WARDRESS WINS AGAIN

Southland Times, Issue 23823, 22 May 1939, Page 10

WARDRESS WINS AGAIN

Hack Sprint Won By

Treasurer

HURDLES TO METAL BIRD

(From Our Own Reporter) TIMARU, May 21.

Recollection, a good second favourite for the Pukaki Hurdles Handicap, appeared to have the result in safe keeping when he came to grief at the last fence. The winner turned up in Metal Bird, who was always one of the leaders over the last six furlongs. Racing past the stands Colonel French had charge from Game Hunter, Metal Bird and Pink Robe. Colonel French piloted the field into the back but Metal Bird soon ran to the front from Colonel French, Recollection and Pink Robe, with the others well out of it. Metal Bird led Recollection into the straight from Pink Robe and Colonel French. Recollection fell at the last hurdle leaving Metal Bird well clear of Pink Robe. Metal Bird stayed on to beat Pink Robe by three lengths with Colonel French six lengths away third. Pride o’ Central and Fireguard were next. Game Hunter fell at the second last fence when well out of it. Metal Bird jumped greenly at the first two fences but after that he gave a sound display. Recollection would certainly have won had he stood up. Colonel French jumped well over the last six furlongs and it was a creditable effort for a three-year-old. FAVOURITE BEATEN Phenomenal was backed as a certainty for the Southbum Hack Handicap but after putting a break on his field at the far turn he weakened over the last furlong and Treasurer beat him home by half a length. On Call, Don Roy, Treasurer and Phenomenal were among the first to show out and at the end of two furlongs Phenomenal had taken charge from Don Roy and Treasurer together, Lady Sincere and Nolana. Phenomenal was still two lengths clear at the top of the straight from On Call, Don Roy, Treasurer and Lady Sincere. Phenomenal was strongly challenged by Treasurer in the run home and the lastnamed finished too well for the favourite to beat him by half a length. Astral Flash finished fast on the rails to beat Lady Sincere for third and the next to finish were Flame Queen, On Call and Nolana. In a fast-run race Treasurer was staying on at the finish and it was a first-class performance. Phenomenal was not disgraced after setting a fast pace and Astral Flash was closer at the finish than any other stage. Lady Sincere had every chance and On Call stopped badly over the last furlong. DECISIVE WIN Aurie’s Star was backed down to a short price in the Wai-iti Trot Handicap but she' was badly placed right through and did not threaten danger. Huia Potts tangled at the start and wrecked the chance of Betty Boop. Racing past the stands Diviner, Ceres, Erin’s Lad, Trousseau and Kansas City headed a bunched field. Erin’s Lad ran to the front turning into the back where Kansas City, Gold Bar, Trousseau, and Responsive were handy. At the home turn Erin’s Lad and Kansas City put a break of four lengths on to their field and they were well clear of Trousseau, Tiny Axworthy and Diviner at the top of the straight. Erin’s Lad finished strongly in the run home and stayed on to win' by three lengths. Mandrell came with a great late run to beat Kansas City by a length for second. Marie’s Pride was close up fourth ahead of Trousseau and Diviner. Erin’s Lad, who was a good second the

