REGAL PRAISE IN CUP

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26959, 20 December 1948, Page 2

REGAL PRAISE IN CUP

SUCCESS AT OHINEMURI PA AUCKLAND, Dec. 19. The Ohinemuri Racing Club’s meeting was held In fine, hot weather. The track was hard and fast. There was a good attendance. The totalisator takings were £57,831, compared with £64,358 10s last year. Chief Robin dislocated a joint while contesting the Turua Hack Hurdles and was destroyed. An inquiry was held concerning interference with Beaufighter in the Shaw Handicap. No action was taken. Turua Hack Hurdles, of £350. About 1 mile 5 furlongs—First division: 2/2 College Boy, 9.9 (D. McKinnon), 1; 1/3 Ostentatious, 9.10 (W. O. Ensor), 2; 12/13 Fair Dinkum, 9.3 (B. Boreham), 3. Eight lengths; four. Queen Rey was fourth. Time, 3min 6 3-ssec. Second division: 7/7 Miss Sterling, 9.7 (R. Gibbs), 1; 5/5 Forest Ranger, 9.0, 2; 8/8 Francis Mond, 9.9, 3. Two lengths and a-half; neck. Tote Odds was fourth. Time, 3min 5 2-ssec.

Karangahake Handicap, of £3OO. Five furlongs.—First division: 2/2 Gay Cushla, 9.0 (I. Galvin), 1; 14/15 Gold Pal, 7.8 (A': Stokes), 2; 10/11 Amiens, 7.8 (A. C. Leatham), 3. Two lengths and a-half; one and a-half. Gold Point was fourth. Time, lmin lsec. Second division: 12/12 Silver Belle, 7.3 (Lodder), 1; 4/3 My Beau, 7.7 (R. McDowell), 2; 3/4 Theiolette, 8.0 (E. J, Harrison), 3. Two lengths; one and a-half. Picardy was fourth. Time, lmin 2 2-ssec.

Walhi Stakes, of £3BO. Six furlongs.— First division: 4/4 Knight Armour, car. 8.3 (Hooton), 1; 3/3 Mountain Glory, 8.2 (Begueley), 2; 9/5 Kaitariki, 8.2 (Morton), 3. Length; head. Challenger was fourth. Time, lmin 15 2-ssec. Second division: 1/1 La Ferie, 7.11 (Messervy), 1; 8/8 Reveltide, car. 8.31 (McColl), 2; 16/16 Town Hero, 8.2 (Scott), 3. Neck; half-neck. Beau Baron was fourth. Time, lmin 16sec. Haurakl Cup, of £BOO. One mile 5 furlongs.—l/2 Regal Praise, 7.12 (Morton), 1: 9/9 Balmacara, 7.0 (McDowell), 2; 2/1 Huntore, 8.3 (Carlton), 3. Also started: 5/3 Conspiracy, 6/6 King’s Ransom, 7/7 Frances, 8/8 Frontier Mac, 13/13 Bramble Song, 14/15 Observatory, 3/4 Earldale, 10/10 Hunting Rua, 17/16 Vonnette, 16/14 Fianna Fail, 11/11 Highfield, 12/13-Pimlico, 15/17 Maid of Sherwood, 4/5 Oklahoma. Length and a-half each way. Earldale was fourth. Time, 2min 53 2-ssec.

The win favourite, Regal Praise, was responsible for a pleasing performance in winning the Hauraki Cup. She was always well placed on the rails, and when asked for a final effort came through on the inside to score very decisively from Balmacara, who finished very wide out. Regal Praise is likely to advance in favour for the Auckland Cup as a result of her winning effort. She won her first start this season, a sprint race, at Te Aroha, and had run unplaced in four other starts. A section of the crowd was Inclined to demonstrate against her win, and cries of “ put her out ” greeted her return to scale. The field left to a good start, Oklahoma and Observatory going to the front immediately and leading past the stands at the end of six furlongs from Bramble Song, Hunting Rua, Balmacara, King’s Ransom, and Frontier Mac. Going along the back King’s Ransom improved his position on the rails, ar.d Earldale also moved up. Oklahoma and Observatory were just In front of King’s Ransom at the home turn, where Balmacara was very prominent on the outside, ahead of Earldale and Frontier Mac. with Regal Praise well placed on. the rails. The leaders swung out slightly and Regal Praise slipped through on the inside. Meantime Balmacara had come up on the outside, and in a good race home Regal Praise ran on resolutely to win by a length and a-half from Balmacara. Huntore also fought on solidly to be another length and a-half away third. There was a photo finish for fourth, Earldale just beating Observatory, who was followed by Frontier Mac, Pimlico, Maid of Sherwood, and King’s Ransom. Frances was never dangerous, losing ground as she went out of the straight on the outside of several horses.

Netherton Plate, of £3BO. Six furlongs.— First division: 7/7 Triple Star, 8.4 (R. Caddy), 1; 11/10 Ecomiast 8.9 (W. J. Skiffington), 2; 9/6 Diatomous Girl, 8.4 (L. W. Carlton), 3. Three-quarters of a length each way. Lord Frank was fourth. Time, 1 min 16sec. Second division: 1/1 Martial Song. 8.6 (R. L. Parker), 1; 10/10 Major, 8.9 (W. R. Scott), 2; 7/7 Oleno, 8.4 (J. Mooney), 3.' Two and a-half lengths. Contrive was fourth. Time, lmin 14 2-ssec.

Henry Bush Memorial Handicap, of £4OO. One, mile and a-quarter.—2/2 Gollen, 8.12 (Hooton). 1; 5/6 Premonition, 7.7 (Green), 2; 1/1 Sir Vlte. 8.12 (Hughes). 3. Length: one and a-half. Luminous was fourth. Time, 2min 5 l-ssec. ■ Shaw Handicap, of £450. Six furlongs. —l/1 Chubin, 8.1 (Green), 1; 8/7 Morocco, 7.12 (Stomes), 2; 6/5 Grand Tourist, 7.8 (Harrison), 3. Short neck; one and aquarter lengths. Beau Fighter was fourth. Time, lmin 13 3-ssec.

Waiktno Hack Handicap, of £350( Six furlongs.—3/3 Beau Noir, 8.10 (Mudford), 1; 1/2 Bulos, 8.3 (Hughes), 2; 5/6 Concise 8.7 (Williamson), 3. Two lengths; two and a-half. Ending was fourth. Time, lmin 14sec