WANGANUI CENTENNIAL STEEPLES TO PETER'S CHOICE

Wanganui Chronicle, 8 June 1948, Page 3

WANGANUI CENTENNIAL STEEPLES TO PETER'S CHOICE

Taranaki Stables Take Double In Main Flat Races

9 Though he had never before contested a steeplechase, had never been schooled over the “country.’’ and had only once previously jumped one of the big fences, Peter's Choice scored a popular win yesterday in the W anganui Centennial Steeplechase, completing a jumping double at the meeting, as he had won the Century Hurdles on Saturday, lie thus emulated the feat of Clarion Call, who won this double back in 1937. Peter’s Choice was a firm second choice with backers, the favourite being Whooray, who finished third. Royal Scholar dividing the pair.

Peter’s Choice- is owned and trained by Mr. F. H. Walker, of Hawera, and Taranaki stables also took the main flat double. Mercian Lad winning the Russell Grace Handicap in a close finish with Ballinagh and Audacious, and Aggravation carrying topweight to victory in the Belmont Handicap, narrowly beating Deprive and Kia Ora Katoa. Favourites, however, had a bau innings, Celebration being the only one successful.

Excellent weather conditions prevailed, though there was a cold wind, and a large holiday crowd attended, hundreds pouring in after the second race from the adjacent Spriggens Park when the Rugby match concluded. The totalisator turnover for the day was £67,737 10s, compared with £68,083 on the corresponding day last year, making the aggregate for the meeting £134,645 10s, against £128,330 10s, an increase of £6315. The track was in splendid winter order. The day’s racing started off with another good dividend, Incision returning more than a quarter of a century when the Broiefort gelding won the Purua Hack and Hunters’ Hurdles. The Marton-trained Lackagh, who won the second division of the Castlecliff Handicap, paid over two score straight out, and double figures for a place. Coronara was at a double-figure price for the second division of the Balgownie Hack, and Mercian Lad paid good double figures in the Russell Grace Handicap. After falling in the Centennial Steeples Tortago was in a bad way and later had to be destroyed. /He was a six-year-old gelding by Gay Boy from Arabella and was owned and trained by Mr. G. Lamb at Foxton. PETER’S CHOICE POPULAR Though he carried topweight and had never been over a steeplechase fence. Peter’s Choice proved too good for the experienced ’chasers in the Centennial Steeples and scored a popular win. He was well back in the early stages, and the second time over the double in front of the stands, when Whooray (wide out) and ». Te Aki were making the pace, he was lying fifth, in behind Tortago and Gay Rouen, with Imperial Crown aAd Whiphand next. Tortago came to grief at the fence going out of the straight, where Te Aki jumped first, but Whooray ran to the front and was half a dozen lengths clear going into the back stretch. Running down to the hencoop Peter s Choice moved up to tackle Whooray, whom he headed at the last fence, and Royal Scholar also improved his position. In the run home Peter’s Choice had the edge on his opponents air? won by nearly three lengths. Royal Scho'ar was doing it better than Whooray, who was a length away, and the trio were veil clear of Imperial Crown. Then came Gay Rouen, Tatara Lad and Whiphand, ahead of Te Aki. with Jigabco and Sunfire the last two to complete the course. , Northfield and Ring Scarf fell at the first Fence and Royal Pageant <*ame down at the double the second time round. Mansura was pulled up. FIRST ACT’S GOOD PRICE First Act, a winner at Otaki last Saturday week, finished too strongly for G.en Urquhart in the June Hurdles to return his supporters a generous price in view of his form. Bay Robe made the pace for the greater part of the journey, but Glen Urquhart set out after him six furlongs from home, with Specialist and First Act close up. Glen Urquhart headed Bay Robe at the last hurdle and appeared to have the race won when First Act came with a strong run on the inside to beat him by a neck. Bay Robe was only a length away, with a big gap back to Peter Brierly, Spiro and Matapan, Specialist being last. Royal Victor was pulled up with a round to go. MERCIAN LAD NICELY

