SOUTHLAND FIRST LEG TO SOLUS

Press, Volume C, Issue 29513, 15 May 1961, Page 4

SOUTHLAND FIRST LEG TO SOLUS

“Th* Press” Special Service

INVERCARGILL, May 14. Solus scored his second win in open company and his fifth for the season in the Awarua Handicap, main event and first leg of the double on the opening day of the Southland Racing Club's winter meeting on Saturday. The five-year-old Super gelding was ridden by R. J. Skelton, who has now ridden him three times this season and won each time.

Skelton gave Solus the run of the race one back on the rails all' the way. He sent him through on the inner inside the furlong and quickly settled the issue. Solus was the first leg favourite and in a double pool of £14.533 10s (£12,570 coming from the T.A.8.) he carried 6668 half tickets (10s unit). McGregor completed the favourite double when he easily accounted for the open milers in the President’s Handicap. The return for £1 was £l2 19s 6d. which was shared by the holders of 3698 5s tickets. McGregor, which was given one race in open company at the Riverton meeting a year ago. was having his first start in the higher grade since leaving the hacks with easy wins at Riverton and Beaumont. He was handy to the leaders all the way, and after mastering Cashmere near the furlong he won untested. The Callander gelding may win a good handicap this winter. The Otatara Steeplechase gave Cassius his first win over country but his task was made much easier when the top-weight, Ronson Light, stumbled and dropped his rider on landing over the last fence when challenging strongly. Teh racing was held in fine weather, but a bitterly cold easterly wind made conditions unpleasant The track was dead, but in good winter order. The to’alisator on-course handled £29.709. compared with £26,210 5s last year, an increase of £3498 15s. Results:—

OTATARA STEEPLECHASE, Of £275; two miles. 3/4 CASSIUS (10) 9-0 B. J. Anderton 1 6/5 BAYLINE (3) 9-8 Mr K. Langford 2 9/9 KING S LACE <7» 9-5 J. D. Crawford 3 1/1 Ronson Light (fell), T/l Babv Toes. 4/3 Shootalong I fell >, 2/2 Pearly Gate (felb. 7/7 Vaper. 5/6 Silver Spring. 11/11 Karalc. B'S Glenkenick. 10/10 Waikiwi Star also started. Seven lengths; five lengths. Silver Spring was fourth. Time, 4mln 13 4-ssec. Dividends.—Win: £5 17s 6d. Places: £2 3s. £3 7s. £8 19s 6d. TRIAL STAKES NO. 1, Of £2000; six furlongs. 1/1 CHATTEL (2) 8-0 L. W. Hare 1 2/2 FILWOOD (11) 6-10 D. C. Thompson 2 3/3 CALSOL (3) 8-10 R. J. Skelton 3 5Z4 Barton. 8/8 Bedlam, 9/9 Teenager, 11/11 Irish Mist 12/12 Super Riding. 4/5 Bilbob. 6/7 Hy. 10/9 Rebel Rock. 7/6 Red Howe also started. Half a head; Hx length*. Irish Mist was fourth. Time.

