Neptune’s Pride Wins High-Weight Narrowly

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

Neptune’s Pride Wins High-Weight Narrowly

Neptune’s Pride and Steadfast, two of the slowest beginners, had the finish of the Opawa Handicap to themselves at Riccarton yesterday. Neptune’s Pride, a surprise winner against the novices on the first day of the Canterbury Jockey Club’s autumn meeting a year earlier, was favourite for this, his first win this season. The four-year-old Neptune gelding came fast into the picture on the home turn, where he was galloping strongly on the inner with only Serang, Cristatus, and Royal Display to pass. Neptune’s Pride had Serang’s measure just inside the furlong, and managed to hold a slight lead when hotly challenged by Steadfast, which finished brilliantly from well back. Serang was a weakening third three lengths back, but held that place by a length from Santee, which was being hard ridden a furlong out. Seascrape, Royal Display, and Lo Night were next almost in line clear of Brown Baron. Rising Sun was first beaten, finishing last just behind Hunt the Slipper. Top-weight’s Success Packwood carried top weight of 9-0 to a decisive win in the Courtenay Handicap. He was the 7-5 favourite and paid £l5 6s for a win. Packwood, which started towards the outside of the field, sped into the lead after about a furlong and led round to the home turn, where Core, Asunder, Sir Edwin, Golden Demonic, Uproar, and King Lyn were closest to him. Packwood had the race in hand at the furlong, winning by a length and a half from Uproar, which shaded the second favourite. Sir Edwin, for finishing speed. Golden Demonic was a creditable fourth, a length back, and King Lyn was fifth. Gay Romeo, running on, was close up sixth, and Port Lanyard was in a gap behind him. Mercenary Beau, Ararimu, Egotist, and Heathcliffe were slow beginners. Ararimu did best of them, showing speed to get up for eighth. The heavily-supported bracketed pair, Mimbar and Amulette, were never well placed. Mimbar was eleventh, and Amulette seventeenth. Sun House Stays Best Sun House outstayed Tamarisk, Gay Tommy, and Iroquoi in the Autumn Plate, winning decisively by a length. A furlong out. the most spectacular finish of the day seemed likely. Iroquoi, Maracaibo. Sun House, Tamarisk, and Gay Tommy were then spread across the track almost in line, but Maracaibo faded slightly, and Sun House started to draw away in the last half-furlong. The win favourite, Maracaibo, was the best beginner, and led past the nine furlongs alongside Dart Away and just ahead of Yue Chee, with

Skyrider. Tamarisk, and Iroquoi next after a gap. There were half-length margins separating Maracaibo, Dart Away, and Yue Chee from the six furlongs to the half-mile, where Iroquoi and Skyrider were running together and Sun House was moving forward alongside Tamarisk and Gay Tommy. Dart Away and Yue Chee were done with after straightening up, and Maracaibo was joined by Iroquoi (inner), Sun House, and Tamarisk going to the furlong. Gay Tommyjoined in too, but Sun House had the strongest finish and won going away from Tamarisk. Gay Tommy was a head back third, and beat Iroquoi by a head for that position. Maracaibo was a length and a half back fifth. Yue Chee led the others home, but was five lengths back. Great Sensation’s Speed Great Sensation outclassed the hack sprinters in the Papanui Handicap. He dashed clear from a trailing position and won by four lengths from the top weight. Red Elm, which beat Lord Fane by a length. This was the fifth race of Great Sensation’s career, and his second win for his Wingatui owner-trainer, D. W. Brown. The four-year-old Cassock gelding was close to the lead from the start. W. D. Skelton had him trailing Sweet Christine from the half-mile to the home turn, and when the latter faded Great Sensation quickly established a lead none of the others looked likely to bridge. Red Elm showed speed to be about five places back going to the halfmile. She held second place over the last furlong without much trouble from Lord Fane, which was always well up. Dulcet was fourth another length back after following Lord Fane round to the straight, but Brookfields Lad came from a good way back for fifth, just beating Lightning Boy and Masai for that position. Masai, the place favourite, was a long way from the lead going to the half-mile. He improved several places in the middle of the track going to the furlong, but could not sustain his run. Aquarius, the third favourite, showed speed to finish eighth after a slow start.