Third in the Connolly Handicap, Mercian Lad took the honours in the Russell Grace Handicap after a great tussle with Ballinagh and Audacious. Tremello was the early leader and still held charge at the half-mile from Gildchase. Audacious and Morotai with Emerge and Second Seal next and Mercian Lad making a forward move. Audacious hit the front on the home turn but was challenged by Mercian Lad, and then Ballinagh tackled them wide out. Mercian Lad went on with it to win by a neck from Ballinagh, who was a head in front of Audacious. Silver Pal was a close fourth, and then came Second Seal. Tremello, Beau Jewel and Gi’dchase, with Morotai last. AGGRAVATION IMPROVES Fourth in the open sprint on Saturday, Aggravation improved to win the Belmont Handicap decisively from Deprive, Kia Ora Katoa and Shiraz. Battle Survey made the pace but Deprive ran up to hirp at the half-mile, where Shiraz, Petre Mar and Aggravation were also handy. Deprive took the iead before entering the straight but was .hen challenged by Kia Ora Katoa. Shiraz and Aggravation, the last-named finishing strongly to win by half a length from Deprive, with Kia Ora Katoa a head away, just in front of Shiraz. Then came Mangurakau. Full of Fun, Opulent and Prince Revel. INCISION AT LONG ODDS Ridden out in front the whole way by Wanganui jockey N. D. Lynch, the Broiefort gelding Incision returned nearly a third of a century when he held on to beat Foxland in the Purua Hack and Hunters’ Hurdles. Miss Sterling ran up to him a mile from home, after Result had fallen when almost on terms with the leader. Foxland followed Incision and Miss Sterling to the last hurdle, but his challenge just failed. Miss Sterling hung on for third, just ahead of Bonifort, and then came Beau Jewel and Middoon.

