SEVERAL FORM UPSETS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26349, 2 January 1947, Page 8

SEVERAL FORM UPSETS

SAN QUENTIN AT LONG ODDS (Special) INVERCARGILL, Jan. 1. Lorna Leigh was the first out and first home in the Trial Plate Handicap. Racing across the top she was clear of Soft Light, Nomad, Absentee, Dark Warrior, and Defendant, with the others well strung out. In the run home Lorna Leigh was not seriously challenged to win by three lengths. Absentee finished better than Soft Light to beat her by two lengths for second. Dark Warrior was a moderate fourth. There was a great finish to the Kiwi Trot Handicap in which Hall Stand got up to secure a narrow decision over Novelda and Arawa Lad, Hall Stand was always handily placed In the running, but with six furlongs to go he was being hard driven in fourth place behind Sure Bond, Double Scotch, and Little Chief. Novelda put in a good run round her field from the half-mile, and she was first Into the straight from Double Scotch, Hall Stand, Arawa Lad, and Little Chief. Novelda looked the winner a few yards from the post, but Hall Stand finished too well for her to secure a nose decision. Arawa Lad finished strongly to be half a head away third. * Impressive Win Benbecula returned to the winning list by an impressive performance in the Wyndham Cup. He was back in fifth place behind Wild Cry. Sea Power, Joygiver and Black Light with six furlongs to run. At the home turn he secured a good run on the inner to follow Sea Power and Black Light into the straight. Benbecula finished too well for Sea Power over the last furlong and he got up to beat him by a neck. Black Light, who was .always prominent, stayed on to be a length away third, ahead of Solver, Grand Forest, Salad, Linloch and Siogform Sea Power’s effort was a sound one, as he was left in front when Wild Cry stopped with half a mile to run. Even then Sea Power fought on strongly when challenged by Benbecula. There was another upset in the Members’ Hack Handicap, in which' Stagestruck outstayed Desert Girl and Luminous Knight in a tight finish. Sea Venture began to drop out at the end of three furlongs, and Desert Girl and Stagestruck were first into the straight from Luminous Knight, High Counsel and Winning Cheer. In the run home, Stagestruck did better than Desert Girl to beat her by a neck. Luminous Knight finished fast to be a head away third. After making practically all the running in the President's Handicap, Listen In finished better than Young Bob over the last furlong to beat him by half a length. Young Bob, who was one of the last, to jump out, joined Listen In in. the lead with three furlongs to run, and they were first into the straight from Wantwood, Real Chase, Crinkle and Fleet Street. Listen In always had the measure of Young Bob over the last half furlong, to beat him by half a length. Wantwood, who hung out in the run home, lasted long enough to beat Fleet Street for third. New Year Handicap There was another good finish in the New Year Handicap, in which Merry Lancer lasted long enough to beat Rhine Lord by a head, with Aldair a further head back third Merry Lancer stuck to his task gamely in the run home. Aldair was finishing on in third position, and then canje Aldis Lamp and Norse Lass Beaten in Last Strides Trustee tried to win the Victory Trot Handicap from end to end, but he failed in the last few strides to hold off Loyal Chum, who was always one of the leaders. Trustee was hotly challenged by Loyal Chum in the run home, and the lastnamed got up to win by a head. Royal Gamble was a fair third, ahead of Loyal Boy, Oporo Sally Lynn and Arion Thorpe 9 Visitors’ Handicap Whakawhatea monopolised the betting for the Visitors’ High-weight Handicap, but he was never a possibility. The winner turned up in San Quentin, who returned a win dividend of nearly a quarter of a century. Pageantry and San Quentin were the first into the straight frorm Invulnerable, Red Prize and Whakawatea. San Quentin finished better than Pageantry, to beat him by half a length, with Red Prize two lengths away third, ahead of Bath Slipper and Whakawhatea