SOUTHERN CHIEF WINS WELL

Southland Times, Issue 23969, 8 November 1939, Page 10

SOUTHERN CHIEF WINS WELL

Two-Mile Race Won From End To End RICCARTON STAKES TO IMPERIAL JADE GOOD PERFORMANCE BY BILL B (From Our Own Reporter) CHRISTCHURCH, November 7. Native Huon was a firm favourite for the Spring Handicap but she broke within the first furlong and was not afterwards prominent. The winner, Tan John, was well back in the early running and with a round to go was in seventh place behind Sagamore, Escalado, Sister Mary, Shadeland, Sonoma King and Bill Grattan. The order was practically the same at the straight entrance where Bill Grattan broke up. Half way down the running the pacemaker, Sagamore, looked a winner but Tan John, who was under a hard drive, finished too well for him. Sagamore made practically all the pace and his was a solid effort as he was only beaten in the last few strides. Sister Mary, who was always handily placed, was three lengths away third, and Gracie Fields was close up, fourth. The latter trotted a great race from the back mark as she was hopelessly out of it at one stage. After the placed horses came Jenny’s Guy, Escalado and Sonoma King. Escalado had every chance but did not stay on and Allworthy and Manna’s Son made early mistakes. GREAT DON STAYS ON ” Special Edition was backed as a cer-, tainty for the Empire Handicap, but he broke up at the start and took no part in the race. Great Don was the first out but he soon surrendered the lead to Sports Review while Lady Milne, Mazaire, Josedale Grattan, Regal and Royal Avis were always handy. Racing into the back the last time Sports Review was closely attended by Great Don, Mazaire, Lady Milne, Regal and Josedale Grattan. Sports Review was the first beaten and at the far turn Great Don had charge from a bunched field which included Mazaire, Lady Milne, Josedale Grattan, Regal and Mongolian. Great Don was first into the straight and in a great race home he stayed on gamely to beat Josedale Grattan by a neck. Mazaire was three lengths away, third, with Lady Milne fourth, ahead of Regal, Mongolian and Jovial. The winner’s performance stamped him as a useful stayer and he should win again. Josedale Grattan covered extra ground and was not disgraced. Mazaire was always in the firing line but Dusky Sound was on the outer of three sulkies most of the way. RICCARTON STAKES Imperial Jade began brilliantly in the Riccarton Stakes and after setting a fast pace over the first half mile she was not afterwards headed. Imperial Jade was closely attended by Durability, Latest Edition, Betty Boop, Ordnance and Great Waitaki with a round to go. At this stage the field was well spread out and racing into the back the order was much the same. Imperial Jade led round the far turn from Durability, Betty Boop and Ordnance with Clockwork and Brungasta making up ground. Imperial Jade was first into the straight and when the field straightened up the leader was challenged by Durability. Imperial Jade finished strongly to win by two lengths while Betty Boop was two lengths further back, third. Clockwork was fourth ahead of Ordnance, Latest Edition and Nationalist. The winner, who is a sister to Indianapolis, won in impressive style. Durability was beaten on his merits. Nationalist, Oxford Scholar and Brungasta tangled at the start. LUCKY JACK’S CUP The New Zealand Trotting Cup resulted in one of the finest races seen on the course for years and in a great finish Lucky Jack beat Cantata by a neck with Blair Athol a similar distance back third. Albthree were spread across the track and it was a most spectacular finish. Fine Art was a good win favourite with the Lucky Jack bracket and Plutus next in demand. Rocks Ahead and Gallant Knight were the smartest to begin but within the first furlong Lawn Derby, who had began smartly, broke and had to be pulled up. Passing the stand the first time Gallant Knight was showing the way to Rocks Ahead, Colonel Grattan, Marsceres, Fine Art and Plutus. There was little change in the order for the next circuit and with five furlongs to go Colonel Grattan had taken charge from Gallant Knight, Rocks Ahead, / Fine Art, Marsceres, Plutus and King’s Play. Colonel Grattan lost his driver racing down the back where Lucky Jack moved up to the leaders and Plutus also improved his position. As the straight was reached the driverless Colonel Grattan was still in charge from Gallant Knight, Lucky Jack, Fine Art, Plutus and Parisienne with Cantata and Blair Athol making up ground on the outer. Gallant Knight stopped in the run home and came right back on Fine Art who had to be pulled up. Lucky Jack immediately took charge but over the last furlong was hotly challenged by Cantata and then