first day and has raced consistently in recent starts, xtas permitted to pay a good win dividend. Mandrell was not sighted in the early running and his was a creditable effort. MUNGATOON AGAIN In a big betting pool for the South Canterbury Handicap Mungatoon was a slightly better favourite than Thermidor, and this pair fought out a great finish with Mungatoon staying on to win by a short head. Silver Slipper and Night Hawk were inclined to be slow away and racing out of the straight Nightdress, Waitoru, Petersham and Haughty Winner were prominent. Nightdress, Waitoru and Petersham were together racing into the back but Mungatoon soon ran to the front and he was joined by Petersham and then Night Hawk. At the far turn Mungatoon and Night Hawk were clear of Petersham, Nightdress, Foxlove ana Waitoru. Mungatoon and Night Hawk were still in charge at the top of the straight from Thermidor, Foxlove, Petersham and Nightdress. Night Hawk was beaten at the distance and it was left to Thermidor to challenge Mungatoon in the lead. In a great finish between the pair Mungatoon stayed on to win by a head. Foxlove was three lengths away third and then came Settlement (fourth), Petersham, Night Hawk and Rabble. Mungatoon raced right up to his first day’s form as he had to cover some extra ground to get to the front and again stayed on under pressure in a fast-run race. Thermidor was doing her best work at the finish and had she got clear earlier she would have made it even more difficult for the winner. Foxlove was always in a handy position and he again ran a solid race. Night Hawk also had to cover some extra ground in the early running. Waitoru was beaten a long way from home after being handily placed down the back. He was one of the last to finish. A CLOSE FINISH 1 The Riverton trainer, J. Thistleton, produced the winner of the second steeplechase event of the meeting, when Gold Wren won the Pareora Steeplechase, after a great duel with Wexford Bridge over the last three furlongs. Chile dropped his rider at the second fence and racing into the back the first time Gold Wren, Wexford Bridge and Sunny Comet had drawn out several lengths clear of the others. Tomcat lost his rider at the end of a mile at which stage Gold Wren and Sunny Comet were 10 lengths clear of Wexford Bridge with a gap back to Corban. At the second of the .stand double Corban came to grief. With a round to go Gold Wren was four lengths clear of Sunny Comet with Wexford Bridge 15 lengths further back. The order was the same down the back straight where Sunny Comet was beaten and Wexford Bridge ran into second place. At the home turn Gold Wren was a length clear of Wexford Bridge and the pair took the last fence together. Half a furlong from the post Wexford Bridge had headed Gold Wren, but the latter finished on again to get up and beat Wexford Bridge by a head. Sunny Comet, the only other to complete the course, was 10 lengths away. Gold Wren’s performance was that of a really good horse as Sunny Comet made him carry his weight over the first mile and over the last half he had to stave off a strong challenge from Wexford Bridge. Gold Wren pulled up soundly and this performance indicated that he is right back to his best. Wexford Bridge, who was having only his second start over the big timber, put up a promising showing. Sunny Comet jumped well until he retired beaten at the end of two miles. FOUR-HORSE RACE Rebel Mate was a better favourite than the first day’s winner Nightcalm, in the Farewell Handicap, which attracted a surprisingly big pool for a four-horse race. Nightcalm and Flagman were smartest to jump out and this pair led Rebel Mate and Roseman to the straight. Flagman moved up to Nightcalm as they straightened up but at the distance Nightcalm was still doing it well in front with Flagman on the outer and Rebel Mate putting in his claim on the inner. Nightcalm was always a winner over the last furlong and he stayed on to beat Flagman by a length with Rebel Mate half a length further back. It was an impressive win on Nightcalm’s part as after jumping out smartly he did not look like being beaten. Rebel Mate’s challenge was short-lived but Flagman put up a solid performance. A BAD SMASH Several of the runners in the Winchester Trot had their chances extinguished when Lord Zetland, Mandrell and Jerry Parrish fell when the field was running out of the straight. McGregor and Charles Russell took no part in the race as their sulkies became entangled at the start while Siege Gun also lost ground. Racing down the back straight Marfax had charge from Equerry, Rollalong, Black Art, Becky Direct, Pursuit and Lady Nessa with Siege Gun making up ground. The order was much the same across the top and Marfax led into the straight from Rollalong, Black Art, Equerry, Becky Direct and Lady Nessa. The leaders were beaten at the distance and Becky Direct finished better than Lady Nessa to win by two lengths. Black Art was a neck away third, a neck in front of Equerry and then came Marfax and Pursuit. The smash cost the favourite Jerry Parrish his chance. Becky Direct was always handy over the last half mile and she finished on resolutely. Lady Nessa was responsible for a useful effort as she was required to cover some extra ground. WARDRESS WINS WELL Wardress was a good win favourite for the Temuka Hack Handicap, for which The Wrecker was also solidly supported, but after being handily placed in the running right through Wardress gave nothing else a chance at the finish. Comus was slow away while Elegy and Elmarch also lost ground. Running into the back Lord Puck ran to the front ffom Gironde, Doctor Duthie and Wardress. The order down the back was much the same although Garonne, Merry Simon and Chief Lama improved their positions. Lord Puck was still in charge at the straight entrance from Garonde, Wardress, on the inner, Doctor Duthie, The Wrecker and Merry Simon in a bunch. Lord Puck

was beaten when the field straigthened up and Wardress came through on the rails to have charge at the distance. She carried on to beat Doctor Duthie by two lengths while Bright Prospect finished better than The Wrecker to be two lengths further back third. Gironda was next close up. Wardress raced right up to her first day’s form and won with something in hand. Merry Simon was in the picture at the home turn but did not carry on. Doctor Duthie raced solidly and may not be long off the winning list.