THE TURF SHENANDOAH CONFIRMS HIS RECENT GOOD FORM IN REEFTON HANDICAP

Grey River Argus, 6 September 1948, Page 6

THE TURF SHENANDOAH CONFIRMS HIS RECENT GOOD FORM IN REEFTON HANDICAP

Conditions were ideal for the Reefton Jockey Club's annual Spring meeting on Saturday. There was some excellent racing, Rarely can such a series of exciting finishes have been experienced- in the course of one afternoon's racing. The success of Shenandoah was well received, the heartiness of which was not entirely lin the manner in which he was supported on the totahsator, but in the real merit of his performance. Flying Orders .had an effortless, all-the-way win in the open sprint, fully justifying the sublime confidence investors placed in him, while the splendid performance of Sitology, in winning the Lewis; Pass Handicap had to be seen to be appreciated. The light' harness events produced in Piquant, a horse with more than average ability, and pne that appears assured of going to higher honours. Speculation throughout the day was brisk. Four favourites were successful, while there were several doublefigure dividends, Song Girl the winner of a division of the Novice Stakes, returned her supporters a dividend over the third of a century mark. The tjotalisator handled £15,051a, compared with a turnover of £10,983 on the corresponding day last year. This represented an increase of £4,0681. Results are as follows:—

Results: — INANGAHUA HACK HANDICAP £135; One mile and 150 yards. 1/1 SWORD DANCER, 8.6 car. 8.3 W. Skelton) .". 1 5/4 SITOLOGY, 8.5, car. 8.10 (H. Conza) 2. 4/5 LEESTON, 8.3 (Hampton) 3 c Also started: 2/2 Young John, 3/3 Newell Post, 7/7 Merrijigs, 8/8 Victoria Range, 6/6 Wandering Minstrel . Three quarters of a length; two lengths. Time 1.55 3-5. , Merrijigs was factious at l the start, failed to jump out cleanly, and was soon hopelessly out of the race. Crombie hopped Newel Post out smartly, and on settling down did best in the early race 'for the lead. Galloping well within himself, Sitology moved up to dispute the lead with Newel Post, and at the end of two furlongs actually took over control to pilot the field down past the post with a round to go. Swinging) out of the straight, Sitology sneaked away to enjoy a break of six lengths as they travelled down the back and. approached the half. At this stage little Billy Skelton shook Sword Dancer along, and this horse responded gamely to move up and enter tne straight on terms with Sitology, then coming Newel Post, Young John, Leeston and Wandering Minstrel. In the run to the judge, Sword Dancer, hard-ridden, finished full of running, to win convincingly from Sitology, who came again right on the post. Leeston was two lengths away third, the next to finish being Wandering Minstrel, Newel Fost and Young John. IKAMATUA TROT £145; Class 3.37, one mile and a half 1/1 PIQUANT, scr (G. Cameron coupled Grattan Chief 1. 5/4 ARTFUL, 24yds bhd., (I. G. Bennett) 2 10/10 LOYAL VOLO, scr, (A. Marr) 3. Also started: 6/7 Adelma, 11/11 Amos Grattan, 2/2 Aristocrat, 4/5 Sky Hook, 3/3 Wrackdale, 9/9 Sand Bird, 7/6 Wynleaf, 8/8 Motto. Six lengths; length and a half. Time 3.33, 3.31 2-5, 3 35 JUNCTION NOVICE STAKES £120; Five Furlongs. ‘ Skyhook, who drew the ace at the barrier, was first to hit his hopples, but almost immediately became unbalanced and left his feet. Piquant then took over the role of pacemaker, and thereafter never looked in danger of defeat. At one stage she opened up a break of eight lengths on the field. Her nearest attendants were Artful, Loyal Volo, and Aristocrat. Artful got within a length of Piquant only under sufferance. In the run down the straight Piquant cleared right away to win easing up by six lengths from a very tired horse in Artful. An outsider in Loyal Volo broke inside the last furlong, but settled down quickly to come on for the minor placing. Aristocrat, Adelma, Motto and Wrackdale followed the placegetters home in that order. «« * First Division 7/8 TETARA, 8.10 (R. Burt) 1 3/3 CRICKET FIELD, 8.10, (R. G. Bradshaw) 2 5/5 MISS LORETTA, coupled Miss Colleen and Gallant Bess, 8.10, (R. J. Frame 3. 'Also started: 11/11 Advent, 1/1 Morning Watch, 2/2 Blue Print, 13/12 Sleepy Song, 10/9 Waihora. Half a length; two. Time 1.4 1-5. Cricket Field endeavoured to win from end to' end, but failed to withstand a strong challenge from the fastei’ finishing' Tetara. Morning Watch tried to go with Cricket Field in the early stages, but found the pace too hot. Miss Loretta came witn a late run to take third place from the staunch favourite Morning Watch, who proved a real disappointment.

