Eleanor Star Comes Home In Riverton Steeplechase After Fine Run From Back

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

Eleanor Star Comes Home In Riverton Steeplechase After Fine Run From Back

Special to Daily Times INVERCARGILL, April 18. The overhead conditions were good for the second day of the Riverton Racing Club’s meeting but the going was heavy and cutting up. Red Pickle was well placed from the starf of the Flying Handicap and won with something to spare from the consistent Bath Slipper, who found her feet sooner than usual and was always in the call. The finish of the Easter Handicap was a particularly good one between A’ganev and Eriskay, and Aganev got the decision after a photo had been called for. Some Sal, who was not well .placed in the early stages, came home very solidly to win the Champion Hack Handicap and pay almost a score on the win machine. Strathaird, who was prominent throughout the running, paid nearly a third of a century for a place.

Novice Handicap

The full card went to the post for the Novice Handicap, and Sweet Lorraine and Wint were restive at the start, both being sent to the outside. High Quest was left, and Dark Molly and ; Shelbash began slowly. Grania, Great Bid, Chieftainess, Coney Park, and Granddaughter got out well, and at the end of three furlongs Great Bid led from Chieftainess, Grania. Granddaughter and Wint. Great Bid and Chieftainess were first into the straight from Granddaughter, Sweet Lorraine, and Wint. • In the run to the judge, Granddaughter hit the front to win decisively from Great Bid, with Wint third and Golden Mirage fourth. Then came Vermeer Lad Sweet Lorraine, Dark Molly, and Coney Park. Chapter of Accidents The Otaitai Steeplechase was “another chapter of falls, and only four horses finished in a field of 14. Victory Flight, Boy Friend, and Colonel Smart were the last to leave in a straggling start. Boy Friend went out at the first of the double brush, and Red Phil ran off. Kassai came down at the second leg, and Hunting Charm had a life, and the rider of Red Prize lost his irons. Goldbin took up the running from French Glider, Light Tea, Colonel Smart, and Waveline. Goldbin and Colonel Smart were the first over the jump opposite the stand, where Waihopi was eliminated. Hunting Charm was the next to drop out, and as they swung into the back Colonel Smart was shading French Glider, Waveline, Red Prize, Light Tea, Goldbin, San Quentin, and Forage. Waveline and Light Tea. fell at the brush, and into the second last fence it was Colonel Smart by half a length from French Glider, with a break of 10 lengths to Red Prize, and then came Goldbin, Forage, and San Quentin. French Glider and Red Prize both came down, and this left Colonel Smart about 100 yards clear of Goldbin and Forage, but the last-named did not clear the last fence, and Colonel Smart came home by himself. Goldbin was an easy second from San Quentin Victory Flight was the only other horse to complete the course. Easy Sprint Win The Dunedin-owned sprinter, Red Pickle, led practically all the way in the Flying Handicap, and was not required to do his best over the last 50 yards. Winning Cheer, Special Flight, and Sal's Pal were the last to leave and Duvaals, Haughty Dick and Naughty Lady were the first to break the line from Red Pickle and Bath Slipper. Red Pickle moved up to take the lead at the far turn and he was followed across the bend by Duvaals, Sea Venture, Naughty Lady, Haughty Dick, Bath Slipper and Wantwood. Sal's Pal was still well back. Haughty Dick dropped back a place or two on the bend and, Red Pickle was the first to turn for home from Duvaals, Naughty Lady, Bath Slipper, Wantwood, Stirling Lad, Haughty Dick and Sal’s Pal. Galloping well within himself, Red Pickle was confidently ridden in the home stretch and won from Bath Slipper with Sal’s Pal getting third from Duvaals in a photograph decision. Naughty Lady was next, ahead of Nigger Lad, Haughty Dick, and Special Flight Outsiders in Places Outsiders filled the places in the Champion Hack Handicap. It was a good start and those prominent when the field settled down were Anzora, Strathaird, Gleneagles, Running