EASTER RACING RESULTS

Southland Times, Issue 25334, 10 April 1944, Page 6

EASTER RACING RESULTS

RIVERTON CUP TO FAIR TRIAL

Good Racing In Heavy Going NOKO WINS GREAT ' WESTERN Interesting racing in heavy going and.before a surprisingly large attendance marked the opening of the Riverton Racing Club’s annual meeting on Saturday. The weather was fine and the racing was held in pleasant conditions. The highlights of much good sport were the outstanding performances of Fair Trial in the Riverton Cup, and the meritorious display of steeplechasing by the bracketed pair, Anglo-French, in the Great Western Steeplechase. Another good performance in the heavy going was that of Monetary, who carried topweight to success in the Aparima Handicap in convincing style. Fair Trial’s success in the Riverton Cup gave his owners,, the Price Brothers, their fourth win in the event in seven years, the others being Wild Career (twice) and Secret Flight. All three horses were bred by their owners and are all from the same family. Like other records for which the Riverton meeting is becoming noted, this one may stand for a long time. Fair Trial won the cup impressively and left no doubts, if there were any, about his ability to stay on under pressure. He was again handled patiently by W. F. Ellis, who adopted tactics similar to those he employed at Invercargill. Over the first two furlongs he allowed his mount to run along at the rear of the field; thereafter he gradually improved his position and half a mile from home he took Fair Trial around the outside of the leaders. By the time the straight was reached Fair Trial was in second place to Sing Sing. He then singled himself out, but was challenged by Bashful Lady, who almost drew level with him; there was a short struggle .for supremacy, but the difference in weight told its tale and Fair Trial had the race won inside the distance. He finished strongly and was two lengths clear of Bashful Lady at the post. COMFORTABLE WIN It was one of the easiest wins scored in the cup in recent years. Actually Fair Trial gave the leaders seven or eight lengths start in the early stages of the race, and although ridden out he had a good bit to spare at the finish. He was turned out in excellent condition by his trainer, W. E. Anderton, who has now saddled up three winners of the Riverton Cup. It was W. F. Ellis’s second win in the event. Fair Trial has now won £1350 in stakes in two seasons of racing, £1220 of which has been won this season.. He is a five-year-old gelding by Solicitor General-Full Fling. . Bashful Lady, carrying the steadier of 9.5 in heavy going, raced generously, but had to be content with second place for the second time in two seasons. She was second to Amorlad last year. She responded well when asked for' an effort in the straight, but the winner had too big an advantage in weight—the difference was 271 b.

Sing Sing, who finished third a length behind Bashful Lady, again ra¥i an honest race, but she appears to be just good enough to get beaten. It was the eighth time in nine starts for the season that she had had her number hoisted; that record was increased- to nine in 10 when she finished second, to Platform later in the day.

Compeer was a poor fourth after racing well for a mile or more. He showed'none of the finishing qualities which marked his second to Fair Trial at Invercargill. Atreus was another disappointment. He was rushed to the front and with Fairy, Bard set the pace for the greater part of the distance, but he compounded at the end of a mile and finished last.

