NIGHT OWL HAS EASY WIN AT DUNEDIN MEETING

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 September 1949, Page 7

NIGHT OWL HAS EASY WIN AT DUNEDIN MEETING

[SPECIAL TO STAR]

DUNEDIN, This Day.—The principal event at the Dunedin Jockey Club's meeting, the Banfurly Handicap, was won by Night Owl, who thus recorded his most successful effort to date. Pageant was "the early pacemaker from Night Owl, but with little pace on over the first half-mile. Thornbridge did not last long, and Night Owl and Pageani were abreast turning for home from Some Sal, Western Front, Nullah, and Fine Night.

Pageant faded out as soon a,s the serious stages were reached and Night Owl drew out from Western Front, who put in some telling work but had no chance of getting to the leader. Some Sal also finished well to gain third money two lengths in front of Fine Night, who was followed by Pageant and Signal Officer. Helio struck ground apparently to his liking in the October Handicap. He lost ground early through slipping, but after tailing off for two furlongs, he took advantage of a wide opening on the rails rounding the home bend, and when the straight was reached he was close up to the leaders Terminus, Beaumaris and Royal Sal. Terminus, failing to act in the going, retired as soon as heads vrere turned for home, and Helio soon had the measure of Beaumaris and beat him going away. Royal Sal was a close third, a length in front of Magnaform, who beat Gold Song by a nose. Mount Barker. Crease, Foxella and Prawns followed. Trinidad Improving

Sir Abbot was sent out win favourite for the Telegraph Handicap, and made a bold bid, but was decisively beaten by Trinidad. Jle got away well on this occasion, and was close up to Attractive Air and Western Winner turning for home, with Extra Flight and Trinidad handy. Attractive Air then drew out to have a commanding lead a furlong from home, but Trinidad soon bridged the gap, and carried on for a very easy win. Attractive Air stopped badly nearing the post, and Sir Abbot ran into second place, while Western Winner got up to beat her by a head for third money. Diameter failed to race up to his previous form at any stage of the Spring Hurdles, and was one of the last to finish. Turora went to the front before half a mile from home, and entered the straight well clear of Quadrille, Moonlit, Ara Chief and Burnbrae. Ara Chief put in some solid work after the last fence, and had Turora doing his best at the post, but the latter was always the winner. Moonlit was a close third, a length in front of Burnbrae, who beat Quadrille by a head. In spite of his recent minor placing's, Detention was sent out at a false price in the Trial Handicap. He and Prefect were the first to show cut, and they carried on abreast from Indiana to the straight entrance, where Prefect retired. Detention then went on to win without any pressure from Indiana who held off a late run by AH Hurry, who beat Aberdare by a head, with Ranieri and Prefect next.

Another Riccarton representative in Royal Scrip had a comfortable victory in the Kaikorai Handicap. Philip Laing acted as pacemaker to the home turn, when he gave way to Haughty Lyric and Royal Scrip. The latter gradually drew out, and had an easy win from Haughty Lyric, while Pacific Edition came from well back for third, a neck in front of Flying Fort. Marut’s Good Effort Cast High was preferred to Marut in the concluding event, but after he had acted as leader for six furlongs, he drifted out of the contest, and Morning Watch took over to lead into the straight from Show Boy, Redlo, Marut and Military Chief. Morning Watch appeared to have the race in hand inside the final furlong, but Marut reeled off a creditable effort to get up to beat her fairly comfortably. Redlo held on for third, half a length in front of Show Boy, Military Chief, Dad’s Pal and Kosher.

The McLean Stakes, the first classic of the season for two-year-olds in the South Island, was expected to provide a clcse contest, but because of the changed track conditions and to the fact that the youngsters had to endure a snow shower while parading at the post and during the running of the race, several failed to perform up to their earlier promises. Brutus turned round at the start and took no part in the race and Betula and Dunkirk settled their chances by dwelling on the mark. White Robe was the first to come into view and carried on to lead into the straight from Delayed, Pastel and Purple Sage with Sharessa and Original handy. Delayed soon drew past the leader in the run home and although Sharessa made a promising effort to bridge the gap. Delayed had an effortless win in 50 sec. White Robe held on to be a close third beating Purple Sage by a nose in a photo finish. There was then a gap to Pastel (who was galloped on early in the, race and will not race on the second day), Way Home, Dunkirk, Christian Dior, Rosehaven and Original in that order. Winner Changes Hands A few minutes after the race was decided, Mr D. McFarlane of Christchurch became the owner of Delayed. He was offered the youngster for 1200 guineas before the race, but no business resulted, and in spite of De•layed’s encouraging win, which brought in £350, Mr Halliday did not increase -the price, and Mr McFarlane decided to take him. Delayed was immediately transferred to A. E. Didham,' who will race him next at Trenthem. Delayed was entered lor the Trentham yearling sales, but was not sent north, and was offered at the bloodstock sale at Wingatui in June, and was passed in at 550 guineas, the reserve being 1000 guineas. It was not long after having his first serious sprints that he showed indications of early speed, and his’ owner and trainer were very confident of his prospects on Saturday. The spring meeting of the Dunedin Jockey Club was opened on Saturday in the worst conditions experienced at this time of the year, in the history of the club. Rain and sleet showers began to fall in the early morning and as the day progressed, there were intermittent heavy falls of sleet and snow. In consequence, the attendance was very small, and many racegoers left the course before the. programme concluded. The track was not affected to much extent for the early races, but cut out badly towards the end, and tended to upset calculations. Results:— ) Spring Hurdle Handicap, of £4OO. One mile and three-quarters. —1-1 Turora 9.9 B. S. Wilson 1; 12-12 Ara Chief 9.3 A. J. Williams 2; 7-8 Moonlit 9.3 L. Barr 3. 5-7 Desert Trek; 2-3 Diameter; Illi Vanity King; 3-4 Air Ace; 9-6 Quadrille; 14-14 Broadway Star; 1515 Jump Off; 13-13 Valiant Prince;] 10-10 Turf Topic; 4-2- Siegfofrh;. 8-9