Blair Athol. Lucky Jack responded gamely and stayed on to beat Cantata by a neck with Blair Athol a similar distance away third. Plutus was fourth ahead of Parisienne, Gallant Knight and Fine Art. Colonel Grattan (without a driver) was actually first past the post. FROM END TO END Southern Chief was backed down to an odds-on price for the Canterbury Handicap and he won from end to end. Frisco Lady arid Red Ranger broke up at the start and at the end of a furlong Southern Chief had run to the front from Toorak, Great Divide and Marlene. This was the order for a mile and entering the last round Southern Chief was still doing it well in front from Toorak, Great Divide, Marlene and Horse Power. Great Divide endeavoured to move up to the leaders down the back but Southern Chief and Toorak always had his measure and they led him into the straight from Marlene. Southern Chief came away to win decisively by two lengths from Toorak and Marlene finished better than Great Divide to be a length away third. Horse Power, Red Ranger and Renown’s Best were next. Silver Guy, Horse Power, and Red Ranger struck some trouble with a round to go. Southern Chief was a class above the others. ROYAL ROMANCE WINS Gerfalcon was made favourite for the Dominion Handicap but after making several mistakes in therunning he was beaten out of the money. Pilot Peter wrecked his chance at the start and at the end of two furlongs Nell Volo had run to the front from Royal Romance, Lament, Captain Bolt and Gerfalcon, who had broken up. Racing into the back Captain Bolt took charge and opened up a lead of two lengths from Nell Volo, Royal Romance, Lament and Bittersweet. Pilot Peter had run into third place behind Captain Bolt and Nell Volo' with a round to go, while Lament, Wahnooka and Bittersweet were also well placed. Lament, Wahnooka, Mute and Pilot Peter made mistakes down the back. Captain Bolt led Nell Volo, Royal Romance and Gerfalcon into the straight. Nell Volo broke and Captain Bolt began to tire. Royal Romnace took charge 100 yards from the post and stayed on to win by two lengths from Captain Bolt Nell Volo, who was two lengths away third,' was on a break passing the post. Mute was fourth ahead of Gerfalcon, Wahnooka and Lament. Royal Romance had the run of the race and she paid a win dividend of almost a score. BILL B BEATS FREMONT Zincali, Quest and Waipahi lost their chances at the start of the Victoria Handicap and the first to show out were Donor, Battlefield and Harold Guy. Donor was joined by his stablemate, Jackaranda at the end of three furlongs, where Battlefield, Parauri and Fremont were handily placed. Jackaranda piloted the field down the back and with half a mile to go he had charge from Donor, Battlefield, Fremont, Harold Guy, Red Pigeon and Nell Grattan. Bill B made up a lot of ground down the back straight where Cruiser tangled and Donor was under a hard drive. Jackaranda was first into the straight from Bill B, Fremont and Icevus. Jackaranda was the first beaten and Bill B came away and won by two lengths. Fremont was second ahead of Icevus who narrowly beat Nell. Grattan. The next to finish were Harold Guy, Jackaranda and Cruiser. It was a particularly good effort on Bill B’s part as he was required to cover eiftra ground over the last mile. GREAT JEWEL’S SPRINT Great Jewel proved himself a highclass sprinter in winning the Hagiey Handicap in brilliant style. Great Jewel was slow to strike his hopples and when the field had settled down Glenrossie was showing the way to George Rey, Bonny Azure and Sandusky. With a round to go George Rey had taken charge from Bonny Azure, Glenrossie, Donald Dhu and Sandusky, with Great Jewel at the head of the others. Great Jewel put in a brilliant run down the back and at the far turn had charge from Donald Dhu, George Rey and Pot Luck, who made up ground. Donald Dhu challenged Great Jewel at the top of the straight but the latter was always a winner and came on to win by two lengths. Sandusky finished better than Donald Dhu and beat him by a neck for second. Pot Luck was fourth ahead of Bonny Azure and George Rey. Great Jewel showed a brilliant burst of speed over the last half-mile and justified the solid support to come for him.