j CASTLECLIFF HANDICAP Divisions were required in the Castlecliff Handicap. The first was won by the well-backed Our Dink and the second by a big outsider in the Mar-ton-trained Lackagh. Our Dink was one of the last to leave the stalls when the barrier went up and she still was back at the half-mile, where Battle Spear and General Hope were making the pace. Our Dink ran up to Battle Spear in the straight and beat him by half a length, with Mr. Justice a fair third, ahead of General iHope. Valchase began smarty in the ■second division, but Lackagh came from well back to follow her into the 'straight, with Lord Manna (left badly iafter delaying the start) and Bahitacha next. Lackagh did best in the 1 run home, and Bahtacha easily beat ’Valchase for second, with Lord Manina and Erinmore next. Elofa got on ■the heels of another horse near the half-mile and brought down Golden • Destiny. | BALGOWNIE DIVISIONS The Balgownie Hack Handicap had to be run in divisions, the first being won by the consistent Nigntena and the second by the Coronach mare Coronara. Erin s Pal and Ensign made most of the running in the first division, and Ensign led for homeahead of Mine Host, Guardian ana | Nightena. The last-named, on the i fails, got through inside the distance to beat Guardian by half a length, I with Winning Ticket a length away ' ahead of Now Then and Fox Flame. ■ Kilarney Boy was three lengths ahead j of Coronara at the six furlongs in the isecond division, but the Coronach jmare wrested the lead off him crossling the top. White Cliffs and Loch- . winnoch joined in entering the i straight, but Coronara came away ! White Cliffs just as easily beat Surya, and there was a gap back to Loch- ■ winnoch and a bunch beaded by Flir- ' tatious. | ‘ CELEBRATION AGAIN • Backers dec.ared for Celebration' again in the concluding event, the ; Farewell Hack Handicap, and the 'Neptune filly showed that she was a j class above the other hacks by win- | ning easily. Nanakea soon took over ! from Jinny Jinks, but Celebration was trailing the pacemaker and was first | into the straight, with Übbriaco, Pan 1 WaJa and Broiealice challenging. ’Celebration then cleared out to win by three lengths, with Pan Walla finlishing on better than Broiealice for second and Übbriaco a close fourth. Then came Jinny Jinks, Superior Fox and Eian Rouge. Blank Cheque, who twice broke through the barrier, eventually got away badly and could never make up his leeway. | Details of results: — PURUA HACK HURDLES ' (Of £400; about 1 mile, 7 furlongs) 10/10 — Incision, 9.0, N. D. Lynch ... 1 ; 3/3—Foxland, 10.1, T. Tito __ 2 ■ 8/B—Miss Sterling, 9.5, E. Jones ... 3 i Also: 4/4 Rockanui, 5/5 Beau ’jewel, 1/2 Result (fell), 7/6 Master ■Raymond, 2/1 Middoon, 12/11 Bonijfort, 11/12 Full Pitch, 9/9 General iSaleve, 6/7 Odysseus, .14/14 Retford, ’l3/13 Greek Vai (fell). Three-quar-ters of a length; length and a-half. I Bonifort fourth. Time, 3.31 2-5. i (Winner trained by W. O. Natta, '• Feilding.) CASTLECLIFF HANDICAP I (Of £500; about 6* furlongs) First Division i 2/3— Our Dink, 8.6, R. J. Turnwald *1 15/6—Battle Spear, car. 8.1, T. Higgs 2 13/5 —Mr. Justice, 8.0, P. Brennan 3 i Also: 12/13 Gynee Lou, 14/14 Ritz, ‘ 10/10 General Hope, 16/19 Bonnie ; Lang, 22/21 Cherry Grove, 4/4 Enard j Bay, 15/15 Jovial Lad, 11/11 Mana■wanui, 6/2 Platamon, 13/12 Waimate. Half-length; two lengths. General I Hope fourth. Time, 1.26 3-5. (Winner trained by J. L. McDonald, Te | Awamutu.) Second Division 19/20— Lackagh, 8.4, J. P. Bowness 1 7/7—Bahtacha, 8.0, V. J. Sellars ... 2 1/I—Valchase, 8.2, W. J. Broughton 3 Also: 9/9 Idle Along, 8/8 Erinmore, 20/19 Alacrity, 21/22 Bay Lass, 17/17 Chatacre, 4/4 Elofa (fell), 15/15 Golden Destiny (fell), 11/11 Lord ! Manna, 6/2 Myfox, 18/16 Seawynn, 113/12 Surrender. Length and a-half; (three lengths. Myfox fourth. Time, J 1.27. (Winner trained by H. McKenIzie, Marton.) JUNE HURDLES | <OI £500; about 1 mile, 7 furlongs). 5/4— FIRST ACT, 9.0, L. Frost 1 1/I—GLEN URQUHART, 9.9, A. G. I Waddell 2 [ 2/3—BAY ROBE, 10.6, N. Lynch ... 3 1 Also: 4/5 Matapan, 3/2 Specialist, i6/7 Royal Victor (pulled up), 7/6 j Peter Brierly, 8/8 Spiro. Neck; two ! lengths. Peter Brierly fourth. Time, J 3.34. (Winner trainer by B. LumsJden, Otaki.) BALGOWNIE HACK HANDICAP | (Of £400; about 14 miles. 55 yards). First Division , 2/2— Nightena, 9.5, G. R. Tattersall 1 ■l3/16—Guardian, 8.0, L. J. Ciutterbuck . 2 1/s—Winning Ticket, 8.8, V. J. Sellars 3 Also: 7/7 Mine Host, 17/17 Fox ' Flame, 5/3 Newel Post, 16/14 Erin’s ’Pal, 12/15 Now Then, 14/12 Ensign, : 23/22 Prakash, 20/20 Sailor Girl, 121/21 Revel Lad. Half-length; length. ‘ Now Then fourth. Time, 2.17. (Wininer trained by J. J. Waller, Awa•puni.) 4 Second Division •9/10- Coronara; 8.0, J. Harris 1 6/6—White Cliffs, 8.11, K. Ford 2 13/4— Surya, 8.4, F. MeyneTl 3 Also: 1/1 Lochwinnoch, 11/11 Kiljarney Boy, 8/8 Flirtatious, 19/18 Lord | Pilot, 10/9 Gay *1 ide. 15/13 Brolga, HB/19 Early Astir, 22/22 Step Far. 'Length and a-quarter each way. ’ Lochwinnoch fourth. Time, 2.16. ' (Winner trained by C. J. Thomson, • Awapuni.) WANGANUI CENTENNIAL STEEPLES (Of £1200; about 3 miles, 150 yards). 22— PETER’S CHOICE, 10.12, G. I Ivil 1 15/S—ROYAL SCHOLAR, 9.10, N. I McKinnon 2 1/1 WHOORAY. 10.8, M. D. Peters 3 I Also: 4/3 Gay Rouen, 3/4 Whip-