BATAL DEFEATED AT ELLERSLIE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 168, 23 July 1946, Page 6

BATAL DEFEATED AT ELLERSLIE

STRIKING PERFORMANCE BY OUR GOLD

(Special) Auckland. July 22. When Ruling Master had a clear lead into the straight in the Plumpton Handicap at the Avondale meeting on Saturday he appeared to have the prize in safe keeping, but he became anchored in the mud. Our Gold, revelling in the conditions, finished like a train to catch him near the post and won by half a length. Royal Charter also came home strongly to maj<e a race of it, being a good third, ahead of Cracroft, Hippodrome, Leigh Hark, Sir Dink and Batal.

It was a striking performance on the part of Our Gold, who had not won since last September. He was well back half a mile from home but from this point he commenced an irresistible run, displaying marked stamina. Ruling Master confirmed earlier good impressions and Royal Charter ran right up to form after being prominent all the way. Hippodrome and Cracroft will improve. Batal, a big favourite, in the Plumpton Handicap, lost some ground at the start and was badly placed early. He was handy enough at the quarter-mile, but the effort to get there found him wanting at the end. Abbey Fox went no better than at Paeroa.

Backers did the right thing in making Master Ted favourite for the President’s Handicap at the Avondale meeting, and hp duly won to give Hughes his only winning mount of the day. At the half-mile Master Ted was handv in fifth place behind Yorkish. Nepeta. Peter Gregor and Black Ace. with Gay Lally, badly away at the start, next. Ghaziour then put in a brilliant run to establish a clear lead into Ihe straight, where Master Ted and Black Ace threw out challenges, the farmer getting the decision over Bieck Ace, with Ghazinur. a modest third, clear of Yorkish, Peter Gregor and Neoeta. The winner appears as if he is coming to his best at last. Ghaziour ran her best r ace to date, but Peter Gregor was disappointing.