GOING UPSETS FORM AT DJC MEETING YESTERDAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27273, 27 December 1949, Page 7

GOING UPSETS FORM AT DJC MEETING YESTERDAY

LORD T ELGIN’S SECOND CUP

Philip Laing Surprises In Publicans’

OPENING CARD AT WINGATUI

Another race for the Dunedin Cup passed into history yesterday, when the Dunedin Jockey Club opened its summer meeting before a large attendance. The weather , was fine at the outset and the track in grand order, but later there were h,eavy showers which made the going greasy and were responsible for some falls. Bambalina, Merry Lancer and Waicoe were taken out of the Cup, leaving a field of 14, and the horses who filled the three main places were always in the van. Lord Elgin, who had a perfect trail throughout, won his second'cup, having been successful in 1946. Western Front ran up to his track form to be a close second after leading for most of the journey, and Night Owl ran his usual genuine race for third. The well-backed All Alone and Signal Officer were at the rear when the field settled down and never looked like reaching a place. Philip Laing made every post a winner in the Publicans’ Handicap and spread-eagled the field, winning his first race in open company in the easiest fashion. Dunkirk put in a dazzling run to get up and beat Brutus in the Champagne Stakes. Brutus was clear running past the distance post, and at that stage looked all over a winner, but Dunkirk swooped on him over the last .bit to win going away.

The field for the Cup left to a good start, but Signal Officer was a bit slow to find his legs and as they streamed past the post with a mile and a-quarter to go. Western Front and Night Owl were together ahead of Lord Elgin, Sir Abbot, Mount Barker and Infatuate. Western Front was ridden out to the front on the top bend and was clear into the back from Lord Elgin, Night Owl, Sir Abbot, Mount Barker and Infatuate. All Albne was last. Western Front was still the spearhead past the six, and at the far turn he was followed by Lord Elgin, Night Owl and Sir Abbot, with Infatuate, Fine Night and Sir Garnish also prominent and Valley Gold coming into the picture. Speedy and Mount Barker were a long way at the rear coming over the bend, where Signal Officer was moving up a place or two. Lord Elgin, who had the run of the race, was on Western Front’s girth turning for home, with Night Owl going past Sir Abbot, who was stopping, and Valley Gold, Sir Garnish and Infatuate in the next bunch. In a thrilling finish, Lord Elgin worried Western Front out of it and Night Owl was third and Valley Gold fourth. The next to finish were Broie, All Alone, Infatuate, Fine Night, Signal Officer, Hello and Sir Garnish. EASY FOR PHILIP LAING

Flying Orders, The' Hob and Extra Flight held up the start of the Publicans’ Handicap and they all gave ground at the start. Philip Laing, Theocritus, Crease and Sea Venture were the early leaders, with the field stringing out. Philip Laing and Theocritus were clear at the far turn from Crease, Sea Venture and Red Pickle. Philip Laing drew clear on the bend and. Sea Venture moved through to be second to him into the straight, followed by Crease, Theocritus and Red Pickle. Galloping boldly, Philip Laing never looked like being caught and went on for the easiest win of the day from Sea .Venture. A photo was necessary to decide the third and fourth placings, and this showed that Crease just beat - Red Pickle. Extra Flight, Cipher and Flying Orders were next. DAZZLING FINISHING RUN

Bob’s v March was left at the post in the Champagne Stakes and Dunkirk, Blood Royal, Brutus, and High Spirits quickly opened up a gap on Turbulent and St. Columba. Blood Royal took up the running at the far turn from Brutus. Dunkirk, and High Spirits, the four being in close order. Blood Royal shaded Brutus into the straight with High Spirits and Dunkirk still right up with the two leaders. Brutus drew clear at the distance and was galloping freely, but Dunkirk’s run was Irresistible and he gathered the leader in to win impressively. Blood Royal hung on for third and a photo showed that St. Columba got up for fpurth ahead of Turbulent and Whinny. TRENCH FRAY DECISIVELY

