RACING TESS EASILY WINS GREAT EASTER

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28259, 23 April 1957, Page 4

RACING TESS EASILY WINS GREAT EASTER

Autumn Handicap To Grand Bank

Tess led from the home turn for a decisive win in the Great Easter Handicap on the opening day of the Canterbury Jockey Club’s autumn meeting at Riccarton yesterday. It was her first success in six starts for Mr G. R. Macdonald this season but she had been twice placed on her home track earlier—second to Royal Zorra in the Members’ Handicap at the New Zealand Cup meeting and second to Shoal in the Midsummer Handicap in February. The four-year-old Ruthless-Rahine mare, a rather unlucky third in the Great Easter Handicap last year, was a chance ride for the leading jockey, W. D. Skelton. Skelton was originally engaged to ride Palace, which was scratched because he does not race well on soft tracks. Skelton rode Tess in the trailing position and then into a clear lead on the home turn. Hot Drop and Copenhagen reduced Tess’s lead slightly near the end, but did not really test her.

Grand Bank's ability on soft tracks was reflected in the betting on the Great Autumn Handicap. The Levin-trained Dogger Bank gelding was a firm favourite, and a dogged last furlong challenge carried him to a narrow but decisive win from Loyal Chief, which attempted to lead for the last nine furlongs. Grand Bank has had a busy programme since he won the Islington Handicap on a heavy track at the Grand National meeting in August, but has held his form well for his owner, Mr F. E. Spence, under the training of C. F. Mora, of Levin. Jungle, the second favourite in the Great Autumn Handicap, shaded three others in a magnificent battling finish for third. Humber Hawk, Goldwyn and Scuppered were almost alongside him. Holders of 2735 5s tickets (1051 on-course) on the Tess-Grand Bank combination received £67 15s for £1 on the double- Tess carried 659 J 10s tickets in a doubles pool of £56,056 15s. Copenhagen was favourite with 24,864$ tickets. Copenhagen was also the win-and-place favourite for this, his third attempt to win the Great Easter. Grand Bank was one of three successful North Island horses. His three-year-old sister, Juventas, won the first running of the Warstep Stakes with ease, and Mindanao narrowly beat William Paul in the Champagne Stakes. Grand Bank and Juventas are by Dogger Bank from Palm Bearer, winner of the Great Autumn Handicap in 1947. Juventas and Mindanao gave Mr J. G. Alexander, proprietor of the Cranleigh Stud, a good double. They are both trained at Wanganui by J. C. Bagby, and both were ridden by C. A. Bowry. A large crowd saw good racing on a soft track. The on-course totalisator turnover was £127,508 10s, including £13,816 10s on the double, compared with £IIOJ7O 10s on the first day of the meeting last year. The Great Easter Tess jumped out brilliantly from wide out at the start of the Great Easter Handicap, trailed Melinda Jane from the five furlongs until near the home turn, and then sped clear for a comfortable win. When the field settled down Melinda Jane led by a length from Tess. Then there was a length and a half to Hot Drop and Copenhagen, with Bugle Boy, Lucrative, Assembly, Royal Zorra, and Teina next. Tess dashed past Melinda Jane and opened up a lead of two lengths on the home turn. Hot Drop and Copenhagen were doing the best of the others, but Bugle Boy lost a chance when he stumbled, and was nearly down on his nose. Assembly was next, and Royal Zorra was making ground just ahead of Mighty Dollar, which was one of the slowest beginners. Tess entered the last furlong at a strong gallop and with the race already won. Hot Drop ran the race out better than the favourite, Copenhagen, and beat the Riccarton sprinter by a length for second. Royal Zorra gamely carried 9-7 into fourth place another length back. Then there was a length and a half to Mighty Dollar Motueka, well back early, was running on for sixth ahead of Bugle Boy and Appreciate; then Assembly, Wee Durham, Fulgent. Smuggles, Curtain Raiser, Lucrative, Melinda Jane, Teina, and Beauty Queen. Beauty Queen lost about three lengths at the start, and Teina Motueka, and Mighty Dollar did not begin quickly. Grand Bank's Win Grand Bank followed Loyal Chief into the last furlong of the Great Autumn Handicap, and showed superior stamina in the end to beat she Oamaru galloper by half a length. In a magnificent finish for third. Jungle beat Humber Hawk Goldwyn, and Scuppered by Inches Loya! Chief ran past Teaka and Humber Hawk into the lead at the nine furlongs, and went clear bv two lengths at the six furlongs, where Teaka and Humber Hawk were racing together ahead of Grand Bank, Royal Tryst, Jungle, Scuppered. King Robin. Writer. Goldwyn, and Kiaree Beau. R. W. Gould took Grand Bank forward on the outside of Teaka and Humber Hawk going to the half mile, where Loyal Chief was still clear. Writer was then last in a close-running field. Most of the jockeys went for their whips early in the run home, but Loyal Chief, ridden with hands and heels, appeared to be going like a winner past the furlong. It was late when Grand Bank, responding courageously under a hard ride, drew alongside, but the Levin stayer had a margin of half a length in the end. Humber Hawk, third starting the last furlong, was cut out of that place in the last few strides by the solidly-finishing Jungle. Goldwyn put In a solid run from weh back for fifth a head behind Humber Hawk. Then there was another head to Scuppered; a length * nd _ a and two lengths Teaka, which weakened from the inside trailing position. w *’ V 1 * be,t 01 “>« which were beaten off.

