The Unicorn Brilliantly Wins Churchill Stakes On Final Day Of Riccarton Meeting

Wanganui Chronicle, 13 November 1950, Page 3

The Unicorn Brilliantly Wins Churchill Stakes On Final Day Of Riccarton Meeting

CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night (Special).—The New Zealand Derby winner, The Unicorn, made hacks of his opponents in the weight-for-age Churchill Stakes at Riccarton yesterday, when the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Centennial Cup carnival was concluded.

The Hon. W. S. Goosnian’s Gold Nib colt emerged as the leading three-year-old at the meeting, having won the Derby and the Churchill Stakes and finished second in the Canterbury Cup last Monday.

The Unicorn easily defeated Lord Moss and Beaumaris in the Churchill Stakes yesterday, with the favourite Ballochmyle down the course after being one of the first horses beaten. Lord Moss was the early pacemaker, but The Unicorn, who was slow to leave the barrier, ranged up to him on the turn and had him beaten in a few strides. The Unicorn went aheat to win easily by three lengths from Lord Moss. Beaumaris was making up ground rapidly for third, but he found the distance too short. Jamell was a poor fourth, Felicitous well back fifth, and the others down the track, Ballochmyle, the favourite, being second to last. It was a dull contest which developed into a one-horse race over the last two furlongs. The time, 1.37 2-5, was only 2-ssec outside the Riccarton track record.

The Takanini trainer F. Smith, who has charge of The Unicorn, won the Oaks with the Foxbridge filly Zenith, who carries his own colours. She had four opponents and beat them pointlessly. She took the lead six furlongs from home and the last three furlongs of the race was only a working gallop, her winning margin being ten lengths from Naturally, who just as easily beat the others. Admiral’s Choice was lengths back, third, with Lady Milling and Royal Hoax, the only other starters, both outclassed.

The Woodville-trained Royal Bouquet won the Metropolitan Handicap and paid a dividend of £33 16s. She was a fair way back for the first half of the race, during which The Rip had a good lead from St. Bruno, The Laird and Super Snipe. These three followed The Rip into the straight, where Renowned, Robin’s Reward, Blue Spec and Royal Bouquet were also prominent. Super Snipe went ahead soon after straightening up but her reign in front was short as Royal Bouquet swept past her to win comfortably by a length. Super Snipe narrowly held off a late run by Biassed, beating him by a neck. Langham was close up fourth and Flying Sovereign, The Laird, Renowned and Arcara headed the remainder. The favourite, Signify, was off colour and occupied a rear position all the way. The Otaki-trained Castlebrae completed the day’s double with a brilliant finishing run which enabled him to beat Hutton by a head, with Ptolemy and Infinity almost in line, infinity and Ptolemy were the leaders into the straight from Bosun, Great Way, The Hob, Paper Strip, and Castlebrae. The concluding stages provided one of the best thrills of the meeting, Castlebrae, on the outside, finishing best to beat Hutton by a head, with Ptolemy a neck back, third, Infinity a head away, fourth, Paper Strip a neck back, fifth, and Social News and The Hob both close up. Hutton appeared a little unlucky as he could not get an opening till 50 yards off the post and absolutely flew over the last few strides.

The Centennial Cup meeting was concluded in fine weather but a strong easterly wind blowing across course made conditions unpleasant at times. There was a good attendance and the track was in firm order.

The last race on the programme, the Otaio Plate, was marred by four horses falling. Gay Gitana, Spice and Blue Star fell at the end of threequarters of a furlong and Home Circle came down near the mile and a quarter post. D. F. Coombe, rider of Home Circle, was admitted to Christ- | church Hospital suffering from slight 1 concussion and abrasions. F. H. Skel,ton. rider of Flue Star, was treated for minor injuries and sent home.

The double was run on the Metropolitan and the Members’ Handicap and the winning combination, Royal Bouquet ad Castlebrae, returned £bll 16s for £l. The totalisator handled £137,911, including £11,146 10s on the double, against £118,981 10s. The total for the meeting amounted to £443,137, compared with £379,008 10s last year. Results (per Press Association) are:— MIDDLETON HIGHWEIGHT, (Of £5000: li miles). 2/2 — Upshot, 9.4, R. D. Samson 1 6/6 —Hyflier, 9.7, A. R. Bowness 2 5/s—Beau Soir, 10.3, D. Arney 3 Also: 7/7 Pageant, 1/1 Finance, 4/4 Bren Gun, 3/3 Kirkella, 13/13 Gleneagles, 8/8 Military Chief, 14/14 Philmarch, 9/9 Redlo, 11/11 All Pockets, 10/10 Coxswain, 12/12 Marauder. Two lengths; nose. All Pockets fourth. Time 2.9 3-5. Dividends: Win £4 18s 6d. Places £2 17s, £3 8s 6d, £2 19s. NEW ZEALAND OAKS STAKES, (Of £1500; about 11 miles). 1/I— ZENITH, 8.10, W. R. Hooton 1 2/2—NATURALLY, 8.10, J. McFarlane 2 3/3—ADMIRAL’S CHOICE, 8.10, N. A. Crombie 3 Also: 5/5 Lady Milling, 4/4 Royal Hoax. Ten lengths; 12 lengths. Lady Milling fourth. Time, 2.34. Dividends: Win £1 ss. Places £1 5s 6d, £1 Bs. PIONEER HANDICAP. (Of £1000; five furionns). 1/I— Scorned, 10.1, W. J. Broughton 1 8/B—Pukka Sahib, 7.4, N. Eastwood 2 5/s—Sinister, 8.0, A. J. Stokes 3 Also: 2/2 Bosky, 4/3 Montana and Sea Hawk (bracketed), 6/6 Poetical, 11/12 Count Defaulter, 15/15 Demand, 3/4 Milano. 12/11 Gold Tip, 18/18 Saranac, 7/7 Our Ruth, 18/17 Nestorian, 10/10 Charlotte Jane. 9/9 Canyon Maid, 16/15 Coroc.utic, 17/17 Royal Symbol, 14/13 Blue Teal. 13/14 Tipperary. Half-length; three lengths. Poetical fourth. Time 60sec. Dividends: Win £3 9s 6d. Places £1 12s, £6 Is, £2 15s 6d. METROPOLITAN HANDICAP. (Of £3000; 1?j miles'. 11/12— ROYAL BOUQUET, 7.6, G. W. Mein 1 4/4—SUPER SNIPE, 8.8. L. J. Ellis 2 3/3—BIASSED, 8.3. W. Broughton 3 Also: 14/17 Robin’s Reward. 12/16 Royal Tan, 6/6 Renowned, 1/1 Signify, 9/9 The Laird, 2/2 Trench Fray, 7 8 Profane. 17/14 Night Owl. 5/5 St. Bruno, 10/10 Arcara, 15/11 Flying

