Highland Fling Has Effortless Victory In World’s Record Time

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26917, 1 November 1948, Page 2

Highland Fling Has Effortless Victory In World’s Record Time

(Special) CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 31. Never before has there been such a crowd at Addington as there was yesterday when the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s Cup meeting was opened in fine weather. The track was in first-class order as was proved by the times recorded. Highland Fling had a thrilling reception when he won the New Zealand Cup for the second time in succession. The cheering started when he made his run about four furlongs from home, and as he came down the straight to be a decisive winner in world’s winning race record time, the cheering rose to a crescendo. It was a sensational performance, his winning margin being six lengths. He bobbled slightly at the start and was timed to go 4min 7 l-ssec from post to post, the first mile in 2min 4 4-ssec, and the mile and a-half in 3min 7 3-ssec. No excuses could be made for any of the others. Mr C. S. Thomas, the president of the club, echoed the sentiments of everyone on the course when he described Highland Fling as the greatest horse in the world. The winner was decorated with a garland of flowers by Mrs Thomas.

Victoria Handicap The public -was wide of the mark in the first race, the Victoria Handicap, the winner, Loyal Nelson, paying over half a century on the win machine and over double figures for a place. Bay Machine. Starshell and Democrat failed to begin smoothly and as they came through the straight and past the post the first time Loyal Nelson was followed by Pimpernel Tam o’ Shanter, Bonny Scott, Notus, Water Ranger, and Indemnity. Running down the back Indemnity put in a fast run to run up to Notus, who had taken the lead, and they were trailed by Loyal Nelson. Into the last round it was Indemnity from Notus, Loyal Nelson, Bonny Scoff, Tam o’ Shanter, Water Ranger, Pimpernel, and Proprietor. Mountmellick dropped out of the race over half a mile from home, and Indemnity, Notus, Loyal Nelson, and Bonny Scott were first into the! straight. Fifty yards from the post thdre was nothing between Notus, Indemnity. Bonny Scott, and Loyal Nelson, and the last-named, under a hard drive, wori by a neck from Bonny Scott, with Notus a length away, and Indemnity, who wab stopping,,, fourth. The order after that was Proprietor, Tam o’ Shanter, Water Ranger, and Starshell. [ Spring Handicap and Nationalist broke at the start of the Spring Handicap, and Gold Weed began brilliantly to lead past the post by four lengths from Blackdale, Belle Header, Jimmy Scott, Jimmy Dillon, and Jason's Quest, who also began quickly. Running down the back, Gold Weed drew further ahead to lead by about a dozen lengths from Belle Header, who was closely attended by Blackdale, Jimmy Scott, Jimmy Dillon, and Jason's Quest, with Keen Blade beginning to move up. Coming through the straight and up to the post with a round to go Gold Weed was still well clear from Jimmy Scott, Belle Header, Jason's Quest, and Keen'Blade. Gold Weed was coming back to the field as they raced across the bottom bend for the last time, and as he turned into the straight he was closely attended by Jimmy Scott and Keen Blade, with Jason’s Quest-next and Heir Apparent, who had been a long way back, coming into the picture. Keen Blade drew up to Gold Weed, who went into a break just short of the post, and Keen Blade won by two lengths from Gold Weed, with Jimmy Scott a length away and Heir Apparent, finishing well, half a length further back. Then came Vindictive Lady, Jason’s Quest, and Bellisima, who was not prominent in the early running. Rlccarton Stakes A photo was called for to decide the first, second and fourth placings in the Rlccarton Stakes, In which Aerogard. Helen Grattan, Night Raider and Monte Frisco lost their chances at the start. Merrymaker led out, and \yith half a mile coveted he was followed by Spring Fancy, Scottish Nurse, Croughton, Rayon, Bronze Gold, Sphere and Bright Horizon. Merrymaker showed the way past the stands, and there was little alteration in the order until the field swung into the back stretch, where Scottish Nurse moved up to second place, and Star Rosa was making up ground Merrymaker was the first to turn for home from Croughton,' Scottish Nurse, and Bronze Gold, but Croughton soon headed him off, to be challenged’ himself by Bronze Gold, who won in the last stride. Star Rosa finished well for third, and Rayon was'fourth,followed by Bright Horizon, Scottish Nurse and Spring Fancy. ’ New Zealand Clip Excitement was running high as the field for the Cup was marshalled into the tapes, and a murmur swept the crowd when the favourite, Highland Fling, bobbled at the start, but he soon settled down. Others who did not fill their hopples smartly were Aberhall, Nyallo Scott, Loyal Peter and. Single Plunder Bar began brilliantly, anjf*»f{£h half a mile covered he was sljjg'^ n g the way to Sprayman, Navigate Dundee Sandy, In the Mood, Single „s)i r e C t Knave of Diamonds, Emulous any Loyal’ Nurse with Highland Fling W lengths away! Loyal Peter and Aberh*j were about io lengths away, and Nyajfio Scott had tailed off at the mile and a ; ,q uarter post . Navigate went to a brp&k and caused trouble to In the Mood ghd Knave of Diamonds. Plunder Bar lk as setting a merry clip out in front, Any W ith half the journey covered he j^, as trailed by Dundee Sandy, with Spra’y m an, Single Direct, Emulous, In the Mood, Navigate, Knave of Diamonds, i y{ io y a i Nurse and Highland Fling next, r six furlongs to run, Single Direct wa sf up with Plunder Bar, who was still Paving freely, and then came Sprayman smd Dundee {Sandy together, followed by an the Mood, Emulous and Knave of Diamonds. with Loyal Nurse and Highland Fling a length away. Highland Fling was given his head half a mile from home, and he glided round the field to be third into the straight behind Plunder Bar and Single Direct. Keeping up his run, the champion easily gathered in’ the leaders, and won with his driver looking over his shoulder. Plunder Bar was six lengths behind the winner after pacing the best race of his career, and Single Direct was half a length away. There was a gap of four lengths to Knave of Diamonds, who was followed by Loyal Nurse, Sprayman. Dundee Sandy. Navigate. Emulous. In the Mood, Loyal Peter, and Aberhall.

