RACING RHYTHMONIC HAS EASY WIN

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28263, 29 April 1957, Page 4

RACING RHYTHMONIC HAS EASY WIN

Sockburn Handicap At Riccarton

The three-year-old Rhythmonic gave his 13 opponents a galloping lesson in the Sockburn Handicap at Riccarton on Saturday, the third and final day of the Canterbury Jockey Club’s autumn meeting.

Mr J. A. Wooding’s powerful Alonzo colt led from outside the furlong and did not have to be hurried to beat Scuppered by a length. The Great Autumn Handicap winner, Grand Bank, was running on for third, well clear of the others. Rhythmonic widened his winning sequence to five and it was his second win in as many starts in open company, the first being the Riverton Cup a week earlier.

Rhythmonic’s generally-anticipated win—he was a firm favourite—gave the leading jockey, W. D. Skelton, an unusual record of riding the winners of the first leg of the double on each day of the meeting. Skelton won the Great Easter and Dominion Handicaps on Tess on the first and second days.

Fuel rounded off the day’s double with a decisive win in the Waltham Handicap. She achieved victory with a powerful run from the home turn—one that the Riverton winner, Ben Ledi, could not cope with in the last 100 yards. Like Rhythmonic, Fuel is a three-year-old. She brilliantly won the Templeton Handicap on the second day of the meeting and held her form well. Rhythmonic and Fuel were the most popular combination, and their doubles supporters received £l4 10s 6d for £l.

Fuel gave Hastings stables their second win for the day, Sharp having beaten the two-year-olds in the Richmond Handicap earlier. Fuel is a bay filly by Defaulter from The Gtate and is trained by W. D. Young for Mr G. Deakins. Mighty Dollar recaptured winning form in the 65th Challenge Stakes, for which he was third favourite in a field of seven. His fifth in the Great Easter Handicap and a good trial at Riccarton on Thursday suggested an early win. But such an easy win could not have been anticipated by even his most optimistic supporters. The race was all over from the moment Mighty Dollar ran into the lead outside the furlong. The favourite, Royal Zorra, gave chase, but Mighty Dollar won by three lengths under a hold. Mighty Dollar is owned by Mr J. H. George, member of Parliament for Central Otago, and is being trained by R, L. Murray while A. E. Didham is in Australia. His racing career seemed at an end because of lameness in the spring, and he was given a light stud season, but he started another campaign at the Wellington autumn meeting last month. The financial success of the meeting was assured when the weather was fine on Saturday. On-course the totalisator handled £96,715, including £10,559 10s on the double, compared with £80,016 10s on the third day last year. The total for the meeting was LaSt year ’ 8 total WaS £251,663. Not Extended Rhythmonic ran strongly past Watch and Wait and Ballast into the lead outside the furlong in the Sockbum Handicap and kept clear of all challengers without much exertion. .t_ Sc^P pered got to a length from the Washdyke three-year-old, but he was being ridden right out. Rhythmonic had to be kicked only twice near the end to keep up his powerful gallop. Grand Bank was the best of the others. Like Scuppered he made a smart move round the field, but was a length and a half behind the Riccarton mare at the finish. The others were beaten off. Writer, after starting wide out, pulled his way to the front inside the first half mile and none of the others would take the pacemaking away from him. Watch and Wait and Ballast moved through to follow Writer to the six furlongs, where Demand. Rhythmonic, and Jungle were following ahead of Humber Hawk, Grand Bank. Finito. Scuppered, Goldwyn, Eileen Gloss and Shoal. Watch and Wait and Ballast were almost on terms with Writer at the half mile, and the latter dropped back beaten soon after. Rhythmonic ranged up to Watch and Wait and Ballast as they were straightening up, and quickly went ahead. Goldwyn was making ground on the inner and Scuppered was moving forward on the outside, with Grand Bank following. Scuppered was second past the furlong but could not put Rhythmonic to the test, the three-year-old winning virtually coasting. Scuppered and Grand Bank were unchallenged for the minor places. Humber Hawk was two lengths and a half back fourth, the place he filled in the Great Autumn Handicap. Goldwyn was close up fifth, just beating Jungle. Then there was a gap of three lengths to Finito, which was followed in by Shoal, Ballast, Watch and Wait, Demand, Writer, Kiaree Beau, and Eileen Gloss. Eileen Gloss ran off the course coming to the home turn. Challenge Stakes Mighty Dollar had the Challenge Stakes won from the moment he dashed past Search Warrant into the lead going to the furlong. He won by three lengths under a hold from the favourite. Royal Zorra. William Paul did best of the two-year-olds, making up ground towards the middle of the track for third after losing his position in the trailing position on the home turn. Mighty Dollar did not work up speed quickly and was with Teina at the tail of the field for a moment. He joined Royal Zorra at the five furlongs and held that position going to the half-mile where Search Warrant was leading by three lengths from William Paul and Hot Drop. Imitation was three wide and at Hot Drop’s girth, and Mighty Dollar and Royal Zorra were in a gap. The field closed up coming to the home turn, but William Paul little ground on the inner, Ifighty Dollar sped through into a challenging position. Mighty Dollar reached the lead going to the