Brook, Lights On, Extra Flight, Balmoral, and Bragden. Into the back it was Strathaird, Running Brook, Gleneagles. Anzora and Bragden. Strathaird led past the half-mile from Running Brook • and then came Night Rider, Lights On, Gleneagles. Bragden, Anzora, Billy Mac and Some Sal. The last-named was third to Strathaird and Night Rider as the field came into the straight, and she finished strongly to win from Strathaird, with Night Rider third and Billy, Mac fourth. Then came Bragden, Winning Thorn, Kosher and Good Sport. Extra Flight was never a possibility and Lights On stopped badly in the straight. Stirring Final A photograph was required to decide the first and second placings in the Easter Handicap and Aganev got the aecision by the narrowest of margins from Eriskay. They left to a good line, with Bay Gundi, Perusha and Eriskay the most prominent. As the field galloped past the stand across the top, Perusha went to the front, to lead into the back from Bay Gundi, Defendant, Sir Garnish, Eriskay, Super Flight, Batal and Aganev, with Foxchase last. Six furlongs from home Batal was third to Perusha and Bay Gundi, and then came Super Flight, Sir Garnish, Defendant, Eriskay,. Aganev and Foxchase. There was Ifftle between Perusha, Super Flight. Bay Gundi and Batal at the half, and Sir Garnish was next. Super Flight shaded Batal Into the straight, with Eriskay, Sir Garnish, Aganev and Defendant in the call. Halfway down the running Aganev and Eriskay sorted themselves out, and In a fine race home Aganev just got there from Eriskay. Batal \ was third and Sir Garnish fourth. The next to finish were Super Flight, Foxchase, and Defendant. Riverton Steeplechase Eleanor Star won the Riverton Steeplechase by putting in a fine run from the second last fence after being well back in the early running. Siglow and Lisheen led out from First Out, Phil Boa, Night Prince, Eleanor Star and Irish Pal. First Out went to the front as they swung into the back, and he was followed by Siglow and Lisheen, who was eliminated at the brush after the double. Irish Pal put in a run to be third as they went into the water jump opposite the stand, where First Out and Siglow were the leaders. At this stage Phil Boa was fourth, ahead of Eleanor Star, with Night Prince labouring in the rear. Irish Pal went up to First Out with less than a round to go, but did not go on with it, and First Out was followed down the back by Phil Boa, with Eleanor Star still well back from the leader! Siglow came down five furlongs from home, and across the bend First Out and Phil Boa were well clear of Eleanor Star, who then put in a fine run that took him to the lead, and he went on to win from 'Phil Boa, with First Out third and Irish Pal fourth. Wallace Handicap Glenlivet was badly left, and Flying Fort was chopped out just after the start of the Wallace Handicap. King Gundi and Royal Lark were first out from Golden Winner, Gay Prince, and Rhine Lord. At the far turn. King Gundi and Royal Lark were still in the lead and Rhine Lord had moved up to third. Quadrille put in a good run across the bend, and was fourth into the straight, behind King Gundi, Rhine Lord, and Royal Lark, with Air Chief and Golden Winner next A fine race home saw Rhine Lord win from Air Chief in a photo decision. King Gundi hung on for third ahead of Quadrille, and then came Flying Fort, Gay Prince. Reprimand and Golden Winner. Favourite Wins Well The Monowai Handicap was a good betting race and Finigin, the favourite, won decisively. Pride of Mossburn was last to leave and Tring took up the running from Hansel, Nullah, Finigin, and Mount Barker. Running to the six. Merry Lancer was the leader from Nullah, Mount Barker, and Sea Power. At the far turn It was Merry Lancer from Mount Barker. Nullah, Finigin, Beaugard and Sea Power. Beaugard had moved up to second behind Merry Lancer at the straight entrance, and these two were followed by Nullah, Finigin and Mount Barker. Drawing to the front halfway down the running, Finigin won well from Nullah, and Beaugard came home solidly for third ahead of Merry Lancer, who was followed by Hansel, Tring, Mount Barker and Sea Power.