BING CROSBY’S CUP

Southland Times, Issue 23393, 28 December 1937, Page 10

BING CROSBY’S CUP

COSGROVE’S DOUBLE SUCCESS KEEN FINISH IN FINAL HANDICAP — The track was in first-class condition for the Gore meeting yesterday and fast times were quite a feature of the day s racing. The Cup race was not run fast, however, and was little more than a sprint home over the last half mile. CROYDON HANDICAP The opening race, the Croydon Handicap, provided a good finish between Betty Drusus and the favourite Appomatox. Betty Drusus hung on well under pressure to win by half a-length. Betty Drusus was first to show out from Halesia, Lady Headford, Native Kowhai and Ingle Chenault. Long Island ran up into fourth place entering the straight where Lady Headford broke up. Halesia led into the straight the first time from Long Island, Betty Drusus and Appomatox. At the stands Halesia and Betty Drusus were just clear of Long Island and Appomatox with the remainder well strung out. Into the back Betty Drusus was two lengths clear from Appomatox, Halesia, Fair Voyage and Blue Logan heading the remainder. With half a mile to go Betty Drusus was four lengths clear of Appomatox, Halesia, Fair Voyage, Blue Logan and Long Island who was stopping badly. Betty Drusus led into the straight from Appomatox, Fair Voyage, Blue Logan and Halesia. In the run home Appomatox looked like catching Betty Drusus, but the latter hung on well to win by half a length. Fair Voyage was two lengths further back third, and then came Halesia and Blue Logan. The winner was patiently handled over the concluding stages and her win was not out of turn as she was placed on several occasions last season. Appomatox gave a solid showing but was beaten on his merits. Long Island showed a good turn of speed in the early stages but stopped badly while Blue Logan did well to finish where he did after breaking up early. TRIAL HANDICAP Making her first appearance in public, Dewey Star won the Trial Handicap from end to end. Iron Duke was a warm favourite but after having every chance he was badly beaten into fifth place. Dewey Star led out from Iron Duke, Gold Streak and Salalon while Royal Drive made up ground quickly from the back mark. Hoyle, Loyal Emblem, Tour, Abel and Samara broke up at the start. Passing the stands and with a mile to go Dewey« Star was three lengths clear of Gold Streak and Iron Duke together, with Salalon handy and a big gap to Royal Drive and Abel; Dewey Star was still three lengths clear at the far turn where Salalon improved his position and ran up to challenge Iron Duke in second place. Iron Duke was beaten three furlongs from home. Dewey Star was four lengths clear at the straight entrance and was not , troubled in the run home. Salalon beat the others just as easily while Gold Streak hung on well enought to beat Abel for third. Then came Iron Duke, Royal Drive, Capricorn and Fortune King. Considering that it was her first start Dewey Star was responsible for an extremely good performance and she paid almost double figures. She was ridden very confidently. Iron Duke’s collapse was the surprise of the race. He was well beaten three furlongs from home. GORE CUP The Gore Trotting Cup provided a first-class finish with the American horse Bing Crosby winning well. Loyal Sun and Night Voyage lost ground at the start where Norma Grattan and Silver Laddie lost all chance. Bing Crosby held up the start for a time but finally went away well. Embark and Moko Child were the first to show out and the pair led into the back from Erin’s Chief, Frisco Silk, Bing Crosby and Loyal Sun. Bing Crosby moved up to the leaders and passing the stands he was in line with Embark and Loyal Sun. Moko Child, Erin’s Chief, Harold Guy, Ace Pot, Frisco Silk, Dark Hazard and Roan Duke were all in bunched formation. Night Voyage struck trouble in improving her position going into the back. With six furlongs to go Embark, and Bing Crosby were still in charge from Loyal Sun, Erin’s Chief, and Harold Guy. Dark Hazard moved up to the leaders at the half mile, but appeared to lose some ground. At the far turn Embark dropped back. The order at this stage was Bing Crosby, Loyal Sun, Dark Hazard, Moko Child and Harold Guy with Roan Duke and Donald Dhu at the head of the others. Bing Crosby appeared to be under a good hold at the top of the straight where Donald Dhu, Dark Hazard, Ace Pot, Erin’s Chief, Roan Duke and Loyal Sun were all well placed. Bing Crosby went on to win by a neck from Donald Dhu with half a length to Roan Duke. Ace Pot was fourth. Bing Crosby was patiently driven and appeared to win with something in hand. There was no pace on in the early stages and as a result the field was bunched throughout. Roan Duke may have been closer had he got clear earlier while Donald Dhu made up a lot of ground over the last mile. Night Voyage met with trouble more than once on the journey while Dark Hazard appeared to stop over the last half. A. E. PIGEON MEMORIAL Nell Grattan lost her driver at the start of the E. A. Pigeon Memorial Handicap, while Guywin also lost all chance. There were several others slow to begin. The race was a poor affair and resolved itself into a contest between four horses. Suncup lead out from Desert Cloud and was two lengths clear passing the stands. Royal Cresent, Rollalong, Master Potts, Irish Aggie and Royal Guy followed in that order. Desert Cloud ran up to Suncup nearing the back straight where Rollalong and Irish Aggie headed the others. Rollalong ran to the front at the far turn from Suncup, Desert Cloud and Irish Aggie. Desert Cloud was well beaten at this stage but Suncup was not done with and challenged Rollalong again in the straight. Suncup responded well and came again to beat Rollalong and hold off a challenge from Irish Aggie. Then came Desert Cloud, Royal Crescent, Master Potts and Royal Guy well back. It was a useful performance on Suncup’s part as she withstood more than one challenge. Irish Aggie finished on well while a good showing had to be credited to Rollalong who may be expected to improve. Desert Cloud had every chance but stopped over the last half. MATAURA HANDICAP The Mataura Handicap provided one of the best finishes of the afternoon, when Fair Voyage got up to win from Jenny’s Guy and Dalaruan. Parrish Chimes stood on the mark. Native Kowhai led out from Jock McGrath, Chenroth, Dalaruan and Great Thorn. This was the order down the back while at the far turn Native Kowhai and Jock McGrath were showing the way to Dalaruan and Ingle Chenault. With a mile to go Native Kowhai was j four lengths clear of Appomatox, Dala- I ruan, Fair .Voyage and Jenny’s Guy. I