furlong and gave the others a vain chase. Royal Zorra held second place from the furlong, and William Paul came again to beat the weakening Hot Drop easily for third. Imitation was fifth, a length behind Hot Drop. Then there was a gap of six lengths to Teina. The Second Leg Fuel challenged brilliantly in the middle of the track to win the Waltham Handicap decisively by a length from the Wingatui-trained Ben Ledi. Motueka was half a length back third, and did well to earn that E lacing after being checked twice, •itched and Dhofar, both lightweights, did best of the others. Fuel, the win favourite, was a long way from the lead going to the half-mile where Ditched was pacemaking, and Ben Ledi, Dhofar, Rise and Shine, Palace, and Fair Summer were handy. Motueka and Skylight both struck trouble and lost ground. Dhofar dashed past Ditched and Ben Ledi into the lead on the home turn, where Palace was handy but weakening, and Naim Bridge was showing up wader out on the track just ahead of Motueka. Desperado also moved through into a challenging position going to the furlong, but Ben Ledi led the chase after Dhofar had appeared to have the race in hand for a moment until Fuel came brilliantly wider out. The consistent Motueka shaded Ditched for third, the position he also filled in the corresponding race on the second day of the meeting. Dhofar was fifth, and next were Fair Summer, Desperado, Assembly, Red Elm, Appreciate, Wee Durham, Palace, Nairn Bridge, Rise and Shine, Smuggles, Nasib, Skylight, Adversary, and The Bruiser. Nasib was last away, and Adversary and Red Elm were slow to move. Results:— PEERSWICK HURDLE HANDICAP. Of £5OO. 'One mile and threequarters and 60 yards. 8. B—G. B. Thomson’s ch g FLYING DOCTOR (8) by Airway—Sundown 7yrs 9-6 G. D. Lee 1 9. 9—D. W. Oxnam’s br g Walkova (9) 6yrs B. Parsons 2 1. I— V. Druitt’s b g Native King (1) 6yrs 10-11 „ „ „ . H. B. Ford 3 7,7 Bosky; 4, 4 Brown Baron; 3, 3 Escalade; 3, 3 Jolly Miller; 3, 3 Trustworthy; 5, 5 Rising Sim; 13, 13 Wealthy; 2.2 Sir Gerald; 11, 11 Argive, 15, 16 Milling Bay; 10, 10 Cristatus; 12, 12 Border Reiver; 14, 15 Brave Warrior; 6, 6 Royal Display; 16, 14 Prosecutor also started. Neck; neck. Sir Gerald was fourth. Time: 3min 22 4-ssec. Winner trained by owner, Wylie’s Crossing. Dividends.—Win: £l7 4s 6d. Places: £5 4s 6d, £5 5s 6d, £1 13s 6d. SIXTY-FIFTH CHALLENGE Of £lOOO. Weight vfor-age. Seven furlongs. 3. 3—G. H. George’s b h MIGHTY DOLLAR (3) by Treasure Hunt —Bonne Nuit 6yrs 9-1 .. J. Didham 1 1. I—H. F. Wooflndin’s br m Royal Zorra (1) by Count Rendered—Belle Zorra 4yrs 9-8 .. .. ,C. McDonald 2 2. 