NOTES ON THE RUNNING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26352, 6 January 1947, Page 7

NOTES ON THE RUNNING

BLANKET FINISH IN SPRINT (Special) INVERCARGILL, Jan. 4. The Hazlett bracket of French Knight and Kassai was backed down to an almost even-money price for the Avenal Hurdles and they justified it by finishing first and third. French Knight made several bad jumps but he held his position in the field and at the home turn he joined the leader. Filibeg. In the run home French Knight stayed on to .beat Filibeg by threequarters of a length. Kassai finished from the back to be half a length away third and then came Banco, Royal Writ. Gamble, and Courtdress. Invulnerable fell at the second to last fence when moving up. Makarewa Handicap Desert Girl won the Makarewa Handicap from end to end. At the half-mile she was closely attended by High Counsel, Nigger Lad, Kyron, Faithful Pal, Norse Lass and Luminous Knight. There was little change in the order at the home turn, where the favourite Aganev, made up some ground. Desert Girl was first into the straight from Nigger Lad, Luminous Knight, Aganev and Spare Part, who had lost several lengths at the start. Over the last furlong Desert Girl was challenged by Nigger Lad, Luminous Knight and Aganev in turn. Desert Girl stuck to her task gamely to beat the fast-finishing Aganev by a head, with Luminous Knight half a head away third. Nigger Lad was a head back fourth, and Spare Part and Aldair next. Aldair was never a possibility, while Grand Pal and Connaught were slow on the journey. A Certainty Beaten Lyndall, a firm favourite for the Shorts Handicap, was a certainty beaten when she was third in a blanket finish. Special Plight was the early leader from Sailor s Pal, Black Light, Sterling Lad and Young Bob, and they were first into the straight from Lyndall, who was giving the leaders several lengths. In the run home Special Flight was tackled by Black Light and Young Bob, and Lyndall made a dab on the inner, but was badly checked an , ( L, ne ? rlj : fell - * Young Bob finished solidly to beat Black Light by a neck, with Lyndall finishing better than anything half a head away third. Special Flight was a head further back fourth, and then came Fleet Street, Real Chase, and Sterling Lad. Young Bob secured an excellent run throughout, and he was ridden a vigorous finish by the apprentice A. N. Didham Southland Handicap Foxchase came into his own in the Southland Handicap, in which he received a perfect run throughout and finished too well for Pride of Mossburn. who looked a winner just short of the post. Solver had taken charge racing down the back from Pride of Mossburn, Sea Power, Aurora Australis and Foxchase and Eriskay at the head of the others. At the half mile Sea Power took charge from Solver Aurora Australis, Pride of Mossburn with a break of two lengths to Foxchase and Linloch, with Eriskay another two lengths away. Pride of Mossburn joined Sea Power in the lead at the home turn, and they led Aurora Australis, Foxchase and Eriskay into the straight. Pride of Mossburn headed Sea Power when the field straightened up, but over the last half furlong he was tackled by Foxchase, who got up to win by a head. Sea Power was half a length further back third, and Eriskay a neck away fourth. Aurora Australis was four lengths further back.

Two-year-old Stakes Beaugard tried to win the Two-year-old Stakes all the way, but Oronoko finished much too well for him to win by threequarters of a length Eeaugard was smartest out, but he was joined by Doulton at the ena of a furlong, and they led round the home turn and were first into the straight fro.n Oronoko and Full Play. Beaugard headed Douiton at the distance, where Orouoxo put in his claim and he finished nicely to beat Beaugard, with Doulton third. A One-horse Race Stirling Castle made a one-horse race of the Rosedale Harness Trot. He took charge with half a mile to run, and, after being eight lengths clear round the home turn, he coasted home an easy winner by 15 lengths. It was one of the most clearcut winning performances seen for many a long day. Grattan Drive was a creditable second, a length in front of Lady Vi. After being well placed right through, Moneymate was fourth ahead of Loyal Chum and Leonin. A Good Betting Race The Summer Cup was one of the best betting races of the day, with Kite High a good favourite. San Quentin opened up an* early lead, but the field gathered him at the half-mile, where Rhine Lord took charge fron» Kite High, San Quentin, Merry Lancer, Salmon Spear, Air Chief, Red Prize, • and Pageantry. , Rhine Lord led a close-running field round the

home turn, where Pageantry was oadly checked. Rhine Lord was headed by Kite High immediately the field straightened up in the run home, where Merry Lancer, Salmon Spear, and Air Chief were handy. Kite High looked a winner 100 yards from the post, when Salmon Spear got through on the inner to beat him by a neck. Pageantry finished with a late run to be a head away third, and then came Waiau King. The Final Handicap Grill was the heaviest-backed horse of the meeting in the Final Handicap, which he duly won, but he had nothing to spare. Benbecula, who was placed on the extreme outer, lost three or four lengths when the field jumped away. Great Coon and Grand Forest forced the pace to the straight entrance, where Benbecula was right up with them, and Grill was down on the rails. Halfway down the running Grill appeared to have little chance of getting through on the inner, but when the opening did come he shot through on the rails to get up in the last few strides and beat Benbecula by a long neck. Great Coon was a head away third, with Grand Forest two lengths back.