SPORTING Day Of Big Dividends At South Canterbury J.C.

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 May 1949, Page 7

SPORTING Day Of Big Dividends At South Canterbury J.C.

[SPECIAL TO STAB]

CHRISTCHURCH, This Day.—A feature of the first day’s racing of the South Canterbury Jockey Club’s winter meeting on Saturday was the return of big dividends for six races, culminating in a win dividend of over a century and a quarter in the concluding event, the highest recorded in the South Island for many years past.

The first steeplechase of the season in the Canterbury and Otago districts, the. Pareora Hack Steeplechase, attracted the cumbersome field of 17, but only nine survived the course. Although crowded at the first fence, all got over safely, the only mishap being to Troytown’s rider, who lost an iron. There was a scramble to the second obstacle, the stand double, and Kassai struck heavily and fell bringing down Cloister, while Bridgehead and Glad Fox also went out. Dark Game and Troytown then carried on in front from Lunaria, who were headed by Grand. Forest with nearly a round to go, but the last-named crashed at the second of the stand double when going well. Dark Game was joined by Lunaria at the mile post with Troytown, although jumping faultlessly but difficult to control, still in the picture. Whakawatea gradually made up ground in the back stretch and was on terms with Dark Game and Lunaria rounding the home turn with Troytown still handy. Whakawatea was first over the final obstacle, and was not afterwards troubled to win from Lunaria, who similarly beat Dark Game. Troytown weakened into fourth place only two lengths away, and was definitely unlucky. Light Tea was well back next with Ring Scarf, Cavalryman, Snowdale and Gambling Site finishing at intervals. The winner is a six-year-old gelding by Siegfried and is trained at Mosgiel by the former cross-country horseman, E. Hunt.

Batal Surprises Ned Kelly made a bold attempt to lead throughout the principal flat event, the Elloughton Handicap. He pulled very hard once he hit the front, and in spite of his apprentice rider’s efforts to steady him, he had a break of a dozen lengths to the home turn, where Money Lender set out to bridge the gap, with Eriskay, Pandemonium, Detain and Batal also improving their positions. Ned Kelly led into the straight by a length only from Money Lender who joined him at the distance, but could not carry on. Batal and Thornbridge then appeared on the outside, and Batal, completing his work in an impressive manner, got up right on the post to snatch the honours from the pacemaker. Thornbridge showed improvement by a close third placing a length in front of Eriskay, who put up a creditable effort under her solid weight. Pandemonium, Money Lender, Air Ace and Responsive followed.

- Investors were once again astray in summing up the Seadown Handicap field, which included several proved sprinters, as the little-fancied Vitamin, making her first appearance in open class, set her opponents a difficult task by streaking to the front early, and holding a substantial lead turning for home from Whitley, Flying Orders, and Fonso, with Bambalina, who dwelt on the mark and lost several lengths, coming into the picture wide out. Fonso had Whitley beaten inside the distance, drew up to Vitamin and Bambalina then challenged with a powerful effort. In a blanket finish, Vitamin held on long enough to gain the narrowest verdict from Fonso, with Bambalina a head away, and a length and a half in front of Whitley, with Trafalgar Day at the head of the remainder. Vitamin had had enough at the post, and Bambalina would have been the winner in another stride or two. Bright Display

Night Fighter jumped to the front at the end of a mile in the Tekapo Hurdles, and was not afterwards in danger. He was some eight lengths in front of Voltaire, Air Lord and Gold Song racing together turning for home, and although this gap was considerably reduced after the last fence, he was being eased up at the post, to finish clear of Gold Song, with Grill showing his best form for some time, finishing solidly into third place. Voltaire, who ran a sound race in view of his proposed trip to the North Island, was a length away. The Invercargill-trained Mr Micawber by Defaulter, went to the front inside the final furlong of the Claremont Hack Handicap, and soon placed the issue beyond doubt, winning easily from Oronoko, who narrowly beat Orthodox, with the pacemaker Philip Laing two lengths back. The favourite, Open Sky, was never prominent. Top Class, trained at Washdyke, was confidently supported to win the concluding event, confined to apprentice riders, but was always out of the picture. Night Ruler and Elofa piloted the field to the home turn, and the latter had charge inside the final furlong, but Swift Action, who was near the real' over the middle stages, unwound a burst of speed in the straight, and got up right on the post to head off the leader. Flying Fort was a close third, half a length in front of Waveloch and Lecturer. The winner is trained at Orari by P. Stock for Mr J. J. Earl, whose colours have not been successful for some time past.

