NOTES ON THE RACING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20897, 29 November 1937, Page 14

NOTES ON THE RACING

A Prize Forfeited Happy Night 347-300, Rabble 209233 and Drinkup 150-147 were in most demand for the Apprentices’ Handicap. Roy Bun, Survoy and Happy Night all lost ground at the start. Drinkup and Owlsgleam led off from Almira and Rabble, and halfway across the top Drinkup and Owlsgleam were clear of Roy Bun, who had run into third place ahead of Almira and Rabble. Drinkup, Owlsgleam and Roy Bu:r were first into the straight, but Rabble was handy and a furlong from home he went past the leaders and won by a length and a half from Roy Bun, who was a length ahead of Happy Night, with Shirred Ribbon half a length away. Survoy, who had had to cover a good deal of ground on the turn, was next. E. A. Jones, rider of Happy Night, failed to weigh in, with the result that he was fined £3 and third place was awarded to Shirred Ribbon. Riccarton Form Confirmed Ephod, Rebel Queen and Improvement were withdrawn from the Lagmhor Plate, and of the thirteen starters backers selected Haerepo 298-310, Fayo 2-6-224, Short Circuit 158-208 and Screamer 162-178. Avenal, Perseverance and Screamer failed to jump away with the others. Raeburn, Patuma and Sunbeam were first to show, and across the top Raeburn and Short Circuit were leading from Sunbeam, Patuma and Recall. Two furlongs from the judge Short Circuit, Raeburn, Sunbeam, Dunstan and Recall were disputing the lead, when Haerepo made his way through, and after drawing clear won by a length from Lady Leigh, who finished very fast from the ruck and beat Short Circuit on the post for second money. Dunstan, a length further back, just defeated Recall, Love Affair, Screamer and Sunbeam. Fayo ran nearly off the course at the home turn, and Sunbeam appeared to be hampered when Haerepo made his run. Francisco at Last Francisco 419-297, Attain-Llanvabon 208-254, King’s Jubilee 181-252, and Maltravers 140-174 were the popula: selections for the Melrose Trot. Rerekohau was fractious at the start and failed to go away, and among those that broke were Gay Lady, who ultimately paid a place dividend. Attain, Pursuit, Llanbavon, King’s Jubilee, Francisco, Resistance and Four Square were in the leading division at the end of a furlong, and at the mile, the order was Pursuit, Resistance, Attain, Francisco, King’s Jubilee and Four Square. A little further on Lombard moved up and going to the far turn Mirage appeared on the scene. Round the home turn Pursuit, Resistance, Attain, Four Square, Francisco and Mirage were prominent. Soon after reaching the straight Francisco was taken to the front, and she was never afterwards in danger of defeat, winning by two lengths. Gay Lady came with a great run wide out and took second place a hundred yards from home, but could not hold off Lombard, who beat her by half a length. Resistance, Attain, Pursuit and Four Square were all close up. Big Race to Queen of Song AU eight horses nominated for the Tinwald Handicap went to the post, and public fancy was divided among five of them - Queen of Song 318-266, Rebel Lad 310311, Davoio 254-264, Last Refrain 246256 and Queen Dorothy 238-241. In the aggregate Rebel Lad carried about £2O more than Queen of Song. Courtyard soo ran to the front from Rebel Lad, Queen of Song and Last Refrain, and at the mile post Courtyard was two lengths ahead of Rebel Lad and Queen of Song, the last two being Davoio and Made Money. Round the top the call was Courtyard, Rebel Lao and Queen of Song, Queen Dorothy The Surgeon and Last Refrain. Courtyard was first into the straight, but Queen of Song, after running out a bit ran to the front and crossed to the rails. Made Money nut in a

great run on the outside and appeared to draw level with the Washdyke mare, but he could not sustain it, and he was caught again by Rebel Lad. Queen of Song finished strongly and won by nearly two lengths from Rebel Lal, who beat Made Money by half a length. Last Refrain was fourth, then came Queen Dorothy and Davoio. The Hack Sprint Survoy, Paper Note and Phalanx dropped out of the Winchmore Handicap. The fancied candidates were Nolana 352-287, Epic 285-334, Gay Lyric 229-230 and Peacock 190-222. Lady Middleham, Gay Lyric and Elmarch were all slow to begin. Nolana hopped off in front of Peacock, Epic, Double Gift and Guinea Fowl, but she was steadied, and Peacock dropped right back and checked Lady Athena. Racing round the top Double Gift and Guinea Fowl were out forcing the pace from Dracula, Nolana and Epic. Double Gift led Guinea Fowl, Dracula and Nolana to the straight, and a furlong from home Double Gift looked to have the race won and her rider took a peep behind. Then Nolana gathered her up, and although Double Gift fought on Nolana won by a head. Guinea Fowl was third, a length and a half away, just beating Epic and Dracula. First Win for Owner Sir Hugh 536-285 was made a good win favourite for the Highweight Handicap, but Dropped Catch 329375 and Studley Royal 369-294 both carried more place money and there was good two-way support for Thermidor. Convivial was first to show, from Studley Royal, Sir Hugh, Windward and Waltham, who raced in line for a couple of furlongs. At the far turn Convivial and Studley Royal were clear of Sir Hugh and Windward, with Thermidor and Dropped Catch handy. There was little change round the top, and turning for home Convivial and Studley Royal were still attended by Sir Hugh, Windward and Thermidor. Sir Hugh forged to the front over a furlong from home, and he stayed on to win by nearly two lengths from Windward, who held off Thermidor by half a length, with Studley Royal a close fourth. This was Sir Hugh’s first win since he was bought by an Otago Central owner, Mr B. I. Ede, and in securing it he made a highweight time record for the course.

Tight Finish in Fast Race Pelmet, who was found to be slightly lame on reaching the course, was scratched for the Wakanul Handicap, and punters voted for Top Row 518-383, Invoice 422-349, Grey Honoup 331-305 and Rebel Chief 324-291. Rebel Chief (who turned sideways on) and Courtyard were left several lengths when the barrier rose. Top Row and Wine Card jumped away ahead of Grey Honour, with Invoice a couple of lengths further back. Wine Card led Top Row, Grey Honour and Invoice across the top and to the home turn, but just after the straight was reached Grey Honour headed Wine Card, and looked as if he might come away. There was, however, a great race over the final furlong, Grey Honour getting home by a head from Top Row, who was a head in front of Invoice, with Wine Card a neck away. The race was won in 1.11 2-5, time seldom or never bettered at Ashburton. Intrigue Wins Comfortably On the Melrose Trot, the early letting suggested that Panquitch and Three Bells might be favourites, I it the final balance showed Intrigue 403369, Lazybones-Lady Slipper 263-283, and Marlene 208-268 to have most followers. Cream Harvester broke and hampered two or three others at the start, and among several which failed to get on the journey were Panquitch, Golden Moness and Lady Slipper. Running up to the mile post, Our Fay and Intrigue were piloting a big bunch, and Our Fay went to the front from Marlene, Intrigue and Boltaire. Our Fay and Marlene reached the far turn together, just in advance of Intrigue, Big Nelson, Three Bells, Jovial and Boltaire. Marlene and Fay Rey were still in command when the straight was reached, but Intrigue, who had been getting a nice run on the rails, quickly disposed of them, and although Marlene put up a stout fight, Intrigue won comfortably by a length. Three lengths further back came Three Bells, followed by Our Fay, Big Nelson and Lazybones.