go, and when the field settled down, PreEminence led from Gamble King, Final Count, Jackie Boy, Medical Student, Local Gold, and Logan Rey. The order changed very little in the early stages, but Bel Hamed put in a brilliant run round the field and she led into the last round, and across the top from PreEminence, Gamble King, Final Count and Checkmate. The last-named started to move up fast four furlongs from home but lost his driver, and Bel Hamed was first into the straight from Gamble King, Jackie Guy, Final Count and Logan Rey. In the run home, Jackie Guy drew out to win from Pre-Eminence, with Logan Rey getting third from Final Count in a photo-finish. The inquiry was not colcluded yesterday and the dividends were not paid out. Final Handicap Duncraig and Indemnity lost their chances at the start, and Carisbrook took up the running from Likely. Battle On, National Velvet, and Trustee. Into the back .it was Carisbrook, from Likely, Silverlight., Sir Vivian, National Velvet, and Remlap. Carisbrook was first into the straight from Likely, National Velvet, Sir Vivian, Ramlap, and Silverlight. National Velvet hit the front but Remlap came with a fine finishing run to win from National . Velvet with Trustee also finishing well for third, followed by Silverlight. Sir Vivian, Premier Royal, Loyal Nelson, and Carisbrook. The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club opened its Cup meetings, at. Addington on Saturday in warm weather, before a very large attendance. The track was fast. Spectacular racing was' seen, fast, times being the order of the day. The totalisator handled £190,362 compared with £197,003 last year. Results: VICTORIA HANDICAP. Of £IOOO. Class 4.33. Two miles. 'll/11—Loyal Nelson, Mr P. P. Gallagher’s b g, by Grattan Loyal— June Nelson, aged, scr (P. P. Gallagher) 1 7/7—Bonny Scott, Mr A. F. C. Rushton’s br m, by U. Scott —Ohinemutu, aged, 24yds bhd (A. F. C. Rushton) 2 3/3—Notus, Mr C. E. Dillon’s b h, by Dillon Hall—Charming Child, 12 (R. Donald) 3 1/1 Indemnity-was fourth. Also started: 10/10 Bay Machine, 5/5 Pimpernel scr, 4/4 Starshell, 8/8 Tam o’ Shanter, 12/12 Water Ranger 12yds bhd. 9/9 Democrat, 6/6 Mountmellick, 2/2 Proprietor 24. Neck; length. , Times: 4min 20 2-ssec, 4min 18 4-ssec, 4min 20sec. SPRING HANDICAP, Of £750. Trotters. 'Class 3.46. One mile and five furlongs. 6/6 —Keen Blade, Messrs E. C. Foote and A. E. Rabbidge’s b g, by Swordsman—Great Bingen mare, aged, 36yds bhd (L. F. Berkett) 1 2/2—Gold Weed. Mrs J. Harris’s b g, by Wrack—Golden Nut, aged, scr, coupled with Heir Apparent (A. Easton) 2 5/4—Jimmy Scott, Mr R. Harris’s blk ' g, by U. Scott —Sarella, aged, 12yds bhd (W. R. Butt) 3 2/2 Heir Apparent, 12yds bhd, was fourth. Also started: 11/13 Belle Header. 9/9 Blackdale scr, 4/3 Excalibur, 10/11 Kildonnin 12yds bhd, 8/8 Jimmy Dillon. 13/10 Nationalist, 15/15 Paul Parrish, 7/7 Vindictive Lady 24, 14/14 Bancor, 1/1 Bellisima, 12/12 Frank Scott, 3/5 Jason’s Quest 36. Two lengths; length. Times: 3min 30 l-ssec. 3min 33 3-ssec, 3min 33^1-ssec^ RICCARTON STAKES, ' Of £750. For three-year-olds. On 4 mile and a-quarter. • .