Sister Sal trailed the field just ahead of Fair Trial in the’ early stages, but showed up in a run around the field on the turn for home; she then stopped and finished in the ruck. An inquiry into her. running was made by the stipendiary steward ,(Mr M. O’Brien), but no action was taken; the explanation of the jockey (G.’Barclay) was accepted. TRAINER’S TRIUMPH The Great Western Steeplechase was a triumph for the Invercargill ownertrainer, W. E. Hazlett, whose bracketed pair, Noko and Anglo-French, finished first and second respectively and thus gave Mr Hazlett his third success in the race. The others were gained by Spendthrift (twice) in 1941 and 1943. . x The merit of the performance was' to be found in the brilliant display of jumping by the pair one carrying 12.0 and the other 11.6. Beyond the “life" which Noko had at one of the fences along the back of the course, they gave an almost faultless exhibition of clever fencing. From post to post they were paired over the whole journey, and it is safe to say that nothing better has been seen in the jumping-in-pairs events in the show ring. The display made up much for the absence of competitive interest caused by the smallness of the field, and there must have been few who could' not have appreciated the exhibition by probably two of the best jumpers in New Zealand today. Noko and Anglo-French went to the front from barrier-rise and were never threatened by the other two in the race, La Boca and Shadow Boy. After jumping the last fence together the leaders had a race to the post and Noko was three-quarters of a length in front at the finish. Shadow Boy finished third 12 lengths away and La Boca also completed the course. Contrary to general expectations T. J. Boyle, who met with an accident the previous Saturday, took his place in the saddle, on Anglo-French. His brother, P. J. Boyle, was on Noko and thus gained his first win in the event. F. J. Boyle, a cousin of the other two, filled third place on Shadow Boy. Noko, who was second to AngloFrench in the Grand National Steeplechase and third in the Lincoln Steeplechase earlier in the season, has now won £3652/10/- in stakes. The bracket was run in the interests of Mr W. E. Hazlett and the estate of the late J. S. Hazlett, recently killed in action. Riders of Mr Hazlett’s horses during the day wore black armbands in memory of Lieutenant Hazlett. MONETARY EASILY Monetary carried his weight in the Aparima Handicap like a good horse and after trailing the field to the straight he was driven through by A. E. Didham and won with ease from Silver Lily by a good two lengths. Winning Flight lost ground when the barrier was released, but quickly raced up to the field, andiat the straight entrance she had a lead of about three lengths from Silver Lily and Waitoru. Silver Lily ran up to Winning Flight, but Monetary then put in his claim and the race was over. Winning Flight beat Silver Lily by a neck. Fleet Street was fourth.

The Longwood Handicap proved a good thing for Sir Saladin, who was taken to the front immediately and led Great Coon and Royal Rae to the straight. Sir Saladin was strongly challenged by Great Coon, but he had no difficulty in holding him off and winning by two lengths. Riding Home finished well and got third place a length

and a-half behind Great Coon. Royal Rae was in fourth place. GOOD TRIAL It was an excellent Champion Hack trial for the winner, who has greatly improved in recent weeks. He will probably be installed favourite for that race today. Riding Home was finishing well and may race well in the Champion Hack race. The start was a straggling one in which Georgia and Boolamskee got the worst of it. The latter was left at the post. Paladeo and Royal Flight were ’slow away in the Pourakino Handicap, which was won well by Platform after a good race up the straight between the winner, Sing Sing, who finished fast, and Nightcalm. Boloyna led the field and with Nightcalm was prominent into the straight, where Platform soon went to the front from Nightcalm and Royal Flight. Sing Sing finished over everything else, but was a short length to the bad at the post. Royal Flight conceded a big handicap after getting away badly. She raced around the field and finished well. It was her best race for a long time. Nightcalm finished fourth a length behind Royal Flight. SPANISH MAIN In the Waiau Steeplechase the falling of Merry Simon took some of the interest out of the race, but the winner, Spanish Main, put up a good showing and won well after giving the leaders a big start. Minton and Red Wind made most of the running and it was not until the last half-mile that Spanish Main looked to have the pacemakers in, hand. Minton and Spanish Main jumped the last fence almost together and in a good finish Spanish Main got the verdict by three-quarters of a length, Red Wind was seven lengths away third, and Gold Robe was fourth. . “ Tissue Paper fell early and Court Talk fell about three furlongs from home. Crinkle won the Visitors’ Handicap impressively and returned his win supporters a dividend of more than £29. Money Bird raced well to get second money three-quarters of a length ahead of Secret Course. Sal’s Pal was a fair fourth. The start was marred by several horses losing chances by a bad getaway. ■ - Prize Ring broke a long run of outs by a pointless win in the Trial Handicap, with Immediate paying a good double-figure dividend in second place. Dearo was a fair third and Makarewa fourth. FINANCIAL RETURNS The size of the crowd was reflected in the good gate and totalizator returns. The sum of £39,764 was handled by the totalizator staff and £1292/8/was taken at the gates. Last year the totalizator turnover was £45,684/10/and the “gate” totalled £1686/3/-. But for a poor totalizator pool on the Great Western Steeplechase the turnover would have been nearly as good as that of last year. Results: TRIAL HANDICAP, £250. Six furlongs. 1- D. P. Wilson’s b g PRIZE RING ' (Ringmaster-Ker-boide) 3 yrs, 8.2, car. 8.62 ■ (E. E. Hunt) 1 llr 14 M. J. Meehan’s IMMEDIATE 8.2 (G. Barclay) 2 2- E. N. Didham’s DEARO, 8.11 (A E.. Didham) _ 3 Also started: 7-6 Siegform 8.7 (W. F. Ellis), 10-9 Cross Question 8.5, car. 8.6 (A. Anderson), 4-4 Linloch 8.5 (C. T. Wilson), 13-12 Salabond 8,4 (H. Phillips, 3-3 Paybook 8.3 (L. W. Hare), 12-15 Aramoney 8.2 (B. J. Langford), 5-7 Depth Charge 8.2, car. 8.5 (J. E. Wilson), 18-8 Fuzzy Wuzzy 8.2 (A. Messervey), 6-5 Legislator 8.2 (J. Dooley), 16-17 Listen In 8.2 (R. J. Mackie), 14-10 Makarewa 8.2, car. 7.11 (D. Dawson), 9-11 Miss Hula 8.2, car. 8.5 (S. G. Shaw), 20-19 Parallel 8.2 (W. Hillis), 15-18 Phil Boa 8.2, car. 8.3 (K. Ford), 17-16 Red Hope 8.2 (S. M. Bell), 21-21 Sunny Course 8.2, car. 8.13 (H. F. Shannon), 19-20 True Pal 8.2 (B. J. Mears), 8-13 Yodeling Song 8.2 (B. S. Wilson), 22-22 Te Kume 8.2 (A. J. Powell). Won by one length and a-half; three-quarters of a length. Makarewa was fourth. Time, 1.17 1-5. WAIAU STEEPLECHASE HANDI-