Burnbrae; 6-5 Miro Chabo also started. Three-quarters of a length; Burnbrae fourth. Time, 3.17 3-5. Trial Handicap, of .£250. Seven furlongs.—3-3 Detention 8.13 R. W. Shaw 1; 1-1 Indiana 8.11 L. J. Ellis 2; 6-5 All Hurry 8.6, W. F. Ellis 2. 18-9 Farrago; 12-12 Night. Ruler; 2.-2 Prefect; 5-4 Spice; 22-22 Balan; 21-21 Diabolo; 10-10 Jolyon arid Nellabee bracketed; 9-9 Correct Change; 16-16 Muniockie; 8-8 Reformed; 1617 Aberdare; 11-11 Barry; 23-23 Home Circle; 4-6 Jamell; 19-15 Mime; 13- Nalla’s Pride and Paper Folly bracketed; 14-14 Radical and Salmagaro bracketed; 15-18 Sir Dragan and Sir Miladieux bracketed; 20-20 Tawny and Cranreuch bracketed also started. Five lengths; length. Aberdare fourth. Time, 1.29. Kaikorai Handicap, of £3OO. Seven furlongs.—3-3 Royal Scrip 7.10 J. T. Anderson 1; 6-7 Haughty Lyric 7.10 R. W. Gould 2; 7-8 Pacific Edition 7.7 E. G. Low 3. 1- Great Bid; 10-12 Bayboa; 8-10 War Game; 5-5 Flying Fort; 11-9 Philip Laing; 4-4 Sir Raimond; 13-13 Faustina: 12-11 Strathaird; 2-2 Winning Gem; 13-14 Chaffinch; 9-6 Kildare Lad also started. Two lengths; four lengths. Flving Fort fourth. Time 1.30. Telegraph Handicap, of £450. Six furlongs.—6-6 Trinidad 7.2 C. F. King 1: 1-2 Sir Abbot 7.8 E. G. Low 2; 5-5 Western Winner 7.13 J. W. Dooley 3. 12-13 Frances; 7-7 Sterling Lad; 3- Faites vos Jeux; 14-14 Jan; 4-4 Extra Flight: 10-10 Red Pickle; 13-12 Bobby Dazzler; 9-8 Gold King; 15-15 Dymondy; 2-1 Attractive Air; 8-9 Paper View; 11-11 Sequoia also started. Three lengths; neck. Attractive Air was fourth. Time, 1-.16 2-5. Ranfurly Handicap, Of £6OO. One mile and three furlongs. 4- Night Owl 7.12 W. D. Skelton 1 1- Western Front 8.3 W. F. Ellis 2 3-3 Some Sai 7.2 E. G. Low .. 3 7-8 Signal Officer; 5-5 Fine Night; 6-6 Nullah; 8-7 Thornbridge; 2-2 Pageant also started. Two lengths; length and a half. Fine Night fourth. Time, 2.24 4-5. McLean Stakes, of £5OO. For two-vear-olds. Four furlongs.—4-2 Delayed 8.5 A. N. Didham 1; 10-10 Sharessa 8.0 W. D. Skelton 2; 6-7 White Robe 8.0 A. J. Powell 3. 2- Brutus; 3-4 Dunkirk; 16-15 Master Galloway; 12-14 St Columba; 14- Reminiscent and Full Tilt bracketed; 7-9 Way Home; 11-12 Christian Dior; 5-5 Betula; 12-13 Bob’s Daughter; 1-1 Pastel; 15-16 Original; 9-8 Purple Sage; 8-6 Rosehaven also started. Two lengths; length. Purple Sage fourth. Time, 50. October Handicap, of £4OO. One mile.—3-4' Helio 9.0 N. A. Crombie 1; 2- Beaumaris 8.7 R. W. Shaw 2; 12-9 Royal Sal 8.1 E. E. Hunt 3. 5-5 Mount Barker; 4-3 Magnaform; 6-6 Speedy; 7-7 Gold Song; 1-1 Terminus; 13-13 Prawns; 10-10 Foxella; 11-11 Robinfaye; 8-12 Zorro; 9-8 Crease also started. Two lengths; length. Magnaform fourth. Time, 1.45. Clarendon Hack Handicap, of £350. One mile and three furlongs.—2-2 Marut 9.2 D. J. Thistoll 1; 9-8 Morning Watch 8.2 W. D. Skelton 2; 11-11 Redlo 7.7 A. N. Didham 3.

1-1 Cast High; 4-6 Dad’s Pal; 6-7 Military Chief; 5-6 Show Boy; 5-5 Dinnyhazcr; 8-9 Golden Air; 10-10 Kosher; 12-12 Page’s Raid; 3-3 Albert John; 13-13 Lady Pegasus also started. Half length; two lengths. Show Boy fourth. Time, 2.25 2-5.