COMBAT’S DOUBLE SUCCESS

Southland Times, Issue 24357, 11 February 1941, Page 6

COMBAT’S DOUBLE SUCCESS

Comment On Gore Running Combat repeated his performance of Saturday and won the Mataura Highweight almost from end to end. He went to the front before the field had gone out of the straight, and along the back, in company with Jacksonville, he opened up a lead of five lengths from the rest of the field. Jacksonville was done at the half-mile and Bow Street raced up to Combat, with Ballyaggan and Araboa closing up. Atua Rere, who stumbled when running out of the straight, was a long way back. Combat was first into the straight and went on to win by two lengths from Bow Street, who beat Araboa by a length. Ballyaggan was next and then came Atua Rere, with Jacksonville a long way' back last. Combat carried his weight well and I scored an easier win than on the first| day. PHILIBUN PAYS BIG PRICE Philibun, one of the outsiders of the field, won the Apprentices Handicap decisively from Kippen, who finished two lengths ahead of Shantyman. The start was delayed by the over-anxious-ness of two or three riders, and E. E. Mackie, rider of Green Gables, was fined £2 for anticipating the rise of the barrier. Green Gables eventually got the worst of the start and Kippen and Central Star led the field over the first half-mile, where Knight of Old was | taken up to the leaders. Philibun was racing in a handy position just behind | Green Gables and Knight of Old. Kip- j pen was first into the straight from | Philibun and Knight of Old. Central I Star dropped right back and in the run j home Philibun took the lead just inside the distance and beat Kippen by a I length. Shantyman, who finished fast, j was two lengths away. Then came | Knight of Old. Central Star, Green j Gables and Dolita. LOCHIEL’S PRIDE RUNS TO FORM | Lochiel’s Pride ran true to form in the Telegraph Trot and won narrowly I from Polling Day by half a length. I Sunnydell was three lengths away third. The race caused a stir on the course. A misunderstanding about the start caused about half of the field to go away before the flag went down. Several of the runners completed the course and Trevathan passed the post first with Koesian and Jack Bond next, but the starter ruled a no-start.

In the re-run of the race Lochiel’s Pride showed out early and with Comeaway and Trevathan led until half a mile from home, where Polling Day made a move and Sunnydell showed up. In the run home Polling Day challenged strongly but failed by half a length. Sunnydell was third eight lengths away and then came Princess Claire and Play Safe.

WILD CAREER'S SUCCESS Wild Career won the President’s Handicap like a good horse. He was i kept in behind the field for more than I seven furlongs and at the distance he ■ ranged alongside Peony Rose and beat j her to the post in a neck to neck finish | by a head. Much of the interest was i lost to the race when Sparkle fell at the seven furlongs post. She got on to Peony Rose’s heels when running close up in third place. Sparkle got away well, but at the end of a furlong the lead was taken by Blissful Lady and Peony Rose. Sparkle came down as they raced around the turn, but she did not interfere with Wild Career or Sir Hugh. Peony Rose held a slight, advantage over Blissful Lady as they raced along the back and Sir Hugh and Wild Career moved up to the leaders. Peony Rose was first into the straight from Blissful Lady and Wild Career and in a punishing finish to the post Wild Career got the verdict by a head from Peony Rose, with Blissful Lady four lengths away third. TRIAL TO ROYAL CHORUS Royal Chorus won the Trial Handi- I cap in convincing style. He was taken i to the front from barrier rise and was I never headed. Minton showed .up be- j hind Royal Chorus soon after me start: and the leaders were followed by Nihil, i Evemary and Lake Mist, with Royal | Money and Slamannan at the back of the field. There was no change in the I order across the top except that Lake j Mist made a forward move and Evemary ran up on the outer. In the straight Royal Chorus went | away and Georgia came through on the I inner and challenged the leader. Royal I Chorus stayed on well and won by I two and a-half lengths from Georgia, I who was a length in front of Royal I Money. Evemary was fourth and Min- | ton and Nihil were next. I

NIGHTCALM’S SPRINT Nightcalm scored an end-to-end win I in the Borough Handicap and showed I that had he got a good run on Saturi day he may have extended Boaform. He won well and put up fast time—time which has rarely if ever been bettered on the track. Nightcalm was got out smartly by Jennings and he led out from Phalanx, Craiglea, Waitoru and Spendthrift. There was practically no change in the

| order to the straight except that ! Craiglea drifted. In the run home Nightcalm easily | held his own and Craiglea cut Waitoru i out of second money. Phalanx was fourth, then came Sailing Lady, Spendthrift and Gold Flight. GOOD FINISH BY ERINACK Erinack went right away from the field at the end of the Riversdale Trot and won with ease by eight lengths from Irish Guy. Erinack was well placed throughout. She led the field i through the straight the first time, but gave way to Drummer Boy who held the leading position right to the straight in the run home. Sinbad was handy to the leaders, but faded out two furlongs from home and Irish Guy finished well, j Jorrocks had a chance as they turned I into the straight, but failed to carry on. j I Nothing had a chance with the winner in the straight, however; she gave an excellent display of pacing. Irish Guy beat Drummer Boy for j third money by a neck and Seascape finished fast into fourth place. April Direct was fifth. ARA VANE WINS The start of the Autumn Hack Handicap was delayed. Two horses went through the barrier and several attempts were made to get them away before they were finally despatched. Aspire showed out first and led Aravane out of the straight, with Sir Denis and Noko next and Green Boa in last place. Aravane dropped back before the turn was negotiated and Noko and Sir Denis showed the way into the back stretch where Sea Lady moved up fast and took the lead. At the half-mile Sea Lady showed the way to Noko, Sir Denis, Aspire, Green Boa and Aravane, who made a forward move. Green Boa raced .into fourth place before the straight was reached. Sea Lady held her lead by two lengths into the straight with Sir Denis a length ahead of Noko. In the run home Aravane put in a telling run on the outer and got up to beat Sea Lady by a length with Sir Denis a length away third; then came Atua Here, Noko, Aspire and Green Boa,