Native Kowhai was two lengths clear running down the back from Appomatox, Dalaruan, Fair Voyage and Jenny s Guy. The remainder were out of the contest. The field bunched at the far turn where Native Kowhai dropped out, Appomatox looked a winner at the top of the straight but he was being hotly challenged by Dalaruan, Fair Voyage and Jenny’s Guy in line. Fair Voyage got up to win by a length from Jenny’s Guy who finished with a great run. Dalaruan was third, Appomatox fourth and then came Native Kowhai, Blue Logan and Great Thorn.

Fair Voyage was one of the few not to make a mistake and finished on particularly well. Jenny’s Guy showed a lot of speed and but for a mistake would have been hard to beat. Native Kowhai gave a solid showing but like Appomatox did not hang on. Blue Logan lost a lot of ground early. STEWARDS’ HANDICAP Several of the field in the Stewards’ Handicap lost all chance at the start, the number including Ebb Tide, Hoyle, Fransol, Violet Potts and Provincial. Baron Silk was smartest to begin from Loyalist, Voloma, Willowbank, Happy Locanda and Sydney Grand. Into the back Baron Silk was clear of Loyalist, Willowbank, Voloma, Happy Locanda and Fransol. Happy Locanda moved up down the back and with Voloma took charge at the far turn. Happy Locanda and Voloma left the field round the top where they were six lengths clear. Baron Silk and Loyalist headed the others. Voloma shaded Happy Locanda into the straight being eight lengths clear of Baron Silk and Sydney Grand. In a punishing finish Voloma stayed on the better and won by a length from Happy Locanda, with Sydney Grand another length further back. Fransol was fourth and then came Jesse Owens, Willowbank, Samara, Baron Silk and Guy View. W. Cosgrove thus produced the two novice winners of the day. Voloma, who ranks as a sister to a good winner in Southern Smile, and a half-sister to Southern Chief and others, is only a pony but she hung on really well. Happy Locanda should not be long in breaking his maiden status while Sydney Grand and Guy View appear capable of improving. Jesse Owens went a creditable race after losing a lot of ground at the start. PRESIDENT’S HANDICAP Aqua Bond, a solid favourite, won the President’s Handicap after a good set-to in the run home with Debenture, who was the only one capable of testing the winner over the last half. Edith Grattan, Aqua Bond and Debenture lost ground at the start. In a good start Ghandi was first to show out and after three furlongs he was in charge from Happy King, Aqua Bond and Bonny Brydone who made up her handicap very quickly. Passing the stands Bonnie Brydone was showing the way to Ghandi, Master Garry, Happy King, Seascape and Aqua Bond. Into the back straight Aqua Bond and Debenture ran to the front from Seascape and Happy King with the remainder out of the picture. Aqua Bond looked an easy winner at the top of the straight but Debenture put in her claim and got to within a length of the winner. Happy King was two lengths further back and just headed Seascape. Then came Drumbunnif, Capri, Edith Grattan and Ghandi. Aqua Bond and Debenture were a grade above the remainder of the field. Aqua Bond, a half-sister to a good winner in Rocks Ahead, promises to win her way to good company and should be heard