EASY VICTORY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27058, 18 April 1949, Page 2

EASY VICTORY

St. Bruno’s Success in Riverton Cup STEEPLECHASE TO USHEEN V From the Sporting Editor INVERCARGILL, Apl. 17. The weather was cold with occassional showers for the first day of the Riverton Racing Club’s meeting and this had a marked effect on the attendance, the gate returns showing a decrease of £827. As the result of the recent broken weather the going was heavy and cutting out. St. Bruno was made a pronounced favourite for the Riverton Cup and getting away well and revelling in the going he was third during most of the running and won with something more than his winning margin in hand. No excuses could be made for any of the others. Heavy rain was falling when the Great Western Steeplechase was being run, and at times the horses took phantom form. The race could not be described as a spectacular one, and much of the interest went out of it when Page’s Raid and Eleanor Star were eliminated early. Lisheen, however, won well, although he slurred more than one fence. The racing throughout was’interesting and some of the finishes were very close necessitating the use of photographs.

Several of the fields were restive, and Shellbash, Double Boa, Miss Geranial, Highthorne and Yodelling Pal were slow to move in the Trial Handicap. The first to break the line was Chieftainess, and she was followed out by Banquet, Maungarea, Grania, Good Form, Lady Corsair and Haughty Boa. At the far turn, Chieftainess .was still in front from Banquet, Maungarea and Grania, but swinging to the straight, Banquet took the lead, and then came Chieftainess, Maungarea, Good Form, Grania, Haughty Boa, Dark Molly and Lady Corsair. In the run home, Banquet drew out for a decisive win by three lengths from Haughty Boa, with Vermeer Lad, who came from a long way back, a length away, and Dark Molly fourth. The placed horses were followed in by Double Boa, Grania, Miss Geranial, Good Form, Great Desire and Maungarea. Farrago drew a wide berth and she was never prominent. Chapter of Accidents The Waiau Steeplechase was a chapter of falls, and Colonel Smart, who had a life down the back the last time, won by eight lengths from Red Prize. Victory Flight refused to leave until the field had gone about a furlong. Jet Plane also gave ground. Colonel Smart, Kassai and Waveline were the first to show out, but Kassai and Hunting Charm came down at the third fence. Goldbin fell at the jump on to the course proper, and Colonel Smart was left clear of French Glider, Red Prize and Glengowan. Waveline and Glengowan went out at the next fence, and as they streamed over the gorse fence, Colonel Smart was six lengths clear of French Glider, with 10 lengths hack to Forage, Red Prize, Red Phil and Light Tea. Colonel Smart and French Glider both had a life at the fence halfway down the back straight, where they were clear of Red Prize, Light Tea and Red Phil. French Glider was eliminated two fences from home, when moving up to the leader, and Light Tea came down at the last, leaving Colonel Smart to go on for the easiest of wins. Red Phil was six lengths back third. Waveline and French Glider were remounted and finished in that order. Veteran Sprinter Succeeds There was a grand finish in the Aparima Handicap, and ther judge called for a photo to decide the placings. Bath Slipper, and Winning Cheer were the last to leave, and the early leaders were Naughty Lady, Geisha Girl, Faites vos Juex, who showed speed from an outside position, and Duvaals. At the half Geisha Girl and Faites vos Jeux were showing the way to Naughty Lady, Duvaals, Sea Venture. Sterling Lad, Wantwood, and Young Bob. Round the turn there was little alteration.' and into the straight it was Geisha Girl and Faites vos Jeux. together, from Naughty Lady, Duvaals, and Sterling Lad. Bath Slipper was putting in a good run from well back. Fifty yards from home the field closed up, with Sterling Lad coming fast on the outer, and he won by an official margin of half a length from Wantwood, who also came home well. Duvaals was a head away, and Bath Slipper sustained her run to get fourth. The next to finish were Naughty Lady, Young Bob, Faites vos Jeux and Sea Venture. Extra Flight Again Extra Flight was made favourite for the Longwood Handicap, and won well,, but Billy Mac’s performance in getting up for second after being slow to move and one of the last on the home turn, was a good one. When the field settled down Oscillate and Royal_ Lark were showing the way to Extra Flight. Running Brook, Anzora, Putechan, Plain Pal, Lights On, and Winning Thorn. That was how they came round the turn. Extra Flight trailed Oscillate and Royal Lark into the straight, with Putechan, Anzora, Plain Pal, Winning Thorn and Bragden also in the call. Royal Lark did not go on with it, and Extra Flight drew clear half a furlong from home to win from Billy Mac, who "dropped from the clouds. Oscillate was a good third, and Some faai was fourth. Then came Rhine Lord, Air Chief, Anzora, and Putechan. Favourite Wins Cup St. Bruno was a pronounced ieyourite for the Riverton Cup and never further back than third he won full of running and in most impressive style. Sir Garnish swung round at the start, and took no part in the race. As the past the post the first time Night Fighter was setting the pace from Super Fl’gfrt and St. Bruno, and they were followed into the back by Salmon Spear. Defendant, Jan, Batal, Eriskay, Perusha and The Denbigh. At the far turn Night Fighter was bowling along in front, witn St. Bruno trailing him and going well, and then came Super Flight, Salmon Spear. Defendant and Batal. With three furlongs to run. Night Fighter led St. Bruno by half a length, and the order after that was Salmon Spear, Super Flight, Defendant. Batal. Eriskay and Perusha. Night Fighter was headed off by bt. Bruno, Salmon Spear-and Defendant as they came into the straight, and these four were followed by Super Flight, Eriskay and Perusha. St. Bruno never looked like being headed, and he galloped home a decisive winner from Eriskav, with Perusha getting third in a photo decision from Defendant. Eriskay and Perusha both finished strongly. After the placed lot the order was Batal. Super Flight. Jan, Salmon Spear, Night Fighter and The Denbigh. Lisheen All the Way