The bracketed pair Robinfaye and Ned Kelly were prominent throughout the running of the Stewards' Handicap and finished second and fourth respectively after being the leaders into the straight. The field left to a good start, with Robinfaye, Mr Micawber, Ned Kelly and Lovemorn first to break the line and when they settled down Robinfaye and Ned Kelly were leading Mr Micawber, Special Flight and Pageant. Passing the four, Trench Fray moved up on the outside to be handy to Robinfaye, Ned Kelly, Mr Micawber. and Special Flight. Continuing his run Trench Fray was third into the straight to Robinfaye and Ned Kelly, with Mr Micawber next and Defendant making a dab on the outside. Robinfaye was being hailed as the winner halfway down the running, but Trench Fray put in his challenge on the outside and was a clear winner from Robinfaye. Lovermorn came through for third to be followed home by Ned Kelly, with Prawns, Special Flight, Bragden, and Defendant next. FINISHED WELL Addition, the winner of the President’s Handicap, was not prominent in the early running and was jiack in seventh place with less than four furlongs to run. The Siegfried filly was taken up gradually to be third into the straight, however, and she won well from Ranieri. Sweet Lorraine dwelt at tbe start, and String Band dropped right away from the start to be a bad last at the end of a furlong. Young Yvette, Morning Watch, Great Desire, Raineri, and Show Boy were the first to show out and as the field turned into the back the order was Young Yvette, Morning Watch, Raineri, Show Boy, Great Desire, and Beau Soir. At the far turn, Morning Watch and Young Yvette were being trailed by Raineri, Great Desire, Beau Soir, Show Boy and Addition. Show Boy worked out into the lead coming across the bend and was followed into the straight by Raineri, Addition and Beau Soir, with Supreme Command putting in a run. Raineri headed Show Boy and was travelling like a winner when • Addition put in her claim and gathered the leader in. The consistent Beau Soirfinished third and Show Boy was fourth ahead of Sweet Lorraine, Supreme Command, Strathaird, and Night Rider. FAVOURITE SUCCESSFUL Always well placed, and moving up to Pageantrv to be with him at the entrance to the straight, Moonlit came away to be a decisive winner of the hurdles. Air Ace threw out at the stand jump and past the post the first time Pageantry was followed by Knight Crusader, Kilonev, Vanity King and Sea Power. The last-named' went up to Pageantry running across the top, but lost his rider at the seven-furlong post, and as the field streamed past the six Pageantry had a break on Knight Crusader, Jump Off, Moonlit, Kiloney, Encounter and Gold Song Jump Off went out at the next fence and three furlongs from home Moonlit was bridging the gap to Pageantry, followed by Knight Crusader, Kiloney, Gold Song, and Cloister Paceantrv and Moonlit turned for home together ahead of Kiloney and Gold Song and Moonlit drew away to win from Gold song who finished well to beat Pageantry for second. Kiloney was fourth and was followed home by Knight Crusader, Cloister. The Denbigh, Encounter, and Sailor Boy. Gold Songs rider lost a stirrup iron. A CLOSE FINISH The Trial Handicap was run in two divisions and in the first division Redlo, Hobgoblin and Bonny Chase fell. It was a grand finish between Uist, Centurion, and Royal Saga, a photograph showing that Uist just won from Centurion, with R h oval Saga right up in third place Dazzling Night and Penny Pie were last tn leave and the early leaders were Marcus Friar Philip, Diablo, and Aegina. Centurion and Royal Saga were moving up on the bend and rounding the home l lo —, Marcus Centurion. Aegina, and Saga were the leaders, with Uist moving upon the outside. Halfway down the running Centurion, Royal Saga, and iTitt sorted "themselves out and Uist got there fmn Centurion, vdth Royal Saga thfrd Aegina was fourth, and then came Belgravia. Diablo, and Nadia Shah. SOMETHING IN HAND Airshaft won the second division with Sf ?»? Marauder Home Circle, and Skip were Maraud “ Incentive, Airshaft. Royal living and Braemorn were among those S^l. ng hef?an well, and Incentive showed th= way 6 to the home turn from Airshaft Roval Swing, with Maungareka comw on the outside. Incentive weakened Airshaft went on to win from Maun25reka and Royal Swing was third ahead Cranreugh, who finished well. Puck > was fifthf and Nadir Shah was next. . PROMINENT THROUGHOUT was alwavs one of the leaders in the P Berwick Handicap and won well from

Open Sky, who was also prominent throughout. Balmoral. Royal Scrip, Lecturer and Mandeville hung slightly at the start and the first to show out were Open Sky, Lady Claret, -Spicer, Double Deck and Roygbiv. At the far turn it was Lady Claret and Open Sky from Spice, Roygbiv Double Deck, and Golden Chips. Royal Scrip was moving up on the bend and followed Open Sky, Lady Claret, Spice, and Double Deck into the straight. Spice ran up to Open Sky when in line for home and won with something in hand from Open Sky and Royal Scrip beat Lady Claret for third m a photo-finish. Double Deck, Indiana, Granddaughter, and Golden Chips were next. Correct Change and Victory Star fell and Confidence Trick bled.

Dividends.—Win, £9 17s. i Place, £3 8s 6d. £2 10s, £3 0s 6d.