EXCELLENCY SMASHES RECORD IN CHALLENGE STAKES

Chronicle (Levin), 15 March 1948, Page 6

EXCELLENCY SMASHES RECORD IN CHALLENGE STAKES

\ South Island stables won five of the eight races. at Trentham on Saturday including- tfie Autumn Haiidicap by Sigfi'aPOfficer/ the Railway Handicap by Desert Girl, the Thompson, Handicap by. Frances, and the North Island Challenge Stakes- by- Excellency. Excellency led always in the Challenge Stakes and won brilliantly after running the seven furlongs in 1.24 which Was fbeord time for the race, •' The attendance was good," the course was. fast, and the totalisator turnover was £180,357, eompared with £171,975^ , last year, the increase being £83814. . • -

Arctic Circle Finished Well Now trained at Riccarton, Arctie Circle finished smoothly to win the liighweight from Sunshine Bay and Mine Host. It was a grand finish and a furlong from the post Sunshine Bay, Ifelmont, Mine Host, Master Gary, Vassilikos, Culloden Moor and Gynerio were spread across the course. Then Arctic Circle streaked up ou the outer aud won going away by a length from Sunshine Bay which stuck on to beat Mine Iiost by a neck' and Culloden Moor and Master Gary followed at head inter'vals. Air Belle Showed Courage Air Belle showed courage when winniug the Nursery Handicap for she was under pressure a long way from home. A furlong from the line it looked.as if she would be beaten but at the finish she wfis a length in front of Buchanan which was a neck ahead of Resolute. Then at head intervals came Yadoz and Lcyma. Excellency Did Not Give Anything Else a Chance Excellency gave a thrilling exhibitioJi of galloping to win the Challenge Stakes in 1.24 and she iinished brii- * liautly. They had not gone far before she and Magical were out in front set--ting a rare pace. Excellency was clear of Magical and Great Trek as they raced to the straight and the pace was so solid that Wild Note and Irish Note. though under pressure, were making no impression. Not long after they had straighteiied up Great Trek threw out a determined challenge but Excellency immediately responded and she won as she lilced by over two lengths from Great Trek. Tlxere was a siinilar margin to King's Eansom and Voltaic was t'ourth. Excellency 's time established a new reeord for Trentham. Signal Offi-cer's Grand Performance Signal Officer was favourite for the Autumn Handicap and after moving up to be in seventh place behind Selas, Indian Dawn, Alorotai, Catterick Bridge: aud pav Eault three furlongs from; 'hoiiid he ruri up to Selas and Indian' Da.iVn inside the last furlong and won; by over a length from Selas which had; set the pace from the start. In thirdi [)lace not mueh over a length away was* the old chainpion, Langue d'Or, and' jjiext were Desert Fox, Gay Eault, Catd ierick Bridge and Yasda. ? Inside the last furlong Indian Dawni foll and her rider, L. J. Ellis, eseaped; with a shaking and a slightly sprainedi wrist. Eilis was engaged to ride Ronald) Macdonald, Erances and Desert Girl> later in the day but after pilotingf Rojiald Macdonald into second place) behind False Step in the Tinakori' Handicap he asked to be relieved of thej other mounts. It was harcl luck for: hini because Frances won the Thompson; Handicap and Desert Girl the RailwayHandicap. False Step Beat Ronald Macdonald False Step, a daughtei1 of the great. niare, Tripping, won the' Ti nakorl Whttbv dicap brilliantly from the South Island-' ers Ronald Macdonald and Bay Fort, and she had to be brilliant to do so. Tranquil Gold, False Step, Eadv Myrtle and Silver Stream, Paper Ruffle, Blue Pier, Bay Fort, Garry, Ronald Macdonald and Diaua Reynard was the ordcr early, and Bay Fort and Ronald Macdonald had improved to be within striking distance of Tranquil Gold, False Step and Lady Myrtle as they straighteued up for the run home. Half-way dowu the home stretch False Step' raced to the front and won nicely. from Ronald Macdonald which finislied* really well to beat Bay Fort for second.. Diana.-Reynard was fourth followed byTranquil 'Gold and Diameter together. f Frances Finished with Great Dash Frances finished fast to win the Thompson Handicap and her time — 1.3 71 — equalled the raee record estab-