Oversized Fields The two trotting events attracted oversized fields, and a great number in each race failed to go away correctly or broke up during the running. Phyllis Gold was responsible for a meritorious effort in winning the Opihi Handicap from 48 yards. She gradually drew up to the front after half the journey had been covered and had a clear lead entering the straight. She appeared to be in for a decisive win, but Blue Signal threw out a late challenge and actually headed her a stride past the post.-Mis-chievous, second to the straight, was a close third, two lengths in front of Banquet Hall. Tradition led to the home turn in the Beaconsfield Trot, but then gave way to Joygiver and Wrackdale, who led into the straight from Pretty Dillon and Special Match. Joygiver did not carry on, and Wrackdale had enough in hand to hold off Pretty Dillon with Special Match third, a neck in front of Sir Leonard. The totalisator handled £36,708 10s, against £35,906 on the corresponding day last year. The weather was threatening throughout the day, but the track provided good going.

Remaining results: — Claremont Hack Handicap, of £200; six furlongs.—2-1 Mr Mibawber 9.0 C. M. Cassidy 1: 6-8 Oronoko 8.1 car. 7.12 D. F. Coombe 2; 3-4 Orthodox 9.0 car. 8.7 A. Palmer 3. 5-5 Phillip Laing, 4-3 All’s Fair, 1-2 Open Sky, 14-13 Queen’s General, 13-12 Gipsy Major, 9-11 Double Deck, 8-6 Highthorne, 12-14 Sky

High, 15-15 Lorenzo, 6-7 Golden Victory, 10-9 Personality, 11-10 Golden Girl, 17-17 Wee Doria, 16-16 New Shoes also started. Length and a half; neck. Phillip Laing fourth. Time, 1.13 3-5. Opihi Trot Handicap, of £210; 3.37 class; one mile and a half.—s-9 Phyllis Gold 48 R. Bebbington 1; 8-8 Blue Signal scr I. Smillie 2; 11-10 Mischievous 24 H. I. Herbert 3.

15-16 Artless and Sergeant Major bracketed, 13-17 Banquet Hall and Sand Spray. bracketed, 4-4 Bedelia and Empire Lady bracketed, 19-18 Debonair and Nankin bracketed, 3-3 Gallant Day and Native Royal bracketed, 6-5 Farlena and Paul Defiant bracketed, 7-6 Queen of Scots and Final Return bracketed, 16-14 True Dora and Wee Clare bracketed, 20- Authority, 1-2 Clean Sweep, 18-19 Highland Prince, 9-11 Loriot, 2-1 Mystery Maid, 21-23 Patrician, 10-7 Swithindale, 12-13 Union Jack, 17-5 Van Dieman, 23-22 Willow Hall, 21- Major Gaillard, 14-12 Our Flick-a also started. Half-head; two lengths. Banquet Hall fourth. Times: 3.20, 3.24 1-5, 3.22 3-5. Elloughton Handicap, Of £500; one mile and three furlongs. 10-9 Batal 7.4 A. N. Didham .. 1 3- Ned Kelly 7.0 M. H. Hillis 2 4- Thornbridge 7.9 car. 7.8 N. A. Crombie 3

1-1 Eriskay, 6-6 Detain, 8-10 Air Ace, 5-5 Money Lender, 2-2 Pandemonium, 7-7 Responsive, 9-8 Sally Gazelle, 11-11 Page’s Raid also started. Head; length. Eriskay fourth. Time, 2.22 1-5. Pareora Hack Steeplechase, of £250; about two miles and a half.— 9-11 Whakawhatea 9.0 car. 9.8* S. G. Shaw 1; 6-4 Lunaria 10.11 W. Barr 2; 12-12 Dark Game 9.0 car. 9.31 A. J. Williams 3.