Sovereign, 19/19 Blue Spec, 20/20 Balkis, 8/7 Langham, 16/13 Arctotis, 13/15 The Rip, 18/18 Bobby Dazzler. Length; neck. Langham fourth. Time 2.31 3-5. Dividends: Win £33 16s. Places £8 14s 6d, £2 5s 6d, £2 16s 6d.

CHURCHILL STAKES, (Of £1500; about one mile). 3/3— THE UNICORN, 8.1, Hooton 1 5/S—LORD MOSS, 9.0, L. J. Ellis 2 2/2—BEAUMARIS, 9.0, C. T. Wilson 3 Also: 1/1 Ballochmyle, 6/6 Jamell, 4/4 Pierre, 7/7 Voltaic, 8/8 Felicitous, 9/9 My Hero. Three lengths; two lengths. Jamell fourth. Time 1.37 2-5. Dividends: Win 16 Bs. Places 11 14s, £3 Is, £1 12s 6d.

MEMBERS HANDICAP, (Of £l5OO. seven furlongs*. 6/B— CASTLEBRAE, 7.13. Mackie 1 3/3—HUTTON. 7.12, C. McDonald 2 2/2—PTOLEMY, 8.7, W. Broughton 3 Also: 1/1 The Hob, 9/7 Ned Kelly, Robinfaye and Trident (bracketed), 15/15 Veine d'Or, 11/12 Bosun, 12/10 Resolute, 8/9 Prince Defaulter, 7/5 Dark Courage, 10/11 Infinity, 17/17 Revelry, 18/18 Peridot, 4/4 Te Kooti, 19/19 'Flying Orders. 13/13 Social News, 14/14 Great Way, 5/6 Paper Strip, 16/16 Apex. Head; neck. Infinity fourth. Time. 1.25 3-5. Dividends: Win £l3 Ils 6d. Places £4 9s, £2 18s, £2 Ils. SEYMOUR HACK HANDICAP, (Of £600; one mile). 1/I—The Lum, 9.0, L. W. Hare 1 7/6—Royal China, 8.0, B. Finlayson 2 20/20—Decameron, 7.7, D. M. Kerr 3 Also: 6/7 Stagdance, 4/4 Entrancing, 14/14 Dissenter, 2/2 Pheroz Girl, 8/8 Winslow Boy, 3/3 Delayed, 16/16 Roving Robin, 5/5 Count de Gama, 10/10 Whittaker, 21/21 Fairest Way, 9/9 Jock Scott, 11/11 Airwork, 15/15 Man o' Kent, 18/18 Roanne, 19/19 Young Prince, 13/12 Bill Hill and Declare (bracketed), 22/22 Excellent Flight and Paloma Rua (racketed), 17/17 Royal Rosette and Spectral (bracketed), 12/13 Tallahassee and Travesty (bracketed). Length and a-quarter; length. Whittaker fourth. Time 1.40 2-5. Dividends: Win £4 8s 6d. Places £2 4s 6d, £4 10s, £32' 17s 6d. OTAIO PLATt.. (Ot £850; 1J miles). 4/4 — Perception, 7.111, K. Nuttall 1 11/11—Lady Guillotine, 7.6, N. Eastwood 6/6 —Reformed, 7.9, W. D. Skelton 3 Also: 3/3 Spice (fell), 5/5 Eastern Monarch, 7/7 Granddaughter, 2/2 Gay Gitana (fell), 8/8 All Hurry, 12/12 Lights On, 1/1 Home Circle (fell), 10/10 Beau Esprit, 9/9 Linkman, 13/ 13 Blue Star (fell). 14/14 Kettledrum. Half-length; half-length. Eastern Monarch fourth. Time 2.37 1-5. Dividands: Win £6 8s 6d. Places £2 7s, £8 10s, £2 18s 6d.