and Nullah were moving up, and nast the order was Gold Song, Finigin* Sals Pal, Pageantry, Special Flight, Great Coon, and Nullah. .At the far turn there was nothing between Gold Song and Finigm, and Great Coon had moved up to be third ahead of Sal's Pal, Nullah pnhri'f W 4 ,’ Jl T my the one - and Baygundi Finigin shaded Gold Song into wlt h Nullah and Sal’s Pal next ana Jimmy the One and Baygundi n ,? n a great finish, Jimmv the One Baygundi, and Nullah swooped down JhnmWh 1 i 1 A and 3 u photo showed that °x? e „ w , on b -V a head from Baygundi, with Nullah a nose away and Finikin fourth Aganev was fifth, ahead of bpecial Flight and Beaugard.

Irish Pal was badly left at the start * of the Great Western, and Page's Raid went out at the first fence. Lisheen took up the running, and in the early stages was followed by San Quentin, Eleanor Star Waihopi, and Whakawatea. Eleanor Star fell at the post and rails leading on to the course proper, and Lisheen and Siglow led Waihopi into the jump opposite the stand, where Whakawhatea was pulled up. Siglow ran very wide as they turned across the top. and over the double brush down the back Irish Pal was second to Lisheen, and the ordei after that was Waihopi, Siglow, San Quentin, Night Prince, and Phil Boa. Waihopi fell, and as the field ran into the water jump Lisheen and Irish Pal were together in the lead, but Irish Pal had a life and lost ground at the double brush. Down the back the last time Lisheen was six lengths clear of Phil Boa. with the same distance back to San Quentin, and then came Night Prince. Siglow and Irish Pal. Lisheen hooked the second of the double, but led Phil Boa into the straight by about 10 lengths and went on for the easiest of wins. Night Prince finished third, a very tired horse. San Quentin and Siglow were the only others to finish. Golden Winner Surprises

At the end of a furlong in the Visitors Handicap Vitamin and Haughty Lyric were out in front, followed by Subtraction, Dark Chief, Salma Royal, and Fonso Three furlongs from home Salma Royal went up to Haughty Lyric, and Vitamin had dropped back to third ahead of Fonso Subtraction, Dark Chief. Flying Fort, and Golden Winner. Salma Royal shaded Haughty Lyric into the straight, and the order after that was Fonso, Subtraction, Vitamin, Flying Fort. Golden Winner, and Night Rider. In a photo finish Golden Winner got up to win by a head from Fonso a full brother to the winner, with Flying Fort a length away. Reprimand was fourth and then came Night Rider, Subtraction. Dad’s Pal. and King Gundi. “ Blanket Finish ”

Aganev Baygundi, Mount Barker, and Arabian Night were slow to begin, and Finigin and Gold Song led out from Pageantry, Special Flight, and Jimmy the One. Turning into the back Sal s Pal