PUBLICANS’ HANDICAP

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27570, 12 December 1950, Page 5

PUBLICANS’ HANDICAP

Favourite’s Bad Start String Band finished solidly to win the Publicans’ Handicap. The favourite, Cogitation, got out badly, and Red Pickle was the early leader from Benevolus, Beaugard. String Band and Nullah. Bobby Dazzler moved up in the back stretch to follow Red Pickle past the five, with Beaugard, String Band and Benevolus close up. String Band and Benevolus moved up on the bend and String Band was first into the straight from Benevolus and Beaugard. Benevolus threw out a strong challenge in the run home, but String Band beat him by a length, and Cogitation finished well for third. Beaugard was fourth, and then came Red Pickle and Bobby Dazzler. THE FIRST LEG The finish of the Apprentices’ Handicap was a very close one, the three dividendpayers going over the line practically in line. Silver Clipper, Golden Wonder, and Vain Lad were the first to show out, but turning across the top Our Girl moved up and into the back she was showing the way with Silver Clipper, with Golden Wonder, Royal Sapphire and Vain Lad next, and Scuttle and Fine Art last. There was little change running to the straight, where Our Girl was shading Silver Clipper, with Golden Wonder, Royal Sapphire, and Vain Lad still in the call. In a fine race home, Silver Clipper just stalled off Golden Wonder’s challenge and Vain Lad was almost in line. Royal Sapphire was fourth, and then came Scuttle and Fine Art. THE SECOND LEG Asaf Jah was left at the start of the Champion Hack Handicap and past the post the first time Flying Trixie, Nan, and Don’t Listen were racing in line, followed by The Saint Cover Drive, and Munlockie. Nan and Flying Trixie showed the way into the back, with Don’t Listen and Munlockie in behind them. Cover Drive moved up on the home bend and into the straight it was Nan and Flying Trixie from Cover Drive and Don’t Listen. Nan weakened in the run home and Don’t Listen came through to win from Munlockie who got up in time to beat Nan for second. Flying Trixie was fourth, ahead of Cover Drive and The Saint. HIGHrWEIGHT HANDICAP Steady rain was falling when the Edie High-weight Handicap was run, and as the field galloped past the stand Don’t Listen and Shelbash were leading from Urbino. and then came Ember, Free Gift and Kleve. Turning into the back Urbino fell, and Kleve moved up to third behind Don’t Listen and Shelbash. Ember came down on the bottom bend, and Don’t Listen and Kleve come into the straight together, followed by Shelbash and Free Gift. In a hard finish Kleve finished better than Don’t Listen and drew clear just short

of the post, with Shelbash holding his place for third easily from Free Gift. A CLOSE FINISH White Robe got out well in the Hydro Handicap and was followed down the back by Red Pickle, with Glenlivet last. At the far turn White Robe was three lengths clear, and Glenlivet was moving up. White Robe was a length clear into the straight from Glenlivet, who challenged strongly in the run home, but failed to get up by half a head. Red Pickle finished two lengths away. NOVICE HANDICAP The carded field went to the post for the Novice Handicap, and the first to break the line were Chatswin, Way Home, Royal Spanish, Irish Royalty and Photon. Ash and Emerald Chief got away badly. At the far turn Chatswin was showing the way to Photon, and then came Irish Royalty, Way Home and Lady Wanaka. Chatswin was first to head for home from Irish Royalty. Lady Wanaka and Way Home, with Silver Standard moving up. Silver Standard challenged Chatswin strongly but curled inwards just short of the post and was beaten by a nose. Irish Royalty was two lengths away and Photon fourth. Ash, Royal Spanish and Lady Wanaka were next. EASY FOR CLINKER HALL Clinker Hall, the favourite, led all the way in the Dunkeld Trot. Robert Bruce broke up badly, and Clinker Hall went out fast, and with three furlongs covered she was five lengths clear of Solandri, with Dark Hour a length ahead of Phineas. Past the post the order was unchanged, with the horses in Indian file. Coming around the bend for the last time. Clinker Hall widened her break on the field, and she went on to win by six lengths from Solandri, who held Phineas off by a length. Dark Hour was fourth. FLYING SCOTT SUCCESSFUL Dark Hour began badly in the Molyneux Trot, and Robert Bruce went out fast and had a break of four lengths from Subordinate turning across the top, with Brooksby Hall and Plausible together next, followed by Solandri, Clinker Hall, and Flying Scott. Brooksby Hall went into second place half a mile from home, and Subordinate, Plausible and Solandri were close up. Flying Scott made up ground running to the home turn, and was fourth into the straight behind Robert Bruce, Brooksby Hall and Plausible, with Solandri next. Once well into line for home Flying Scott came through to win decisively from Solandri, who finished strongly to beat Robert Bruce for second. Plausible was right up with the third horse.