from again during the holidays. Debenture is likely to make amends be - fore long and so may Seascape. ' FINAL HANDICAP The Final Handicap provided one of the most exciting finishes of the day when Dark Hazard got up in the last few strides to beat Walter Gay by half a-head. The time of 2min 48sec for the mile and a-quarter was the best put up during the afternoon. Tritoma, Labour Chimes and Rollalong did not begin well and Walter Gay was clear after a furlong from War Betty, Civic, Dark Hazard, Royal Guy, Ace Pot, and Bing Crosby. Dark Hazard moved up to be second to Walter Gay into the back, War Betty, Civic and Ace Pot being handiest of the others. Ace Pot lost ground while Bing Crosby improved his position to be fifth with six furlongs to go. Seaward de Oro and Tritoma headed the others. Walter Gay was two lengths clear of Dark Hazard at the half mile post, where Civic, War Betty and Bing Crosby were handiest of the others. Walter Gay was still clear at the distance but he was hotly challenged by Dark Hazard while Bing Crosby, Ace Pot and Civic also loomed up on the outer. Walter Gay hung on well and Dark Hazard only caught him on the post. Ace Pot finished too strongly for the others and then came Civic (fourth), Bing Crosby, Prince Charles and War Betty. The winner had a good run throughout and he was driven an excellent race. He responded well in the run home. Walter Gay went the best race of his career and it was a particularly good effort on his part. Ace Pot was unlucky. He struck trouble on the journey and then finished third. Bing Crosby looked a possibility half a mile from home but he had little in reserve and did not finish on.

CATTLE FLAT HACK CLUB

FIELDS FOR NON-TOTE MEETING The Cattle Flat Hack Racing Club will hold its annual non-totalizator meeting today. Good fields have been drawn and there is every indication of keen racing at this popular meeting. The fields are as follows:— HANDICAP HURDLE RACE, £l3. One mile and a-half.

LAWN TENNIS (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, December 27. In the New Zealand Catholic Lawn Tennis Association’s annual tournament which began in Wellington on Sunday six teams participated in an interprovincial contest for the Watson Shield. In the final Wellington A beat Auckland by 17 sets to seven.

Bandy Boa 10 9 Panara 9 0 Glenboa 9 3 Pharaoh 9 0 British Star 9 0 Sir Admiral 9 0 ARDLUSSA HACK RACE, £14. Six : furlongs. Dunmure 10 3 Panza 9 0 Balperina 9 0 Royal Wood 9 0 Flaminco 9 0 Signorlna 9 0 Panara 9 0 Panmure geld. 9 0 BALFOUR DISTRICT TROT, £15. One mile and a-half. Crown Peak It Violet Potts It Dewey Cloud It yds bhd Happy Locanda It Iron Duke 60 CATTLE FLAT CUP, £24. One mile and a-quarter. Dazzling Eyes 10 8 Flaminco 9 0 Dunmuro 10 2 Last Post 9 0 Coat of Arms 9 9 Pharaoh 9 0 Bandy Boa 9 8 PRESIDENT’S TROT, £14. Class , 3.8. One mile and a-quarter. Antarctic Sun It Violet Potts It Crown Peak , It vds bhd Dewey Cloud It Iron Duke 48 Happy Locanda It FLYING HANDICAP, £15. Six furlongs. Dazzling Eyes 10 8 Panara 9 0 Coat of Arms 9 9 Pharaoh 9 0 Bandy Boa 9 8 Royal Wood 9 0 Balperina Last Post 9 0 9 0 Signorlna Sir Admiral 9 0 9 0 FAREWELL HANDICAP, £15. One mile. Dunmure 10 2 Last Post 9 0 Coat of Arms 9 9 Panara 9 0 British Star 9 0 Sir Admiral 9 0