Champagne Stakes Mindanao and William Paul had a tough battle for the honours in the Champagne Stakes. William. Paul ran the last few yards a shade better than Mindanao, but could not close the slight lead the Wanganuitrained filly held half a furlong from the post. Mindanao and William Paul were alongside Imitation and Marcoette in the lead at the three furlongs, where Bow Tie. Madame Christine, Sarcelle, Sharp, and Royal Avon were in line behind them ahead of Rose of Kildare, Search Warrant, and Black Star. Mindanao and William Paul were shading Imitation at the furlong, and drew out to stage a spectacular twohorse finish. Mindanao just lasting. Imitation was unchallenged for third two lengths back. Sarcelle, fourth, was three lengths behind him, and Sharp narrowly beat Search Warrant for fifth. Royal Avon was close up seventh; then there was a gap to Madame Christine. The second favourite. Bow Tie, weakened to eleventh, beating only Black Star, which dropped to the rear early in the race. Juventas Unchallenged Juventas sped clear on the inner outside the furlong in the Warstep Stakes, and won easily by three lengths from the favourite Fuel, which finished brilliantly from near the tail of the field. lone was the best of the others, but was four lengths back and a length ahead of Flying Symbol. Juventas did not jump out quickly, but went fast on the inner, and was soon well placed behind Dhofar, Bagatelle. Shame, and lone. Dhofar led from the half mile to the home' turn from Bagatelle and Shame, but they felt the strain soon after, and Juventas passed them quickly and put a break on the field near the furlong. lone ran past the weakening Dhofar into second place, but lost that position to the fast-finishing Fuel closer to home. Fuel was a long way from the lead from the start, but lone jumped out clear from the outside of the field at the start, and was always well placed after. Flying Symbol, fourth into the last furlong, held that place by a neck from the faster-finishing Tripped Eileen Gloss, another strong finisher, was next alongside Heath. Treasure Pond was last away, and eleventh to finish. Results: — OPAWA HIGHWEIGHT HANDICAP, Of £4OO. Nine furlongs. 1. I—F. Armstrong’s b g NEPTUNE’S PRIDE (16) by Neptune—Enticing 4yrs 9-0 G. G. Hampton 1 4. 4—Mrs C. L. Austin and R. A. Young’s br g Steadfast (11) 6yrs 9-7 G. D. Lee 2 7. B—T. J. Lister's br g Serang (9) 4yrs 9-9 .. J. Didham 3 0. 5 Hunt the Slipper; 10, 10 Bosky; 11, 11 Brown Baron; 3, 3 Rising Sun; 12, 12 Cristatus; 8, 7 Incredible; 2,2 Santee; 13, 13 Seascrape; 5, 6 Royal Display; 16, 16 Glen Carron; 14, 13 Rio Maree; 17, 17 Brave Warrior; 9, 9 Burl wood 15, 15 Lo Night also started. Nose; three lengths. Santee was fourth. Time, lmin 59 3-ssec. Winner trained by A. S. Ellis. Riccarton. Dividends.—Win: £4 16s. Places: £2 2s 6d. £2 14s, £3 18s.