CAP,- £3OO. About two miles.

2- W. E. and Estate late J. S. Hazlett’s ch g SPANISH MAIN (Paladin-Spanish Maid) 6yrs, 9.2 (W. J. Hillis) 1 4-5 Miss J. U. Baird’s MINTON 10.3 (R. Heasley) 2 6-7 T. Cuthbert’s RED WIND 9.0 (S. G. Shaw) 3 Also started: 1-1 Merry Simon 11.2 (P. J. Boyle), 3-2 Gold Robe 10.6 (F. J. Boyle), 8-8 Phalanx 9.2 (H. F. Shannon), 5-4 Tissue Paper 9.2, B. J. Mears), 7-6 Young Squatter 9.0 (D. Dawson), 9-9 Court Talk 9.0, car. 9.5| (J. C. Walthers). Won by threequarters of a length; seven lengths. Gold Robe was fourth. Time, 4.27. APARIMA HANDICAP, £4OO. Six furlongs. 3- W. A. White’s •br h MONETARY (Paper MoneyKakara), syrs, 9.1 (A. E. Didham) 1 2-2 D. M. Tweedie’s WINNING FLIGHT, 7.0 car. 7.2| (A. Messervey) ' 2 1- D. J. McDonald’s SILVER LILY, 7.6 (W. F. Ellis) 3 Also started: 4-4 Fleet Street 8,7 (K. E. Wilson), 5-5 Waitoru, 7.8 car. 7.10 J (C. T. Wilson). Won by two lengths; a neck. Fleet ’ Street was fourth. Time, 1.16 1-5. LONGWOOD HANDICAP, £3OO. Seven furlongs. 2- R. W. Wilson’s ch g SIR SALADIN (SalmagundiCetchelo), syrs, 8.7 (J. WDooley) 1 3- Mrs J. Aylward’s GREAT COON 7.10 (W. F. Ellis) 2 1-3 A. Chisholm’s RIDING HOME, 8.13, car. 8.6 (E. E. Hunt) 3

