EASY VICTORY IN GUINEAS

Southland Times, Issue 24565, 14 October 1941, Page 9

EASY VICTORY IN GUINEAS

Merry Simon’s Win

(Special) DUNEDIN, October 13. Southland-owned horses did not show up today as prominently as they did on the opening day of the Dunedin Jockey Club’s spring meeting. The southern contingent was not as large as that which raced on Saturday and its successes were confined to one win, a second and two thirds.

Merry Simon, who has been trained at Washdyke since , the Grand National meeting, was the only Southland winner, but Desert Maid, who forfeited her engagement in the Dunedin Guineas, went close to gaining another win for Southland when she ran Counterlunch to half a head in +he Kaikorai Handicap.

Colonel Rouge showed improved form in his second race as a hurdler and but for two faulty jumps he might easily have been returned a winner.

Salutation, a filly, won the Dunedin Guineas impressively. She was not well placed at the straight entrance, but she unwound a sustained run which carried her home an easy winner. J. L. Strathern, rider of Colonel Rouge, was cautioned for crossing too quickly at the top of the straight in the Waikari Hurdle Race and causing slight interference to Auctor. R. J. Mackie, the rider of Auctor, stated that it did not make any difference to him in the result of the race, as by that time Auctor was beginning to drift.

WAKARI HURDLES.— Merry Simon, probably the most consistent hurdler in commission, won the Wakari Hurdles in good style from Mosgiel and Colonel Rouge. As on Saturday he was kept well up over the last stages and once over the last hurdle he went on to win comfortably by two lengths. It was his fourth win and tenth placing in his lost 10 starts.

Colonel Rouge, another Southlander, ran a good race and led almost from end to end. He was chopped out at the start, but quickly went to the front and along the back had a lead of three lengths. Bad jumps at the five furlongs and half-mile jumps probably cost him the major honours. Mosgiel was always well up and lead into the straight with Merry Simon and Colonel Rouge. Auctor had every chance but faded in the run home. Flagman showed speed in patches and Sir Hugh ran another good race for a novice.

NOVICE HANDICAP.— WeII placed at the top of the straight Mae West, who ran a reasonably good race the first day, cut down the leaders in the run to the judge and returned a win dividend of more than £55.

Pianiste and Compeer made all the running from Mae West, Paper Whistle and Nihil and the leaders, Pianiste and Compeer, were first into the straight from Mae West, Nihil and Paper Whistle. Nihil, on the outer, challenged the leaders and Mae Vest put in a run on the fence which carried her to the front about 150 yards from the post. She stayed on well and at the post was half a length clear of Compeer, who headed Nihil by two lengths; then came Berrima, Georgia and Paper Whistle. Pianiste stopped badly over the last 200 yards. Nihil, a Southland-owned mare, returned a place dividend of more than £23. / KAIKORAI HANDICAP.— Desert Maid and Counterlunch, first out in the Kaikorai Handicap, fought out a good finish in which Counterlunch, vigorously ridden by R. J. Mackie, got up in the last few strides to win by half a head. Desert Maid raced generously and finished well, but the winner had too many guns for her. The leaders were followed over the first half by Milton Abbas, Calypso, Lady Don and Taxpayer, and three furlongs from home Counterlunch was displaced by Calypso, who was a length behind Desert Maid as they raced around the turn.

Desert Maid had a clear lead into the straight from Calypso, Counterlunch and Egyptian Rose, and in a punishing finish Counterlunch got up to beat Desert Maid, with Egyptian Rose three lengths away in third place and Taxpayer, Calypso and Milton Abbas next.

ARMY HANDICAP— Night Pal scored once of the easiest wins at the meeting when he won the Army Handicap from Iceland Spar, Stabilize, and Don’t Forget. The pace was on all the way and it found out Anglo-Irish when it came to business in the straight. Anglo-Irish and Don’t Forget led out from Night Pal and Stabilize, with Maungatoon and Iceland Spar running in last place. The leaders were well clear at the straight entrance, where Night. Pal and Iceland Spar made a run, and Night Pal, on the inner, went to the front with comparative ease and beat Iceland Spar, who finished fast, by four lengths. Stabilize was three lengths away third and Don’t Forget a head away fourth. AngloIrish ran wide at the turn into the straight and finished last. DUNEDIN GUINEAS.-Salutation, a filly by Theio-Queen’s Salute, put up an excellent performance in the Dunedin Guineas. Ridden by an apprentice she was well placed early, but when the straight was reached she was not among the first five. S. Green, her rider, then shook her up and with a sustained run she cut down the opposition and won going away by two lengths from Sir Gundi, who beat the remainder just as easily. Palfrey, the favourite, again raced disappointingly. Silver Lily and Willow Wood were the early leaders from Salutation, Arabian Night, Bird of Prey and Sir Gundi. At the far turn Willow Wood was well clear of Silver Lily, Bird of Prey, Sir Gundi and Palfrey, with Salutation handy. Willow Wood led into the straight from Bird of Prey, Silver Lily and Sir Gundi, and in the run home Salutation won comfortably. DOMINION HANDICAP— GriIse, who ran a good race in third place in the McLean Stakes on Saturday, had too much speed for her opponents in the Dominion Handicap. The start was a good one, Carolyn jumping out brilliantly from the extreme outer and showing the way to Grilse, Chestnut Glow and Royal Writ. As they raced to the straight Grilse took the lead from Carolyn and this pair was first into the straight from Foxhaven, Trapeze and Chestnut Glow.

Grilse shook off Carolyn’s challenge and then one by Chestnut Glow on the inner, and won comfortably. Trapeze was three lengths away in third place; then came Foxhaven half a length away, Carolyn and Royal Writ. NAVY HANDICAP.— Strip, with his trainer in the saddle, showed a big improvement on his first day’s form and won the Navy Handicap without being troubled. Strip followed Lord Puck out of the barrier, but was steadied and Lord Nuffield and Rebel Mate took up the running along the back. Dark Flight made a forward move around the turn and with Lord Nuffield and Nightcalm led into the straight. Rebel Mate and Strip were in close attendance and at the distance Strip headed the leaders and won easily by two lengths from Rebel Mate, who was a length in front of Nightcalm; then came Sham Boy, Lord Puck, Lord Nuffield and Dark Flight. After the race the stipendiary steward called the judicial committee together

to ask if it wished to ask for an explanation from A. E. Didham, the rider of Strip. After hearing the stipendiary steward’s explanation of the first day’s performance of Strip, tire committee decided to take no action. CLARENDON HANDICAP.— Twenty Grand and Safe Light were the early leaders from Kohara and Johnemby, and as they raced to the far turn Royoney and Brightform joined the leaders. Twenty Grand was first into the straight from Safe Light, Kohara, Brightform, Johnemby and Royoney, with The Joker making a run on the outer. Ackemma finished fast, but failed by a length to overtake the placed horses, The Joker winning in a punishing finish by a head from Johnemby, who was half a head in front of Brightform.