lished by Mr. T.! A.- Duncan's great' mare, Oratory. Brown Derby set the pace to the home turn Where he *was followed by Francles, Mesalliancey Sea Fury, Revoite, Prince Goronach and Marilyn. Frances soon ran past BrownDerby and she won nicely by two lengths from Mesalliance which stuek on gamely to beat Kartikeya by a head. Brown Derby was fourth followed .by Revoite. . ' Desert Girl Was Brilliant When the Railway Handicap field raced on to the course proper Petre Mar, Citril, Cot-case and The Pagan were showing out ahead of Deprive aiid Fleetwood. A furlong from home tlie issue was well in doubt but then Desert Girl flashed up on the outer to win brilliantly by half a Jengtn from Veine d'Or, which just beat Fleetwood. Nextwas Citril ahead. of Deprive. The time. for the six furlongs was I.10J. Good Price by Torrent The ^wapuni-trained filly, Torrent, won "the concluding event narrowly from Bobby Dazzler and the fastfinishi'ng Maryburn and' paid over a scor.e on tho win macliine. Super Lake, Kumari, Torrent, Minlon, Lord Holland and Beechwood were proniinent after a furlong and Bobby- Dazzler, Maryburn and Fox 'Flame soon worked up into handy positions in a bunched field into tlve straight. A furlong from • home Torrent, which had gone through alongthe rails, a;;d Bobby Dazzler were in front and under a hard ride when Maryburn, late to get clear, finished fast to issue a challenge and in a grand finish Torrent won by a neck from Bobby Dazzler which hung on to beat Maryburn by a nose. Next home were Haere Huku and Earnbridge. Results are: — Winner trained by C. G. Humphries, Riccarton. PLUNKET NURSERY HANDICAP, , £800; 6 furlongs. •8-8i (AlR BEELE, 8.0; (R. J. Auck;- . i * ram) .. .. . . « .. ... . 3 . 2-3 Buchaua'U, 8-.9-: (-Jj- McFarlanc) 2 4-2 ( Resolute,. 7.0 (L^ J. Ellis) .. .3 . Alkor^^y-Y^dozJ^ji Blue Bolivar, 9-9* Finigin, G^5 Ir^sistlble, 7-7 Harleyholm, 3-4j:fJiOrq jAzure, 12-12 Musselman, lO-lCT.'Blue Spec, 13-13 Pe'rdita, 19-19 Atoli; lf-ifi Aki Aki, 16-17 Figh'ting' "Fox, ' 21-2 1 Radiant Maid, 20-19 Meinentd; 14-14 Sea Shanty; 14-15 Brenldek and Gold Lap, 4-2 Lfeyum bratlket6d w*ith "third - ;horseF Res'ol'utel 18-18 Tanjeen. •m'ia'i -mj oi ; ; -Length; ne'ck.C-"Vadoz was- fourth. ; Time, 1.121. ' Winner trained by A; Goodinan, Trentham.: i !' -NORTH -ISLAND CHALLENGE ■- . : - -STAKES, £1750; 7 -furlongs; c ■ 3-3 EXCELLENOYjc '8.3 .(W-.- F.- .-■ - Ellis) -v. .. J. ' 11 4-4 - Great Trek, '8.61 (J. 'Campbell)i- 2 1-1 i King's Ransom, 9.1 (SP. ; Web- -• J.V ster) '; . . : '.jv . . I 3 2*2 "^Yplt'aie, 9.0'. (Gt.Ri Tattershll) 4 V/ AlsO^^7; 6-6'Mapcaf; ' Two lengths each way. Time, 1.24 — a course-record. , Winner traiifed by A. McKay, Riverton, AUTUMN HANDICAP; £3500; 11 miles. I-1 SIGNAL OFFICER, 9.5 (C. T. Wilson) . . .. 1 5-5 Selas, 7.8 ( J. Campbell) .... 2 II-11 Langue d'Or, 8.0 (Y. J. Sellars) 3 3-3 Desert Fox, 8.6 (J. McF>arlane) 4 Also: 2-2 Howe, 6-6 Indian Dawn (fell), 8-8 Gay Stroller, 10-10 Gay Fault, 12-12 Royal Victor, 4-4 Yasda, 9-9 Catterick Bridge, 7-7 Morotai. • Length; two'-" lengths. ' Tiine, 2.32^. Winner tf.ained by, B.. E. McLellan, lnvefcfirgrll. TINAKORI HANDICAP, £700; * ,7. fu-rlbngs. 3-4 FALSE STEP, *9.2 (J. McFar-