4-6 Bridgehead, 3-3 Glad Fox, 1-1 Kassai, 2-2 Cloister, 5-7 Troytown, 7- Ring Scarf, 10-9 Grand Forest, 8- Light Tea, 14-14 Jovial Hour, 11-10 Cavalryman, 15-15 Gambling Site, 13-13 Snowdale, 16-16 Badnock, 17-17 Sii' Willoughby also started. Six lengths; five lengths. Troytown fourth. Time, 4.17. Seadown Handicap, of £300; six furlongs.—B-8 Vitamin 7.1 car. 7.0 M. H. Hillis 1; 3-6 Fonso 7.0 car. 7.3 W. F. Ellis 2; 1-2 Bambalina 7.12 W. Skelton 3.

6-5 Trafalgar Day, 4-1 Whitley, 5-3 Flying Orders, 16-16 Lord Dundonald, 2-4 Lady Christine, 10-11 Bonny Royal, 7-7 Special Flight, 11-9 Bay Fort, 9-10 Turora, 13-13

Newspaper, 12-14 Zorro, 14-12 Saieda, 15-15 General Argosy also started. Half head; head. Whitley fourth. Time, 1.15 1-5. Beaconsfield Trot Handicap, of £260; 3.33 class; one mile and a half.—B-7 Wrackdale scr T. Thompson 1; 4-5 Pretty Dillon scr W. A. Thomas 2; 11-9 Special Match scr W. C. Barron 3.

6-6 Double Scotch and TechnicoZour bracketed, 17-14 Will Scarlet and Hendon bracketed, 14-15 lona Hall and Metropolis bracketed, 4-5 Nature Girl bracketed Pretty Dillon, 7-8 Sir Leonard and Commentator bracketed, 5-4 Joygiver and General Scott bracketed, 14-17 Stratosphere, 9-10 Piccolo, 1-1 Bromley Lad and Tradition bracketed, 2-2 Clever Jack and Lochinvar bracketed, 10-12 Final Return and Kildare bracketed, 11-9 Esperanto bracketed Special Match, 13-11 Fulgent and Master Mariner bracketed, 19-18 Monty Frisco and Retribution bracketed, 3-3 Fanciful, 22-22 Sure Jinks, 16-16 Ben’s Son, 12-13 Fernbrook Jack, 21-21 Gold Nip, 18-20 Milford Lad, 20-19 Expensive also started. Length; two lengths. Sir Leonard fourth. Times: 3.20, 3.20 2-5, 3.20 4-5. Kingstown Hack Handicap, of £250; apprentice riders; one mile and 35 yards.—ls-11 Swift Action 7.7 car. 8.3 C. M. Cassidy 1; 5-5 Elofa 7.7 C. F. King 2; 2-3 Flying Fort 7.13 car 8.4 D. F. Coombe 3.

1-2 Top Class, 7-7 Vanity, 3-1 Lecturer, 4-4 Don’t Listen, 13-14 Encounter, 6-6 Royal Dollar, 9-10 Waveloch, 10-9 Dark Warrior, 11-12 Lady Adeline, 15-16 Inspiring, 12-13 Avignon, 14-5 City Light, 8-8 Night Ruler also started. Half head; half length. Waveloch fourth. Time, 1.45.

Australian Racing In heavy rain and mud, which caused the withdrawal of 29 acceptors for Tattersails Club meeting at Randwick, the veteran Trevor won the Flying Handicap. He broke clear entering the straight and ran away from the field. Air Flare, considered one of the most travelled horses in Australia, having raced in four States, gave a similar performance in the James Barnes Plate. Results: —

Flying Handicap, of £1000; six furlongs.—Trevor 7.8 Selkrig 1; Riptide 8.0 Podmore 2; Midwise 7.6 Faggotter 3. There were nine starters. Time, 1.17. James Barnes Plate, of £1250; one mile and a quarter.—Air Flare 7.13 Sellwood 1; lolanda 8.2 Thompson 2; Silver Link 9.2 Moore 3. Six started. Time, 2.17,}.

Greymouth J.C. The nominations for the Greymouth Jockey Club’s winter meeting at Omoto on June 4 and 11, close at 9 o’clock this evening.