< 2/3—Bronze Gold, Mr G. H. .Humphries’s b c, by Gold Bar^Ngarimu (q King) 1 6/6—Croughton, Mr J. ‘s. South’s b c, by Springfield G'd&g— Lady Antrim (R. Young) 2 5/s—Star j;, a. Hamilton’s b ky^Tinble—Star Ace (S. A. Edwards) 3 ' '3/1 Rayon was fourth. Also started: 8/8 Aerogard, 4/4 Bright Horizon, 10/10 Direct Chief, 9/9 Helen Grattan, 1/2 Merrymaker, 13/13 Monty Frisco, 14/14 Night Raider, 3/1 Scottish Nurse (coupled Rayon and Sphere), 11/12 Sir Leonard, 7/7 Spring Fancy, 12/11 Sailor’s Globe. Nose: length. Times: 2min 43 3-ssec, 2min 43 4-ssec, 2min 44 l-ssec. NEW ZEALAND CUP HANDICAP, Of £7750. Class 4.21., Two miles. 1/I—Highland Fling, Mr A. T. Kemble’s b h, by U. Scott—Queen Ayasha, 6yrs, 60yds bhd (L. F. Berkett) .. 1 5/6 —Plunder Bar, Mr M. C. McTigue’s b g, by Jack Potts—Waress, aged, scr (M. C. McTigue) 2 2/2 —Single Direct, Mrs N. R. and Mr G. B. Elliott’s blk g, by Bill B.— Loyal Direct, 6yfs, T2 " (E. N. Kennerley) 3 6/3 Knave of Diamonds, 24yds bhd, was fourth. , Also started: 7/7 Aberhall, 11/13 Dundee Sandy. 13/12 Loyal Peter, 8/9 Nyallo Scott, 4/4 Sprayman scr, 10/8 In the Mood, 9/10 Navigate 12yds bhd, 12/11 Loyal Nurse 36, 3/5 Emulous 48. Six lengths; half a length; four lengths. Times: 4min 10 3-ssec, 4min 16 4-ssec, 4min 16sec, 4min 15 4-ssec. CANTERBURY HANDICAP, Of £1175. Class 4.30. Two miles. 3/3 —Indigo, Mr M. C. McTigue’s blk g, by Jack Potts—Waress, aged, 12yds bhd (M. C. McTigue) .. .. l 2/2—Captain Sandy, Mr J. M. Bain’s b g, by Sandydale—Waikoura, 6yrs, 12yds bhd, coupled Sand Piper (J. Bryce, jun.) 2 9/10—Commander Scott, Mr J. R. McKenzie’s b g, by U. Scott—May Chenault, aged, 24yds bhd (G. B. Noble) 3 8/8 Quite Happy was fourth. Also started: 11/12 Lady Averil, 1/1 Lyndale sc", 13/11. Bonny Clare. 14/14 Golden Shadow 12yds bhd, 7/6 County Antrim, 4/5 Make Believe, 10/9 Right Royal 24, 6/7 Free Fight, 15/15 Dillondale, 5/4 Minoru 36. Neck, half a length. Times: 4min 19 3-ssec, 4min 19 4-ssec, 4min 19sec. AVON HANDICAP, Of £1250. Class 2.51. One mile and a-quarter. 4/4—Toushay, Mr L. F. Berkett’s b g, by Quite Sure—Real Direct, aged, scr (L. F. Berkett) 1 2/2 —Bellisima, Mr W. E. Stickings’s ch m, by Certissimus—Moerewa, 6yrs, scr, coupled Belmoral (C. R. Berkett) 2 1/I—Aerial Scott, Mr J. Spiers’s blk g, by U. Scott—Air Flow, aged, 12yds bhd. coupled Acclamation (R. Young) 3 5/5 Pardon Me scr was fourth. Also started: 2/2 Belmoral coupled Bellisima, 9/11 Castigate, 7/7 Flying Scott, 10/10 Great Venture, 14/15 Margin, 8/9 Mine Host, 12/8 Mistydale, 6/6 Rerewaka, 15/14 Willie Winkie scr, 1/1 Acclamation coupled Aerial Scott, 13/12 Casablanca, 3/3 Fantom 12yds bhd, 10/13 Betty Maxegin 24, Length, half a length. Times: 2min 46 2- 2min 46 4-ssec, 2min 46sec. EMPIRE HANDICAP, Of £ISOO. Class 4.26. Two miles. 1/I—Jackie Guy, Mr J. M. Mitchell’s ch h, by Jack Potts—Lottie Guy. aged, scr (G. S. Smith), coupled Grattan Drive 1 7/7 —Pre-eminence, Mr L. K. O’Neill’s b g, by Great Bingen—Waitaki . Girl, aged, scr (J. Bryce, jun.) 2 13/13—Logan Rey, Messrs Noone Bros.* b g, by Grattan Loyal—Rey Direct, aged, 24yds bhd (L. C. Frost) .. 3 2/2 Final Count scr was fourth. Also started: 9/9 Gamble King coupled Lucky Loyal scr, 8/8 Bel Hamed, 6/6 Medical Student 12yds bhd coupled Local Gold 24. 4/5 Checkmate, 10/10 Gold Peg, 14/14 Jack’s Son, 5/4 Monagh Leagh 24, 12/12 Cameronian. 3/3 Ingle Belmer, 11/11 Trusty Scott 48. Length and a-half, neck. Times: 4min 24sec, 4min 24 2-ssec, 4min 22 3-

