FIRST DAY’S FORM VINDICATED AT WINGATUI MEETING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27274, 28 December 1949, Page 6

FIRST DAY’S FORM VINDICATED AT WINGATUI MEETING

ROYAL TOWER SURPRISES Field In Hazlett Gold Cup v Outclassed

NIGHT OWL WINS NARROWLY

By the Sporting Editor One of the best fields that has contested the James Hazlett Gold Cup went to the post for yesterday’s race* and the result was a big surprise, a maiden performer in Royal Tower clearing out from the field for the easiest win of the day. The win was, however, very popular as Royal Tower’s owner, Mrs W. Mackenzie, has been a consistent patron of racing for over 25 years and won the New Zealand Cup in 1933 with Palantua, who threw Peel Tower, the dam of Royal Tower. After the race Mrs Mackenzie was presented with the gold cup attached to the stake by Mr L. C. Hazlett, president of the club. Form worked out well in the Dunedin Jockey Club Handicap, as Night Owl, the winner, and Western Front, the runner-up were third and second respectively in the Cup on Monday. Valley Gold, who was third yesterday, was fourth in the Cup. Western Winner showed a return to form to win the Flying Handicap narrowly but his winning margin could have been wider as his rider showed over-confidence nearing the finish. A rainstorm swept the course about midday, but it did not last long and the only effect it had on the going was to make it easy.

As was the case In the Cup, Western Front went out smartly to take up the running hs the field galloped past the post the first time, with Night Owl. Lovemorn, Lord Elgin and Fine Night also prominent. Waicoe, who broke away twice, falling on the second occasion, and Elofa were last to leave, and Mount Barker took no part in the race. Western Uront was clear into the back from Lovemorn, Night Owl, Lord Elgin, Defendant, Infatuate, Broie and Fine Night. Defendant, Waicoe, and Elofa were moving up in the back stretch and at the far turn the order was Western Front. Defendant, Waicoe, Elofa, Night Owl, Lovemorn, Lord Elgin, Infatuate and Bragden. Western Front and Defendant were still the spearhead of the field into the straight, with Night Owl, Bragden and Valley Gold the most prominent in a bunch behind them. Bragden moved up, and looked likely running to the distance post, but over the last furlong Western Front and Night Owl drew out for a thrilling duel and a photo decided in favour of Night Owl by a neck, with Valley Gold just beating Fine Night, who dropped from the clouds, for third. Then came Bragden, Jimmy and/ One. Hello. Broie, Lord Elgin. Lovemorn. Defendant, and Infatuate. AMAZING PERFORMANCE Royal Tower staged a big surprise by .winning the Hazlett Gold Cup from end to end as it was only his third start, his only placing prior to yesterday being a third in a high-weight handicap at Riccarton. It was an amazing performance for a maiden, and he made the other runners look like second raters. The further they went the further he left them behift and the official margin was eight • lengths. Signal Officer refused to leave until the field had gone about 60 yards, and at the end of a furlong Royal Tower was followed by Gold Strike, Saieda. Frances, Pageant, Salmon Spear, Trimdad, and Arctotis. Running past the four-furlong post Royal Tower was four lengths ahead of Gold Strike, with Salmon Spear moving up' to Gold Strike, and then' came Frances, and Trinidad, with Robinfaye also moving up. The race was really all over at the home turn, where it was just a question of whal would fill the minor placings. with Gold Strike, Salmon Spear, Frances, and Robin faye in the call. Gold Strike dropped out and Salmon Spear finished second ahead of Frances, with Robinfaye fourth Trinidad. Arctotis, and Saieda were next. WESTERN WINNER AT LAST Western winner had his first win as a three-year-old When he led the Flying Handicap field home, finishing a neck ahead of Ned Kelly bambalina was slow to find his feet and Balkis began to drop away from the start. Flying Orders was first out and was followed down the back by Western Winner, Ned Kelly, Crease, Cipher. Sea Venture, Extra Flight and Jan The leaders held their places to the straight and Western Winner opened up a gap running past the distance post and looked like winning easily, but Ned Kelly came with a swoop and just failed to catch the leader: Extra Flight finished third and a photograph showed that Winning Cheer was fourth from Crease and Flying Orders, with Jan next. BRILLIANT YOUNGSTER Moving out brilliantly In the Hopeful Handicap, High Spirits streaked away to the easiest of wins by six lengths from Blood Royal, who just touched off Dun kirk. Rising Glory, Struelpeter, and All 'Profit got out badly in a straggling start and High Spirits was followed round the ■ far turn by Blood Royal. Master Bobs, and Salazar, the four being clear of a bunch In which Dunkirk and Whinny were prominent. The order into tht straight after the ftying leader was Blood Royal, Salazar, Master Bobs. Dunkirk, and Whinny. The nearer they got to tht gost the wider grew the break that High pirits had on the field, and interest was again centred on the minor placings. Blood Royal beating Dunkirk for second Master Bobs was fourth and then came Whinny, Turbulent, Salazar, and White Robe. A DOUBLE WINNER Moonlit, the winner of the hurdles on the first day. made it a double by winning the Owhiro Hurdle Handicap decisively from Pageantry, but a photograph was required to decide the third placing, which went to Sea Power. Vanity King was first to brpak the line and he lea past the stands, followed by Kiloney, Sea Power, Pageantry, Bon Chale, Gold Song. Cloister, and Moonlit, moving up. There was little change turning into the back but at the far turn Sea Power had taken over the running, with a gap to Kiloney. Moonlit. Pageantry, and Gold Song. Moonlit was up with Sea Power on the home turn and then came Kiloney, Pageantry, Gold Song, and Vanity King. Moonlit drew clear running to the last fence and went on to win from Pageantry, and Sea Power just headed Gold Song for third. Kiloney. Vanity King, Bon Chale, and Encounter were next. t FAVOURITE SUCCESSFUL Royal Scrip was made the win favourite for the Waihola Handicap,'and he justified the support by winning well from Sweet Lorraine and Beau Soir, who both finished very solidly. Sweet Lorraine, Lustre and Supreme Command were the last to leave and Winning Gem and Nighl Rider took up the running from Young Yvette, Airshaft, Show Boy and Royal Scrip. There was little change in the running across the top and down the back, and with four furlongs to run it was still Winning Gem and Night Rider from Airshaft, Royal Scrip, Young Yvette. Show Boy, Pacific Edition and Sweet Lorraine. The last-named threaded her way into fifth place at the straight entrance behind Winning Gem. Night Rider, Royal Scrip and Airshaft. Royal Scrip came through to win from Sweet Lorraine and Beau Soir got the decision in a photo finish for third from Indiana. Show Boy, Raineri and Night-Rider were the next to finish.