Imin 15 2-Ssec Dividend*.—Win: £3 14s. P’*ce*: <1 7s, £2 5s 6d, £2 to

APPRENTICES’ HANDICAP, Of £215; seven furlong*. 3/4 LAURA (20) 7-8 car. 8- .. R. J. Skelton 1 5/3 OAKFIELD (1) 9-0 S. Diack 2 1/1 KUMAI (12) 7-11 G. Mclntyre 3 13/11 Desperation, 4/3 Superphosphate, 2/2 Salatan, 17/17 Sir Roslyn. 7/8 Fuji Yama, 9/12 Maybeso, 12/14 Strathlock, 8/7 The Spy. 6/6 Sal’s Pride. 10/9 Brummel, 18/18 Lord Garnish, 11/10 Cafiamara, 20/19 Keith's Luck, 15/15 Selkirk, 19/20 Paper Luek, 16/16 The Watch. 14/13 Queen of Travee also started. Three lengths; a head. Strathlock was fourth. Time, Imin 29sec. Dividends.—Win; £9 5s 6d. Places: £3 Is. £3 3s, £2 6s 6d. SOUTHERN HACK HURDLES. Of £273; about one mile and a half. 7/8 BRIANBRA (4) 8-S R. W. Gould 1 5/5 THE RANGER (10) car 9- .. P. L. Fraser 2 4/3 RAGLAN (3) 9-8 R. O. Cairns 3 6/6 Sports Date. 1/1 Tarmine. 10/10 Mighty Robin. 2/2 Milord, 3/4 Grant, 11/11 The Gascon. 8/7 The Tartar. 9/9 Gold Creek also started. Neck; six lengths. Milord was fourth. Time, 2mtn 48 l-ssec. Dividends.—Win: £l7 4s. Places: £4 7s. £2 10s 6d. £2 2s 6d. AWARUA HANDICAP, Of £400; one mile and three furlongs. 1/2 SOLUS (31 7-12 t R. J. Skelton 1 4/4 PANEL (2) 8-1 L. W. Hare 2 5/5 GLENROWAN car. 7-9 W. D. Skelton 3 3/1 Vamoose. 2/3 Promise, 7/7 Count Aven, 6/6 Imshl Allah also started. Length and a quarter; a nose. Vamoose was fourth. Time. 2min 27 l-ssec. Dividends.—Win: £3 10s. Places: £2 3s, £2 10s 6d. TRIAL STAKES NO. 2, Of £200: six furlongs. 12/12 CASTLE ROCK (12) 8-10 .. R W. Gould 1 4/2 HOME GAME (5) 8-10 E. G. Low 2 3/4 FLORAL NOTE (10) 8-10 .. G. W. Wright t 6/7 GRANTON (11) 8-10 D. C. TTiompson t Dead-heat for third.

8/8 Auction. 5/5 Lawsuit, 11/10 Little Susan. 1/1 The Slug. 10/10 Discordant, 9/9 Warrigal, 2/2 Black Simper. 7/6 Can't Argue also started. Neck: a length. Warrigal was fourth. Time. Imin 17*ec. Dividends.—Win: £74 3s. Places: £8 9* «d. £1 Ils, £1 13s 6d (Floral Note), £3 4s 6d (Granton). PRESIDENT’S HANDICAP. Of £325; one mile. 1/2 McGREGOR (16) 7-10 car. 7-103 B. J. Anderton 1 10/10 CASHMERE (6) 8-3 H. T. Anderton 2 4/4 GARROB (7) car. 7-6 G. W. Foster 3 6/5 Sabin. 5/7 Darby. 2/1 Napra. 8/6 Melotone, 7/8 Callevo. 11/11 Antarctic Flight, 12/13 Hundred Grand. 13/12 Ocean Roll. 9/9 Cattiva. 3/3 Blue Haven. 14/14 Brooksdale also started. Three lengths; half a head. Blue Haven was fourth. Time, Imin 41 4-Seee. Dividends—Win: £2 6s 6d. Places: £1 16a, £5 5s 6d. £3 0s 6d. BLUFF HANDICAP, Of £250: one mile and three furlongs. 3/3 KING PICKLE (4) 8-0 J. M. Cappie 1 5/8 FINE NOTE (1) car. 8-1 .. E. G. Low 2 9/9 DARK BEAU (14) car. 7-3 .. G. Mclntyre 3 1/1 Royal Crest, 4/4 Cafeteria, 2/2 Ops, 10/11 Colossal,

11/10 W arsa I 6/7 Newt. 7/5 Jaycee. 8/8 Cirrus Song also stfirtecL Half a head; a length and a quarter. Ops was fourth. Time, 2min 25 3-ssec, Dividends—Win: £ll 1* 6d. Places: £2 8s 6d, £3, £5 19s.