Canterbury Handicap Dillondale was slow to move, and Commander Scott bobbled slightly at the start of the Canetrbury Handicap. Quite Happy went out very smartly to show the way through the straight from Ladv Averi'l, Captain Sandy, Bonny Clare. Right Royal, Sand Piper, Free Fight, Caledonian Gold and Indigo. Quite Happy held his place over the next circuit and was followed into the last round bv Captain Sandy, Right Royal, Bonny Clare, Lady Averil, Lyndale, Sand Piper and Indigo. The last-named started a run half a mile from home, and Commander Scott and County Antrim were also moving up. Quite Happy and Captain Sandy were the first into the straight from Indigo, Commander Scott and County Antrim. In the tun to the post Indigo finished strongly on the outside to get the decision in a photo-finish from Captain Sandy, and the photo also decided in favour of Commander Scott for third, ahead of Quite Happy, with County Antrim, Sand Piper, Minoru, Make Believe and Free Fight the next to finish. Avon Handicap L. F. Berkett had his third success of the day when he landed Toushay the winner of the Avon Handicap. He took the lead coming through the straight the first time, and led for the remainder of the journey. Acclamation was slow to strike her gait and Bellisima and Castigate broke at the start, and before a furlong had been covered Mine Host, Belmoral and Great Venture left their feet. Willie Winkie led out, but at the end of four furlongs Toushay was out in front, and with a circuit to cover he was followed by Willie Winkie, Aerial Scott, Margin, Mistydale, Rerewaka, Pardon Me, Fantom and Bellisima. Half a mile from home there was no change in the running, but then Bellisima put in a run and she was third into the straight behind Toushay and Aerial Scott, with Willie Winkie, Pardon Me and Fantom next. Toushay was never threatened in the run home and won with something in hand from Bellisima, whose performance was a good one, with Aerial Scott and Pardon Me fourth. Then came Fantom, Willie Winkie «nd Rerewaka. Empire Handicap The siren was sounded after the running of the Empire Handicap indicating that an inquiry was to be held into the cause of a smash in which Checkmate lost his driver. Ingle Belmer failed to

FINAL HANDICAP, Of £750. Class 2.48. One mile and a-quarter. 12/11 —Remlap, Mr J. Palmer's b g, by Lusty Volo—Olive Rey, aged, 12yds bhd (F. G. Holmes) .. .. 1 7/7—National Velvet, Messrs W.' A. and J. Wilson’s br g, by Grattan Loyal—Daphne de Oro, syrs, scr (D. C. Watts) 2 8/B—Trustee, Mr W. McDonald’s b g, by Quite Sure—First Moko, '6yrs, scr (G. S. Smith) 3 4/4 Silverlight scr was fourth. Also started: 14/15 Carisbrook, 16/17 Doonholm. 6/8 Duncraig, 15/14 Likely, 17/18 L*>yal Chief, 5/5 Premier Royal. 13/13 Scottish Brogue, 3/3 Sir Vivian, 1/1 Worthy Dick scr, 9/9 Battle On. 2/2 Indemnity 12yds bhd, 11/12 Loyal Nelson, 18/16 Democrat, 10/10 Seacraft 24. Three-quarters of a length, a length. Times: 2min 41 3-ssec, 2min 42 4-ssec, 2min 43sec.