LED ALL THE WAY Open Sky led all the way to win the Abbotsford Handicap, holding off a late challenge from Formation by a length. Open Sky was followed out of the barrier by Social News, Marcus, Golden Chips, Formation and Great Desire. Golden Chips had moved up to second at the far turn and was followed by Marcus, Great Desire and Formation. Royal Scandal was showing up on the bend and followed Open Sky into the straight, ahead of Formation and Golden Chips, Who was beginning to stop. Correct Change was making up ground. Galloping boldly. Open Sky drew well clear and Formation, who followed her home, was five lengths ahead of Aberdare, who came from a long way back. Royal Scandal was fourth, and then came Correct Change, Great Desire and Victory Star Correct Change did well to finish where he did, as he and Mandeville were the last to leave. ROYAL SWING DECISIVELY . Royal Swing and Royal Saga, placegetters in the Trial Handicap on Monday, again raced prominently yesterday to be first and third in the Novice Handicap. Royal Swing led all the way. being attended out of the barrier by Braemorn. Royal Saga aijd Diablo. Marauder dropped his rider near the four-furlong post, and Royal Swing was first into the straight from Diablo, Braemorn, Royal Saga, Puck and Nutcracker. The leader drew right away in the run home to have a margin of four lengths from Hobgoblin, who put in a fine run from well back, and Royal Saga got a photo decision for third from Diablo. St. Leonard was fifth, followed by Memorare, Screw Picket and All Hurry.