CHAMPAGNE STAKES, Of £lOOO. Two-year-olds. Six furlongs. 3. 4—J. D. Alexander’s b f MINDANAO (10) by Dogger Bank —Vasty Deep 8-8 C. A. Bowry 1 4. 3—Mrs W. A. Pateman’s br c William Paul (6) by Panair— Brolga 8-10 .. W. D. Skelton 2 1. I—A. E. L. McMullan’s ch c Imitation (3) by Rolled Gold —Belle Anita 8-10 A. J. Stokes 3 6, 6 Black Star; 2,2 Bow Tie; 8, 9 Royal Avon; 10, 10 Search Warrant; 7, 7 Madame Christine; 11, 11 Marcoette: 12, 12 Rose of Kildare; 5, 5 Sarcelle; 9, 8 Sharp also started. Nose; two lengths. Sarcelle was fourth. Time, lmin 15sec. Winner trained by J. C. Bagby, Wanganui. Dividends.—Win: £6 14s 6d. Places: £2 7s 6d, £2 4s 6d, £1 Bs. COURTENAY HANDICAP, Of £4OO. Seven furlongs. 7. 5—R. E. Neame’s b g PACKWOOD (1) by Beaumaris— Primer 3yrs 9-0 A. J. Stokes 1 8. B—J. B. Douglas-Clifford’s b g Uproar (18) 3yrs 8-6 car 8-72 .. .. J. R. Currie 2 2. 2—Mrs V. A. Cook and G. Paterson’s b g Sir Edwin (4) 3yrs 8-8 .. W. D. Skelton 3 1, 1 Mimbar; 1. 1 Amulette; 10. 10 Breccia (fell); 3, 3 Asunder: 5, 6 King Lyn; 4, 4 Porcelain Prince (fell); 12, 11 Rome; 16, 15 Every Right; 17, 17 Belletavia; 18, 19 March Air: 11. 12 Port Lanyard; 20, 20 Heathcliff; 9, 9 Golden Demonic; 6, 7 Ray Romeo; 13, 13 Core; 14, 14 Egotist; 19, 18 Mercenary Beau; 15, 16 Ararimu also started. Length and a half; half a length. Golden Demonic was fourth. Time, lmin 32 l-ssec. Winner trained by V. Neale, Riccarton. Dividends.—Win: £l5 6s. Places: £4 4s 6d. £6 15s fid. £1 18s fid. GREAT EASTER HANDICAP, Of £2OOO. Seven furlongs. 3. 4—G. R. MacDonald’s br m TESS (9) by Ruthless—Rahine 4yrs 7-15 W. D. Skelton 1 8. 7—J. H. MacDonald’s ch g Hot Drop (10) by Faux Tirage —Sweet Spray syrs 7-12 car. 8-21& .. .. C. A. Bowry 2 1. I—D. W. J. Gould’s ch g Copenhagen (4) by Admiral’s Luck—Vai Musk 6yrs 8-12 A. J. Stokes 3 4, 5 Royal Zorra; 5, 6 Lucrative; 2.2 Mighty Dollar: 10, 8 Fulgent; 14, 13 Teina; 9, 10 Wee Durham; 11. 12 Motueka: 12, 11 Assembly; 13. 14 Curtain Raiser; 18, 16 Beauty Queen; 17, 17 Appreciate; 7, 3 Bugle Boy; 8. 9 Smuggles; 15. 15 Melinda Jane also started. Length; length. Royal Zorra was fourth. Time, lmin 29sec. Winner trained by J. E. Shaw, Riccarton. Dividends. —Win: £9 13s. Places: £3 Is 6d. £4 7s fid. £1 14s. WARSTEP STAKES, Of £750. Three-year-old fillies and four-vear-old mares. One mile. 3. 4—J. G. Alexander’s ch f JUVENTAS (8) by Dogger Bank—Palm Bearer 3yrs 8-5 C. A. Bowry 1 1. I—G. Deakin’s b f Fuel (2) by Defaulter—The Grate 3yrs 9-4 C. McDonald 2 2. 3—E. N. Fitzgerald’s br m lone (10) by Faux Tirage— Silver Coin 4yrs 8-0 C. T. Wilson 3 7. 8 Desert Cloud; 7. 8 Red Elf: 5. 8 Treasure Pond; 11, 11 Dhofar; 10. 10 Eileen Gloss; 9, 9 BagateUe; 8, 8 Flying Symbol; 4,2 Tripped;

