran failed to respond.

Persist successfully challenged the former New Zealand filly, «Grey Nurse, in the Adrian Knox Stakes. The -Mr Standfast filly, Mona’s Choice, though the smallest and most heavily-weighted horse in the race, outstayed her rivals to score brilliantly in the Fernhill Handicap. Results:—

Fernhill Handicap, of £1250; one mile. —Mona’s Choice 9.3 Ward 1; Playboy 7.12 Sellwood 2; Ferocious Lass 7.11 Podmore 3. There were 15 starters. Three lengths; half a length. Time, 1.401. Adrian Knox Stakes, of £2500; one mile and a quarter.—Persist 8.7 Sellwood 1; Grey Nurse 8.7 Breasley 2; lolanda 8.7 Thompson 3. There were six starters. Neck; two and a half lengths. Time, 2.8. Dangar Handicap, of £1250; one mile and five furlongs.—Co Re 7.4 Mullane 1; Lady Calm 7.9 Podmore 2; Protect 7.6 Sellwood 3. There were 10 starters. Head; half neck. Time, 2.48. A.J.C. Plate, Of £2000; two miles and a quarter. Carbon Copy 8.2 Breasley .. .. 1 Russia 9.4 Thompson ... .. .. 2 Courier 9.1 Kerrigan .. .. .. 3 Ten lengths; 15 lengths. Time, 4.1. At the Perth meeting, Royal Academy, winner of the St Leger, won the King’s Cup from the favourite, Lady Lucia, after a close struggle in the straight. Result: — I King’s Cup, one mile and a half.— '-Royal Academy 7.1 Smith l;.Lady Lucia 8.8 Pelham 2; Gay .Treat 7JI ' Robinson 3. There were 18 starters. Long head; length and a half. Time, 2.321.

nawelon 12 T. A. Greaney 1; 10-11 Hilda Scott scr S. A. Edwards 2; 5-7 Double Deck 12 J. A. Carmichael 3. 13-13 Best Globe; . 14-15 Doris Grattan;. 12-12 Highland Belle; 9-6 Ipso Facto; 1-1 Merrymaker; 2-2 Perpetua; 6,-8 Saga; 16-17 Shadow Chimes; 17-16 Soviet Star; 4-4 Uranium; 11-5 Glengarry; 15-14 Kimono Girl; 7-9 West Point; 8-10 Awadale nlcn -ctarfprl Length; nose. Merrymaker fourth. Times 3.17; 3.18 1-5; 3.17 3-5. Renown Handicap. Of £950. 3.4 class. One mile and three furlongs.— 1-2 Duncraig scr V. Alborn 1; 2-1 On Approval 12 O. E. Hooper 2; 4-4 Wayfarer 12 M. Holmes 3. *> 8-8 Finesse; 12-12 Northern Lass; 7-5 Daisy Gold; 3-3 Noble de Oro; 10-9 Nola Scott; 9-10 Pirouette; 5-6 Quite Happy; 6-7 Remlap; 11-11 Windermere also started. Two lengths; four lengths. Noble de Oro fourth. Times 2.59;’2.58 2-5; 2.58 4-5. Flying Handicap, of £lO5O. 3.2 class. One mile.and three furlongs.— 1-1 Gay Knight scr M Holmes 1; 5-4 Dragoman 12 H. I. Herbert 2; 3-2 Lady Averil 12 J. B. Pringle 3. 7-7 Dillondale; 15-15 Direct Medium; 13-13 Gamble King; 14-14 Good Review; 2-3 Gough’s Pride; 9-9 Losran Rey; 12-10 Positive; 6-6 Snowflake; 8-8 Jackie Guy bracketed Grattan Drive; 4-5 Congo Song; 10-11 Maida Dillon; 16-16 Turco; 11-12 Nyallo Scott also started. Head; same. Good Review fourth. Times 2-59; 2.58 1-5; 2.58 2-5.