WELCOME GUEST WINS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27551, 20 November 1950, Page 2

WELCOME GUEST WINS

Main Event At Southland

Club’s Meeting

FAVOURITE FAILS TO LEAVE

Special to Daily Times INVERCARGILL, Nov. 19. The Wingatui horseman, L. W. Hare, was riding in top form at the Southland Racing Club’s spring meeting on Saturday, when he rode four winners—Welcome Guest, Dunkirk, Deploy, and Royal China—on end. Dunkirk in the Southland Guineas and Deploy in the Two-year-old Handicap had clear cut successes, but Hare’s handling of Welcome Guest and Royal China in the City Handicap and the Stewart Island Handicap, the double combination, played no small part in their winning efforts. i

There j«ras something a a sensation when the hot favourite on the Double and Win and Place machines, Cogitation, took no part in the City Handicap, the first “ leg ” of the Double. An official explanation stated that he was in line when the barrier went up. Apparently he was in the act of moving back at the moment the field got underway, and he was soon out at the back of. the starting stalls. He had more than £IBOO invested on his chance.

Welcome Guest who won the City Handicap, carried 1141 tickets (10s unit) in a pool of 8901 and of this number 401 were coupled up with Royal China, winner of the second leg, the Stewart Island Handicap. The combination paid £lB 6s for £l.

In the City Handicap Welcome Guest had taken charge inside the first furlong, and he led out of the straight from Mount Barker, Anzora, Uist, Formation, Bobby Dazzler. Thornbridge, and All Alone. Welcome Guest was clear racing into the back, where Mount Barker had been joined by Baygundi, and Thornbridge moved up ahead of Uist, Formation and Bobby Dazzler. Thornbridge had joined Welcome Guest in the lead passing the half, and Thornbridge carried on to be clear at the three, where Welcome Goiest and Mount Barker were next, ahead of Baygundi, Raineri and All Alone, and Billy Mac was moving up ahead of Formation. Thornbridge was first into the straight from Welcome Guest, Mount Barker, Baygundi, All Alone and Formation. Thornbridge was tackled by Welcome Guest, who came through on the inner at the distance, while Baygundi and All Alone challenged on the outer. Welcome Guest finished particularly well to get up and win going away by half a length from All Alone, who beat Baygundi by a long neck in a photo finish. Mount Barker was a length and a-half back fourth, with Lecturer a length away next./ Formation. Anzora. Uist. Raineri and Bobby Dazzler followed, with Billy Mac last. The Second “Leg”

Royal China justified his choice as favourite for the Stewart Island Handicap, in which he secured a good run throughout. Sad Sonntag jumped out brilliantly, and into the back he was five lengths clear of Gay Gitana and Asaf Jah, with Royal China. Munlockie. Benevolus, Dad’s Pal and Night Abbey next. There was little change at the three, where Censure and Salamander made up some ground and Sad Sonntag started to come mack to his field. Sad Sonntag was still two lengths clear into- the straight, where Royal China, Benevolus and Munlockie were in line ahead of Gay Gitana, Asaf Jah, Censure and Vermeer Lad. Sad Sonntag was beaten inside the distance, where Royal China came through on the inner and. hard ridden, he came on to win by three-quarters of a length from Salamander, who beat Munlockie by a head for second. Benevolus. who looked a possibility halfway down the running, was half a length back fourth, with Sad Sonntag close up fifth, ahead of Night Abbey, Censure and Asaf Jah. The Guineas Dunkirk was backed down to a short price for the Southland Guineas, and after making practically all the running he won with something in hand. Nan and Haka lost ground at the start, and Koxinga, Dunkirk and White Robe were the first to show out. Racing down the back. Dunkirk was clear of White Robe and Koxinga (together), with St. Columba and Nan handy. White Robe had joined Dunkirk in the lead at the half, where Koxinga, who was securing a good trail, was joined by Nan, with a gap to St. Columba and Haka. There was little change at the home turri, and Dunkirk and White Robe were still clear into the straight, with Koxinga being brought to the outer to 'challenge and St. Columba at the head of the others. Dunkirk stuck to his guns in good style to hold off Koxinga by a length, with White Robe four lengths back third and another four lengths to Nan, who beat St. Columba in a photo finish for fourth.