THRILLING FINISHES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27059, 19 April 1949, Page 6

THRILLING FINISHES

Citril and Frances Both Hard Pressed OPENING DAY AT RICCARTON Special to Daily Times CHRISTCHURCH, Apl. 18. The sun was in evidence throughout the afternoon for the opening day of the Canterbury Jockey Club’s autumn meeting. There was a large attendance to witness some interesting sport. Favourites won the Great Easter and Great Autumn Handicaps, but only after keen contests. C. McDonald rode three winners—Western Winner, Citril, and Bar Garette. Citril registered a high-class performance to win the Great Easter Handicap. The West Coaster, Bambalina, was hopelessly left, taking practically no part in the race.

Citril, Lady Christine and Wild Note began well in the Great Easter Handicap but The Hob moved up fast to be in front with Julius Caesar after two furlongs, while three lengths back were Wild Note. Citril. Lady Christine and Magical, with Full Play and Clyde Bridge heading the others. The Hob and Julius Caesar were still showing the way at the home turn, Citril, Wild Note, Lady Christine Magical. Full Play and Deficiency following them to the straight in cjose order. Citril and Wild Note headed The Hob and Julius Caesar over a furlong from the post, where False Step was making up ground. Citril was out clear a little further on with Clyde Bridge, Full Play and Magical all going well. In an exciting finish. Citril stalled off a strong challenge from Clyde Bridge by half a length, while Full Play also came home i solidly, a neck away, closely followed ' by Magical and False Step, who dead-headed for fourth place. Wild Note and The Hob were close up. The Hob broke through the barrier and galloped a furlong before the start. Clyde Bridge staged a fine -finish' after being one of the last bunch in the straight. D. P. Wilson’s bracket, The Grate and Frances, was backed to a short price in the Great Autumn Handicap and the Auckland Cup winner, ' Frances, duly pulled backers through. It was a good performance as she led all the way. Frances began smartly from near the rails, Speedy, Tuatea, Thornbridge and Langham following her out of the straight, with Balkis, Fine Night, Royal Tan and The Grate following. Balkis improved her position along the back and at the five-furlong post, where Frances had Speedy and Tuatea as her nearest attendants, Balkis moved up to second place at the home turn, but soon dropped right out. Royal Tan, Liebestraum. and Fine Night were all going well at this stage though still some lengths behind the leader. _ There was not much between Frances, Speedv. Tuatea and Langham as they straightened for home but Frances then drew clear again, while Tuatea dropped back a little. Frances was out in fripnt starting the last half-furlong, after which she commenced to tire and she only hung on long enough to gain a narrow verdict from Tuatea and Fine Night, both of whom finished fast. Royal Tan, who also came home solidly, was only a neck away with Liebestraum, Langham and Speedy almost in line close up, while The Grate headed the others. Wingatui Success

10/12 Profane 13/13 Eve Acre, 15/15 Lodestar, 16/16 Swift Action. Three lengths, head. Zarcon was fourth. Time, 2min 6 l-ssec

COURTENAY HANDICAP, Of £4OO. Seven furlongs.

7/7 —Boon companion, car. 8.7 (A. Palmer) 1 6/s—Defectus, 8.2 (A. J. Stokes) ... 2 1/2—Scuttle, car. 7.12 (C. M. Cassidy) 3 Also started: 2/1 Oberon, 4/4 Watchword, 3/3 Chord, 8/8 Royal Wedding, 10/11 Conclusion, 18/18 Encounter, 17/17 Tarmac, 5/6 Braemorn, 15/16 Count Minerva and Radar (bracketed), 14/15 Advent, 9/9 Celtic Chief and Don’t Listen (bracketed), 12/10 Colonel Argosy and Golden Victory (bracketed), 11/12 Irish Peach, 19/20 Judge’s Writ, 13/14 Pah Hill and Pageant (bracketed), 21/21 Patton, 20/19 Redweed, 16/13 Swift and Trencherman (bracketed), 1/2 Rebel Knight (bracketed with Scuttle). Half-length, same. Braemorn was fourth. Time, lmin 28 l-ssec. GREAT EASTER HANDICAP, Of £2OOO. Seven furlongs.

1/I—Citril, 9.7 (C. McDonald) .. .. 1 12/13—Clyde Bridge, 7.0 (M. H. Hillis) 2

4/4—Full Play, 8.5 (H. W. Hibberd) 3 Also started: 7/7 Wild Note, 3/2 False Step, 8/8 Magical, 6/6 Julius Caesar, 9/9 Faithful Pal, 5/5 The Hob, 10/10 Kirkella, 13/12 Deficiency, 11/11 Lady Christine. 2/3 Bambalina. Half-length, neck. False Step and Magical dead-heat for fourth. Time, lmin 25 3-ssec. RUSSLEY HANDICAP,