Second Division 9/10 SONG GIRL, 8.5 (N. A. Comtie) I 6/6 BAMBALINA, 8.5, (H. Conza) 2 4/4 REGAL LILY, 8.10, (H. Phillipps) _ ,2 Also started: 6/7 Cardmaster, 5/q Miss Colleen coupled Gallant Bess, 10/9 Minerva coupled Ryeland. Head; three lengths. Time 1.55. , The start was delayed somewhat bv Miss Colleen and Ryeland,. who refused to line up with the held. Miss Colleen finally threw her rider, A. i. Campbell, who incidentally was having his first ride since he was injured in a fall from Arctic Hero at Omoto. Miss Colleen was re-mounted -by R J. Frame. Regal Lily bounded out smartly and was soon nicely clear of Song Girl, Bambalina and Miss Colleen Bambalina' went around the two leaders quickly, and there little between the three of them as theyastraightened up for the run home. Song Girl and Bambalina sorted themselves out, and in a colossal finish Song Girl got her head in front right on the post. Regal Lilv was three lengths away third. REEFTON HANDICAP £170; One mile and a quarter. 3/3 SHENANDOAH, 7.7, car. 7.0 (M. Jones) 1 1/2 WEE MAC, 8.1, (Burt) 2 6/5 VELVET SLIPPER, 7.6, car. 7.0 (N. Eastwood) o Also started: 2/1 Renege. 5/6 Double Cross, 8/8 Trench Meter, 7/7 Dash o Dink, 4/4 Rival Chase. Three lengths; two lengths. Time 2.13. Wee Mac gave a. good deal oi trouble at the start, and was very slow away. Nothing got. out better than Shenandoah, who led practical- ) ly throughout to give his apprentice . rider, M. Jones, no cause for anxiety. He was followed early by Renege, I Trench Meter and Double Cross, with Dash o’ Dink and Velvet Slipper at the head of the others. At the ..end of three furlongs there was little change in the order, except x tbat Renege, to be within a length oi tnc fence to drop in behind Shenandoah and Wee Mac had made up some ground from the rear. Shenandoah bowled along freely and passing tne half mile was the best part ol a of lengths clear of Renege and Trench Meter, who was dropping ( back fast at this stage. Wee Mac was moving up fast, being followed through by Velvet Slipper. Rounding the turn into the straight, Wee Mac had moved into second place fiom Renege, tot be within a length of the leader. Then came Dash o Dink. ' Trench Meter, Velvet Slipper and Rival Chase. Shenandoah went on to win the money untroubled by four lengths from, the favourite Wee Mac In a terrific struggle foi the miner placing. Velvet Slipper came home'like a shot out of a gun to nose Renege out of the money in the last

