COMMENT ON FORM

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24104, 24 October 1941, Page 5

COMMENT ON FORM

INDIAN SIGN LUCKY

KEEN STRUGGLE WITH RINK BATTLEDRESS PROVES HIMSELF n. TT WEL MNGTON. Thursday J lie bJen Hurdles was won decisively by Stella Lux. Majority made the pace and was joined at the mile by Great Quo.x. On the home turn, Student nncc ami Stella Lux joined the two leaders. Night Dress was not going well alter a poor jump at the five furlongs. >tella Lux passed Student Prince in the run to the last fence and she beat him easily with Luoullus Jioy closing up in third place. Night Dress hung on for fourth with Miss Leighon next and Majority last. AvMn 1 i ar $ eI S Scot , tis |» »ale. Sandy Bay Willow Wood and Deolali led on to the course proper an the first division of t e . Tlu .' aka Handicap. In the last furlong Deolali ran to the front and won runningawav from Sandy Bay, who finished a itUe better than Dajjarrock, with Scottish Dale weakening to fourth. Willow Wood, Grand Chase and Arctic, Night were next. n,iJ? f secon «l division, the South Island fihp d "?M , a ( S "l art wlnner in Egyptian Hose, nl 4 ■ u? 1 l \ ecome prominent fill well in T f-iv tV* 1 } 1 ' cre thc lcadcrs vverp Theatre, Lady Derby, Croupisino, Ata Puwhero ami „,?h r\ h^' pt , ia , 1 ! R ," se ( '-" ,,e on »l»e outside and like Deolali, she drew away for a de»f. l h e „ w i, n - Vi 2 . d 'Honnour appeared late and Croupisino then came Theatre, Atreus, Cay Dancer and High Class P«n w«.?Jn at fi , nisl '.*? the Wainni Handiw'a •r t \ r,h - 'V 10 , dlv , lde <» favouritism with Wild ialk, just defeated Minority, who was in front a stride past the post. Hearth had a Stood run next the rails all the way. hut Minority, with hotiia, was last to leave the harrier and although lie secured a good run on the. inner and was handv at the false rail his effort was excellent. Bodcn Park went immediately into the lead, with Hearth cose up, seventh. Rakahanga took charge at the three furlongs and led into the straight from Boden Park, White Rajah, Fiving Spv bigiow, Hearth and Minority. Hearth took charge inside the last furlong, Minority just failing to get up. Par Avion, finishing very strongly, was a good third, and Wild lalk, one of the last to turn for home, put in a wonderful effort to be a close fourth. Spectacular Steeplechase The Churchill Steeplechase provided one of the most spectacular races ever seen on the course. The favourite was the Grand -National winner, Astral Flame, and he gave his supporters a great run. He appeared to hold the issue fairly 6afc coming to the last fence, but there he made the only real blunder in the long journey. Before he could recover, Summons had ranged alongside and he also ran in badly on Astral Flame, giving the latter a severe check. Conflagration, finishing strongly from a handy position, wore down Summons for a decisive win. Astral Flame was kept going for third, with Fundy Bay fourth. Gladynev outstayed his rivals in the Wellington Handicap. Night Pilot made the pace until displaced at the mile by Beau Ciel. They were followed by The Baker, Gladynev, The Monarch. Trench Law and Lambourn, with Happy Ending heading the others. Beau Ciel was closely followed into the straight by Night Pilot, Amigo, Lambourn and Gladynev. Night Pilot was clear half-wav up the straight, but Gladynev soon asserted his superiority, while eventually Night . Pilot was outstayed by Lambourn for second. Happy Ending was finishing on well un in fourth place, attended by The Baker, Beau Ciel, Piastre, Wardress, The Monarch and Trench Law. Two-Year-Old Battle Indian Sign added the Wellesley Stakes to his record by a narrow and fortunate success over Rink, who drew one at the post but missed the jump-out, being last on. to the course proper. Indian Sign took over from the earlv leaders, Transcend. Foreign Princess and Dash Up, leaving the false rail, but Ring came fast from the distance and got on terms. Indian Sign was able to produce an extra effort, but Rink was going the better again at the post. The topweight, Kentucky, was responsible for a solid effort in winning the Shorts Handicap from a strong field. He was always fairly handv and was too good for the three-year-old Burra Sahib, who had run down the leaders in the last furlong. Black Majesty, Pav Roll and Autolite piloted a bunched field on to the course proper with the exception of Transmitter, who was badly left and" was not in the running Burra came through between Circular -Note and Black Majesty and looked to be the winner but further out on the track, Kentucky put in a great run and got the verdict. Autrment finished well into third place, Monetary was up with the leaders inside the last furlong, but he was squeezed back and Boswell suffered similarly. Enrich me trouble just outside the two furlongs arid lost his rider, H N. Wiggins who hroke Ins leg. Enrich was well back at the time. Battiedress and Salutation shared favonrit. urn in the October Handicap and although Battiedress was called upon to concede the Dunedin Guineas winner JOlb when she claimed an apprentice allowance, he was good enough to do so. However, had Salutation had a stronger rider, the probabilities, are that, she would have reversed the placing*;. Auburn Lad set a sound pace with Gay Genet, Gold Dip, Wild Fox and Wildfire handv. Gav Genet looked likely but Battledress' made his run and soon drew . clear. Salutation gradually gained on him in the run home, but she was still a length to the had at the finish. Gay Genet hung on for thivd from Wild Talk, who ran a fine race for a fresh horse.