Also started: 5-5 Royal Rae 8.12 (R. J. Mackie), 7-8 Southern Wave 8.10, car. 8.3 (W. J. Hillis), 4-4 Boolamskee 8.7 (C. T. Wilson), 9-7 Forte 8.7 (A. E. Didham), 6-6 Air Chief 8.7 (A. Anderson), 12-12 Divorced 8.2 (D. Dawson), 10-9 Carpos- 7.11 (G. Barclay), 13-13 Arabian Night 7.10 car. 7.3 (B. J. Langford), 11-11 Georgia 7.8, car, 7.1 (B. S. Wilson), 8-10 Pride of Mossburn 7.7 (A.• Messervey). Won by two lengths; one and a-half. Royal Rae was fourth. Time, 1.29 3-5. RIVERTON CUP HANDICAP, £BOO. One mile and a-quarter. 1- Price Brothers’ b g FAIR TRIAL (Solicitor GeneralFull Fling) syrs, 7.6 (W. F. Ellis) 1 2- J. Burnett’s BASHFUL LADY, 9.5 (R. J. Mackie) 2 6-6 W. R. R. Cruickshank’s SING SING, 7.0 car. 7.2| (A. Messervey) 3 Also started. 3-4 Sister Sal 8.5 (G. Barclay), 4-3 Atreus 8.3, car. 8.4 (A.

E. Didham), 5-5 Compeer 7.12 (L. W. Hare), 8-8 Doubleack 7.6, car. 7.10 (C. T. Wilson), 7-7 Fairy Bard 7.0 (B. J. Langford). Won by two lengths; one length. Compeer was fourth. Time, 2.11.

GREAT WESTERN STEEPLECHASE HANDICAP, £7OO. About three miles. 1 W. E. and the Estate late J. S. Hazlett’s b g NOKO (Sir Simper-Dark Marie) 6yrs 12.0 (P. J. Boyle) 1 1 W. E. and the Estate late J. S. Hazlett’s ANGLOFRENCH, 6yrs, 11.6 (T. J. Boyle) 2 2 A. E. Redman’s SHADOW BOY, aged, 9.0 (F. J. Boyle) 3 The first and second horses were coupled. Also started: 3 La Boca 9.4 (L. J. G. Walthers). Won by three-quarters of a length; 12 lengths. Time, 6.38 2-5. VISITORS’ HANDICAP, £3OO. Sir furlongs. 10-10 D. Agnew’s blk g CRINKLE (Paper Money-Smiling Eyes) 6yrs, 7.7 car. 7.10 (C. T. Wilson) 1 1-1 J. F. and R. Green’s MONEY BIRD, 7.9 (A. Messervey) 2 9-9 J. P. Finn’s SECRET COURSE, 7.7 car. 7.131 (L. Hare) 3 Also started: 3-4 Sal’s Pal 9.0 (G. Barclay), 8-6 Court Dress 8.13 (A. E. Didham), 3-2 Inscrutable 8.11 car. 8.0 (D. Dawson), 12-12 Filibeg 8.10 (A. Anderson), 5-8 Boolamskee 8.7 (A. Powell), 6-3 Carolyn 8.6 (W. F. Ellis), 7-7 Green Note 8.3 (K. Wilson), 4-5 Kiloney 7.13 (J. Dooley), 11-11 Dark Colleen 7.9 (K. Ford), 12-13 Latest Song 7.7 car. 7.0 (B. S. Wilson). Won by a length; three-quarters of a length. Sal’s Pal was fourth. Time, 1.16 1-5. POURAKINO HANDICAP, £350. One mile. 1- F. J. Boyle’s br g PLATFORM (Night Raid-Fair-form), 6yrs, 8.11 (A. Anderson) 1 3-4 W. R. R. Cruickshank’s SING SING, 8.0 (G. Barclay) 2 2- D. M. Tweedie’s ROYAL FLIGHT, 8.7 (A. Messervey) 3 Also started: 5-6 Boloyna 9.7 (R. Heasley), 7-7 Southern Sail 8.1 (W. F. Ellis), 4-3 Paladeo 7.12 (L. Hare), 6-5 Nightcalm 7.10 (B. J. Langford), 10-10 Bow Street 7.7 (B. S. Wilson), 8-9 Araboa 7.7 (C. T. Wilson), 9-8 Elvena 7.7 (K. Ford). Won by a length; half a length. Nightcalm was fourth. Time, 1.45 ,3-5.