FIELD OUTCLASSED

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24909, 24 June 1946, Page 7

FIELD OUTCLASSED

LEIGH BARTON IMPRESSIVE Leigh Barton made the field in th»> Moreton Hack Handicap look of very ordinary class when he made light of his 9 ’ 12 and won as he * iked - With a rtriLe 6 e martly awa y. but before a furlong had been covered was two Fina J ist and Gallimaufry, Denary and Deep Harmony, with SiegS d „ n an ? I ? oya J Vestments next. Leigh Barton galloped freely in front and had rir&r O< h a !rt ad ! he , straight entrance. His ♦hl io h + d #,°? y to * kee P h€im going over Son? FiJS, 1 ?” 8 J? by lour lengths from Finalist, which ran another good race, three lengths clear of Denary, which wM S» e^ oo , d by ? ‘l en gth. Gallimaufry was next, clear of Joy Rosa. The rest were all in line, with the exception of Lyndon Lea, which was well back. It was Leigh Barton’s last race in hack company, in which his record is four wins and a dead heat for first in five

Won in the* Last Stride In all his races, Great Chum, the winner of the Novice Stakes at Ashburton, has shown more than average speed, but has generally spoiled his chances by a slow beginning. On Saturday he gave easily his best performance, when after starting from the outside of a field of 20 and being the last but one away, he finished very fast and got up in the last stride to win by a short head. After a considerable delay, the field got away to a fairly good start. Pink Gown and Beautiful were the first to show out. and the pair quickly established a lead of two lengths on Seigtone and Pandosto, Royal Robe, Fiery Knight, and Lord Chase, Foreign Ways and Indian Dawn. Foreign Ways and Indian Dawn closed on the leaders approaching the straight, where Siegtone was the first to challenge, but at the furlong Pink Gown and Indian Dawn were two lengths clear of Beautiful and looked like having the finish to themselves, w’hen Great Chum, finishing fast in the middle of the track, swept past them both in the last stride and gained a narrow decision. Indian Dawn beat Pink Gown for second place by a head, and Beautiful was three lengths away fourth. Then came Fiery Knight, which ran wide at the straight entrance. Montello d’Oro, Foreign Ways, Siegtone. Diarma, Royal Robe, and Lord Chase. Outjumped and Outstayed Any doubts about Test Pilot’s staying ability were dispelled by his excellent performance in winning the Hinds Hurdle Handicap with 11-0. On a track that was not conducive to fast times, he ran the mile and three-quarters in the smart time of 3min 13 3-ssec, and easily beat the moderate lot opposing him. As Required and Test Pilot began best, with Olga’s Choice losing about three lengths as the field moved off. At the stands Test Pilot was in front with Alpine and As Required, with Olga’s Choice and Penetration (which was jumping badly) in the rear. At the mile, Test Pilot was a length clear of Olga’s Choice, and from that point were the only two horses in the race. Test Pilot was outjumping Olga’s Choice, but the latter ran up to him on the flat and went into the lead approaching the three furlongs. They jumped the last hurdle together, but when Olga s Choice was asked for an effort he could not produce it, and Test Pilot went on to win easily by eight lengths, with As Required four lengths further back just holding on to beat the faster-finishing Alpine by a head.

Unusual Offence All the riders in the Orakau Hurdles Handicap «t the Waipa Racing Clubs meeting at Te Awamutu on Saturday were fined £5 each for lowering the first set of hurdles before the race, the hurdles being set back at their correct height before the race was started.—(P.A.) Purchased for Stud The three-year-old filly, Royal vestments, has been purchased outright by Mr J. C. Sheddan. one of her part-owners, and it is intended to retire her to the stud. She is by the Paper Money horse, Sir Galloway (which did not race) from Pink Robe. Royal Vestments has won two races this season. Late Dividends Arrangements have been made by the Ashburton Racing Club for late dividends to be paid at the totalisator department of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club, 90 Armagh street, Christchurch, to-day, Tuesday, and Wednesday (Christchurch patrons only.) Advt

OWNER FINED FOR BREACH OF RULES

Mr G. H. Paul, the owner-trainer of Douglas Haig, was fined £25 by the judicial committee of the Ashburton Racing Club on Saturday for racing Douglas Haig in the Mayfield Hack Handicap with, plates in front and shoes behind, in contravention of rule 287 (l)a, of the rules of racing.