. stride. Rival Chase and Dash o’ Dink were the next to finish. Double Cross broke down in the running, and. walked past the post. LEWIS PASS HACK HANDICAP £145; Seven furlongs. 3/3 SITOLOGY, 8.3, car. 7.10 (A. M. Jones) 1 5/4 QUEEN’S GENERAL, 8.11, (H. Conza) 2 1/1 DEFICIENCY, 9.5 (H. W. Hibbard) 3 Also started: 2/2 Sword Dancer, 6/6 Newel Post, 4/5 Victory Night, 10/10 Atomic Star, 8/8 Chatmoney, 7/9 Early Astir, 9/7 Lance Tor, 12/11 Merrijigs, 11/10 Sir Desmond. Two, lengths; length. Time 1.32. Sitology, who had' finished second earlier in the day, put up a very meritorious performance to win going away by two lengths. Queen's General did best in an early race for ) the lead. He soon had a break of five lengths on Sword Dancer and Deficiency, who were together just m front of Lance Tor, with Sitology ' moving up very fast. Passing the half and approaching the three, Queen’s General was still well, clear of Deficiency, with Sitology in hot pursuit. Queen’s General was still in front on straighteneng up from Deficiency and Sitology, who galloped over everything right on the outside. The Leighon gelding hit the front in the last hundred yards, and hung on tenaciously to win very convincingly, with Queen’s General shading the solidly supported Deficiency for second. Sword Dancer was placed fourth in front of a closely bunched field. WAIUTA TROT £135; class 3.20; 11 miles 1/2 PIQUANT, 24yds bhd., (G. Cameron), coupled Grattan Chief 1 2/1 SCOTCH DRIFT, 48yds, (W. Pascoe) 2 9/9 SAND BIRD, 24 yds., (L. Stewart) 3 Also started: 12/13 Adelma, 3/3 Aristocrat, 10/12 Golden Pye, 8/8 Loyal Volo, 6/5 Phoebe’s Pride, 7/6 Sky Hook, 5/7 Wrackdale, 4/4 Artful, 11/10 Wynleaf, 13/11 Motto. Head; twelve lengths. Time 2.50 1-5. Penalised twenty-four yards for her success earlier in the day. Piquant had to fight hard, and was fully ex- . tended to beat Scotch Drift by a head in an exciting finish. Aristocrat lost all chance at the start. Skyhook ; showing his customary early bril- ; liance, was quickly disputing the lead ; with Golden Fye. Piquant, who had made a brilliant beginning, was up in third place at the end of a furlong. Loyal Volo was next, closely followed . by Adelma, Artful, Scotch Drift and i Sandbird. Coming into the straight . with just over seven furlongs to run, Piquant had taken over the lead from a well bunched field, including Artful, Scotch Drift, who had moved op very fast, Motto and Loyal Volo. Piquant led on down past the stand and swung into the back just clear of Artful, getting a perfect trail. Loyal Volo, and Motto three out as they turned down the back. As the), reached the three, Artful cried enough, and Scotch Drift ranged alongside Piquant in the lead to put his head in front as they straightened up. All down the straight they had a mighty struggle. Just short of the line it appeared as though Scotch Drift was doing the better of the two, but Piquant on the inside fought on most courageously under a vigorous drive to take the verdict by the narrowest of margins. Sandbird finished on over a lot of tired horses for third, and rewarded ‘his supporters with a double figure place dividend. Artful finished fourth.

CRONADUN HACK HANDICAP £145; Six furlongs and a half First Division. 8/8 PRECIPITATE, 7.9, (N. A. Crombie) 1 5/5 SKY HIGH, 7.8, (M. Jones) 2 4/4 MORNING WATCH, 7.8 (W. „ D. Skelton) 3 Also started: 1/2 Post Graduate, 7/< Leigh Note, 13/13 Riversdaie. Three lengths; two. Time 1.24 1-5. Sky High and Post Graduate both pulled very hard ov.t in front, and though Sky High fought on for secoil'd, Post Graduate was plainly in trouble with two furlongs to run. Precipitate, never further back than third, came homo full of running to win as he liked by five lengths from Sky High. Morning Watch was a poor third ahead of Riversdaie. Second Division. 6/6 DRESS REHEARSAL, 8.5 (G. Hampton) ...... 1 2/1 SKYZAMI, 7.13, car 8.10 (H. Conza) 2 3/3 MAKA MAKA, 7.8, (H. Phil- q Also started: 16/9 I Royal Flash, 10/12 Chatmoney, 12/11 Evening Star, 9/10 Tranfusionist. Two lengths; length. Time 1.24 3-5. . To the consternation of their supporters and connections, Transfusionist and Royal Flash were both side on when the field was sent on the iourney. As could be expected, Royal Flash careered around the reverse way, and it was only the skilful handling of his rider, E. Rosewarne, that prevented what might, well have been a serious accident, when he met the horses that did actually get away, in the back straight. Transfusionist took no part in the race whatever. Dress Rehearsal got a flier, and everything made to order, and was never headed. Skyzarni and Maka Maka had a great tussle for the minor money. . Skyzami took second place by inches from Maka Maka. Evening Star was a long way back fourth, with Chatmoney the only other horse in the race. MARUIA HANDICAP £155; Seven furlongs. 1/1 FLYING ORDERS, 9.0, (N. Crombie) ■ 1 2/2 CHELLOW DENE, 8.2, (H. Phillips) 2 5/5 FRENCH METER, 7.6, (N. Eastwood) g Also started: 4/4 Avonbndge, 3/3 Renege, 6/6 Early Night. One and a half lengths; two lengths. Time 1.30 3-5. x , r Flying Orders jumped clear oi the field, and was never afterwards headed, winning on the bit from Chellow Dene, who was hard ridden lin an endeavour to overhaul Flying I Orders, but lie had a hopeless chase. 1 Trench Meter held on for third from Renege, who never appeared to be galloping kindly at any stage of 4he race. Early Night was always labouring in the rear, while Avonbridge was 1 also outclassed.