Of £450. Five furlongs. 6/6—Trench Fray, 8.8 (C. T. Wilson) 1 4/4—Bosun, 7.12 (A. J. Stokes) .. ..2 9/10—Air Sonnet, car. 7.8| (R. A. Burt) 3 Also started: 3/2 Open Range, 1/2 Stag Dance, 7/8 Fille d’Honneur, 5/5 Marcus, 14/13 Nutcracker, 15/14 Symbolic, 16/17 Reformed, 13/16 Woodrow, 20/20 Nocturnal, 19/18 Alleviate, 10/9 Boost, 18/19 Debden, 17/15 Eye Mark, 8/7 Indiana and Lady Elgin (bracketed), 9/10 Beau Esprit (bracketed with Air Sonnet), 11/11 Kamet and Supreme Command (bracketed), 12/12 Waihora. Twt> lengths, half a length. Open Range was fourth. Time, lmin lsec. GREAT AUTUMN HANDICAP, Of £2500. One mile and a-half.

Western Winner ran a sound race to score a narrow victory in the Champagne Stakes. Sway up led to the course proper, with Ferry Post, Beaumaris, and Robinfaye in the next bunch, while Western Winner, Golden Spa, and Rising Tide headed the others. Western Winner and Golden Spa came through together on reaching the straight. Golden Spa was running about, and Western Winner, coming home straight, went on to win by a length, while Trinidad who finished strongly, beat Golden Spa in the last stride. Super Snipe, though never dangerous, stayed on to beat Beaumaris for fourth, with Rising Tide next. Golden Spa ran greenly all the way up the straight, and as a result Beaumaris suffered interference. Easy Win in Hurdles Kiloney and John Gay were the early leaders in the Kildare Hurdles, but at the mile post Relampago, and John Gay were showing the way to Kiloney, who was headed by Knight Crusader a little further on. John Gay started to drift at the six-furlong post. Knight Crusader ran past Relampago near the five furlongs and went on . for an easy win. Cloister was third at the home tum, after which he moved up stalling off. Kiloney’s challenge for second, while Relampago headed the others. Autumn Plate Robin Redbreast, Hormond. and Terminate lost ground at the start of the Autumn Plate, but Terminate and Robin Redbreast moved up fast, following Salmon King past the mile post, with Lodestar, Bar Garrette, and Dinnyhazer next. Terminate went out to lead past the sixfurlong post and to the straight, where Ealmon King, Zarcon, Atomic Star, and Bar Garrette were all prominent. Bar Garrette went on to win easily, while in a great finish for the places Salmon King and Dinnyhazer were just a little too good for Zarcon and Show Boy over the last bit. Courtenay Handicap Defectus dashed out at the start of the Courtenay Handicap, and tried to lead all the way. Braemorn, Advent, Golden Victory, and Boon Companion were all handy turning for home; but Boon Companion finished best, beating Defectus a few strides from the post. Scuttle, the win favourite, seemed to run into trouble in the straight, but got clear and made a late dash, beating Braemom on the post for third. Pageant headed the others. Easy for Trench Fray Air Sonnet, Valid, Bosun, and Open Range were prominent early in the Russley Handicap. Valid was in front coming to the straight, with Air Sonnet, Marcus. Open, Range, and Bosun handy, while Trench Fray was making up ground. Bosun headed Air Sonnet 100 yards from the post, but Trench Fray stayed on for an easy win. while Bosun ? ? ? ? an easy win. Pulled Backers Through

1/I—Frances, 8.6 (L. W. Hare) .. .. 1 8/7 —Tuatea, car. 7.12 (W. Skelton) .. 2 6/s—Fine Night, 8.0 (V. Sellars) .. .. 3 Also started: 1/1 The Grate (bracketed with the winner), 2/2 Royal Tan, 4/6 Langham, 5/4 Tenor Royal, 3/3 Liebestraum, 9/9 Balkis, 10/10 Thornbridge, 11/11 Responsive, 7/8 Speedy. Half a head, same. Royal Tan was fourth. Time, 2min 30 3-ssec. PAPANUI HANDICAP, Of £SOO. One mile.

1/I—All Alone, 8.2 (A. N. Didham) .. 1 8/7—Crease, 7.10 (W. Skelton) .. .. 2 4/4—BaUochbuie, 8.1 (C. T. Wilson) .. 3 Also started: 2/3 Newspaper, 5/5 Coxswain, 6/6 Primitive, 3/2 Infatuate and Competitive (bracketed), 9/9 Periwig, 10/10 Vulnerable, 7/8 Peridot, 14/14 Beau Soir, 15/15 Deccan. 12/13 Excellent Flight, 13/11 Our Style. 11/12 Thomas. Head, two lengths. Competitive was fourth. Time, lmin 39 l-ssec.

Crease was soon in front in the Papanui Handicap, Periwig, Coxswain, Peridot, and All Alone following to the home turn. Crease still held charge when well in the straight, but All Alone, after running into trouble in the run home, got up on the post, beating Crease by a head. Ballochbuie finished well for third, with Infatuate staying on well for fourth, just in front of his stable-mate Competitive, whose performance was very good, as he lost a lot of ground at the start.