lane) » * . « •• • • • • . • • , • I, I-1 Ronald Macdonald, 7.9 (L. J. .Ellis) .. .. .. .. 2 4-3 Bay Fort, 8.3 (A. J. Stbkes) . 3 Also: 7-7 Diameter, 8-8 Beguile, 5-5 Paper Ruffle, 16-17" Silver Stream, 14-12 Tranquil ' Gold, . 2-2 Diana Reynard, 12-11 Angell, 13-14 Colorado Maid, 9-9 Commercial, 18-16 Reveller, 15-15 Garry, , II-13 Sly Gold, 6-6 Lady Myrtle,. 10-10 Blue Pier, 17-18 Night Royal. ' . Length; two l.engths. Diana Reynard . was fourth. Time, 1.254,. Winner trained by Mrs. L. Campbell and J. H. - Jefferd, Hastings. THE THOMPSON HANDICAP, £2250; 1 mile. 1 ' ' 4-3 FRANCES, 8.4 (C. T. Wilson) 1 I-1 ■ Mesalliance, 8.3 (G. R. Tattersall) 2 7-7 Kartikeya, 7 >.7 (K. Ford) 3 3-5 Brown Derby, 8.0 (B*. Markwick) ' ^ : Also: 5-4 Tenor Royal, 2-2 Revoite, 9-9 Alright, 6-6 Sea Fury, 8-8 Castlebrae, 12,-12 Fairhome, 10-10 Marilyn, II-ll Prince Coronaeh. . Two lengths; 'head. Time, 1.374. Winner trained by owner (D. P. Wilson), Wingatui. RAILWAY HANDICAP, £1750; 6 furlongs. 6-6 DESERT GIRL, 7.12 (A. J. Stolces) . . l 11-9 1 Veine d'Or, 7.3 (A. C. Messervy) 2 3-3 Fleetwood, 7.0 (W. F. Ellis) .. 3 1-1 Citril, 8.6 (C. T. Wilson) . . . . 4 Also: 4-4 Theocritus," 2-2 Deprive, 7-7 The Pagan, 5-5 Petre Mar, 9-10 Lord Theio, 8-8 Cot-case, i0-ll King of Quiz, 12-12 Mr. Valiant, 13-13 Theio Light. Half a length; nose. Time, 1.1 04, Winner trained by J. S. Shaw, Riccarton. . SILVERSTREAM HANDICAP, £800; . 1 mile and 3 furlongs. 10-10 TORRENT, 7.11 (V. J. Sel-' lars) j 3-3 Bobby Dazzler/* 7.12 (W. F. Ellis) ... 2 1-1 Maryburn, ' 7.13 (C. Mcl)oiiald) 3 Also: ;2-2 Earnbridge,' 7-9 Beechwood, 9-8 Haere Huku, 5-6 Fox Flame, 6-5 Lord Holland,. 11-11 Tuki Ngapo, 4-4 Minloil, 8-7 Super Lake, 12-12 Kumari. Neck; nose. Haere Huku was fourth. Timo, 2.21. Winuer trained by O. J. Thomson, Awajjuni.