6, 7 Lucky Time; 12, 12 Heath; 13, 13 Shame; 14, 14 Silver Shower also started. Three lengths; four lengths. Flying Symbol was fourth. Time, lmin 44 l-ssec. Winner trained by J. C. Bagby, Wanganui. Dividends.—Win: £6 19s 6d. Places: £2 13s fid, £1 15s 6d, £2 Ils 6d. AUTUMN PLATE, Of £6OO. One mile and a quarter. 3. 3—O. F. Watson’s b m SUN HOUSE (13) by Sun KingLighthouse 4yrs 7-11 B. W. McDonald 1 5. 5—J. MacG. Inglis and J. S. Shaw’s b f Tamarisk (7) by Oman —Fyxen 8-4 R. W. Gould 2 10. 10—Mrs R. C. Wyness’ br g Gay Tommy (9) by Cassock —Young Yvette 3yrs 8-0 C. T. Wilson 3 6, 7 Fleur; 7, 8 Royal Pal; 8, 6 Iroquoi; 2, 1 Dart Away; 9, 9 Every Night; 13, 13 Summers End; 4, 4 Meteorologist; 1,2 Maracaibo; 14, 14 Cass: 11, 11 Yue Chee; 12, 12 Skyrider also started. Length; head. Iroquoi was fourth. Time, 2min 13 3-ssec. Winner trained by G. H. Murfitt, jnr., Riccarton. Dividends—Win: £5 16s 6d. Places: £2 6s 6d. £3 4s 6d. £5 14s. GREAT AUTUMN HANDICAP, Of £2OOO. One mile and a half. 1, I—F. E. Spence’s br g GRAND BANK (7) by Dogger Bank— Palm Bearer 4yrs 7-8 car. 7-1114 .. .. R. W. Gould 1 4. 3—J. Butel’s b g Loyal Chief (5) by Royal Chief—Villia 6yrs 7-13 .. W. D. Skelton 2 2. 2—Mrs T. C. Lowry’s ch g Jungle (2) by Faux Tirage— All Quiet syrs 8-0 car. 8-14 C. A. Bowry 3 6. 6 Writer; 7, 7 Humber Hawk; 5, 5 Scuppered: 11, 11 Kiaree Beau; 10, 10 King Robin; 9, 9 Goldwyn; 8. 8 Royal Tryst; 3, 4 Teaka also started. Half a length; half a length. Humber Hawk was fourth. Time, 2min 43 2-ssec. Winner trained by C. F. Mora, Levin. Dividends.—Win: £3 12s. Places: £1 14s, £2 2s, £1 18s. ■ PAPANUI HANDICAP, Of £5OO. Seven furlongs. 1. 2—D. W. Brown’s br g GREAT SENSATION (16) by Cassock —Speedy 4yrs 7-8 car. 7-8 J W. D. Skelton 1 9. 10—F. Dudley’s b m Red Elm (1) 6yrs 9-3 car. 8-12 B. Parsons 2 7. B—W. R. Haselden’s b g Lord Sane (5) 4yrs 8-4 car. 7-13 A. H. Eastwood 3 3. 3 Aquarius: 2, 1 Masai; 6. 6 Dulcet; 10, 9 Solstice; 14. 14 Haughty Chief; 5, 5 Helm; 12, 11 Brookfields Lad; 8, 7 Nehru; 11, 12 Almay; 4, 4 Sweet Christine: 15, 16 Tarbillon: 16, 15 Lightning Boy; 13, 13 Consistent also starred. Four lengths; length. Dulcet was fourth. Time, lmin 29 4-ssec. Winner trained by owner. Wingatui. Dividends.—Win: £3 10s. Places: £1 18s fid, £6 9s, £3 9s 6d.