2—Mrs W. P. Pateman’s br c William Paul (8) by Panair—Brolga 2yrs 7-1 car 7-6 .. W. D. Skelton 3 4. 4 Hot Drop; 7, 7 Teina: 5, 5 Imitation; 6, 6 Search Warrant also started. Three lengths; length and a half. Hot Drop was fourth. Time: Imin 29 3-ssec. Winner trained by R. L. Murry, Wingatui. Dividends.—-Win: £4 3s. Places: £2 6s 6d, £1 15s. YALDHURST HANDICAP. Of £4OO. One mile. 3. 3—Miss V. M. H. Nichol’s ch g ARCTIC SUN (1) by Tormie—lncholme 6yrs 8-13 car 8-6 .. E. B. Skelton 1 9. 9—R. H. Burn’s br g Glen Carron (9a) 4yrs 8-8 G. W. Mein 2 6. 6—W. R. R. Cruickshanks’ b g Sky rider (7) 4yrs 8-9 B. Parsons 3 1, 1 Sir Edwin; 4, 4 Golden Demonic; 8, 7 Amulette; 7, 8 Asunder; 5, 5 Gay Romeo; 2,2 Porcelain Prince: 9, 9 Rome; 11, 11 Mercenary Beau 12, 12 Day’s Bay; 10, 10 Every Right also started. Length and a half; nose. Sir Edwin was fourth. Time: Imin 46 2-ssec. Winner trained by P. H. C. Stock, Orari. Dividends.—Win: £6 8s 6d. Places: £1 18s, £6 Is, £4 2s. Bracket: Rome and Glen Carron. SOCKBURN HANDICAP. Of £l5OO. One mile and a half. 1. I—J. A. Wooding’s blk c RHYTHMONIC (9) by Alonzo—Rhythmvale 3yrs 7-9 W. D. Skelton 1 8. 7—J. B. Douglas-Clifford’s br m Scuppered (13) by Neptune—Foxleap syrs 7-1 A. H. Eastwood 2 5. 5—F. E. Spence’s br g Grand Bank (6) by Dogger Bank— Palm Bearer 4yrs 8-2 R. W. Gould 3 5, 5 Shoal; 6, 6 Writer; 11, 11 Watch and Wait; 2, 3 Finito; 13, 13 Demand; 3,2 Jungle; 9, 9 Humber Hawk; 12, 12 Ballast; 10, 10 Eileen Gloss; 7, 8 Goldwyn; 14, 14 Kiaree Beau also started. Length; length and a half. Humber Hawk was fourth. Time: 2min 39 4-ssec. Winner trained by J. C. McKerrow, Washdyke. Dividends.—Win: £3 Is 6d. Places: £1 15s, £3 18s 6d, £2 13s 6d. RICHMOND HANDICAP, Of £5OO. Two-year-olds. Six furlongs. 3. 2—T. C. Lowry’s br f SHARP (4) by Faux Tirage—Trick 8-4 .. .. C. A. Bowry 1 1. 3—Mrs F. A. Roberts’s b f Sarcelle (2) by Oman—Citril 8-9 .. .. W. Hanlin 2 6. 5—E. Montgomery’s b f Lucky Gay (8) by Lucky Bag —Level Best 7-11 car. 7-11 J E. G. Low 3 2. 1 AU Fair; 4, 4 Fidelis; 7, 6 Miss Fire; 5, 7 Madame Christine; 10, 10 Marcoette; 8, 8 Royal Avon; 11, 11 Broken Wings; 13, 13 Super Robin; 16, 17 Super View; 14, 14 Call Me Madam; 21, 20 Olympic Flame; 12, 12 Peraea; 19, 18 Summerhill; 18, 19 Rosalei; 20, 21 Lake Galpin; 15, 15 Gold Crown; 17, 16 Rathfarham; 9, 9 Anglesey; 9, 9 Come On Boy also started. Half a neck; nose. Royal Avon was fourth. Time, Imin 13 3-ssec. Winner trained by T. B. McNeil, Hastings. Dividends.—Win: £4 12s 6d. Places: £1 16s, £1 168 6d, £3 12s 6d.