Sporting FOUR SOUTHLAND WINNERS

Southland Times, Issue 24872, 12 October 1942, Page 3

Sporting FOUR SOUTHLAND WINNERS

SUCCESS AT DUNEDIN MEETING Southland horses had a field day at Wingatui on Saturday. They won four races, were second three times and third twice, and earned for their owners £lOlO. Their successes included the Ranfurly Handicap, the principal handicap event on the Dunedin Jockey Club’s spring programme, and the McLean Stakes, the first two-year-old classic of the new season in the South Island. The outstanding performance was that of Royal Lancer, who carried 9.8 in the Ranfurly Handicap and won with something in hand. It was his second start for the season. He has now won £2805 in stakes for his owner, Mr W. Swale, of Limehills. Royal Lancer was trained by F. W. Ellis and ridden by W. F. Ellis, a highly successful combination which won three races for the stable on Saturday. Mr Swale and the Ellises also were successful in the McLean Stakes, Invulnerable, the half brother, (by Siegfried) to Royal Lancer, winning and giving the stable its first success in the event. It also marked the first classic success of W. F. Ellis, who capped three years of riding in the event by winning pointlessly on Invulnerable. By his win on Saturday, Invulnerable thus brought a second Southland success in the McLean Stakes in two years. Last year Southland stables supplied the winner and runner-up, . and this year they filled first and third places, Royal Flight (Mr D. M. Tweedie’s filly) being beaten for second place by Soncy. Southland’s record in the event can now be regarded as a good one. In the last five contests Southland horses have won twice, been second three times (Gold Flight, Desert Maid and Carolyn), and third twice (Dark Flight and Wild Coon). MACEDOINE AND MARQUEE Other Southland successes on Saturday were those gained by Macedoine, the Salmagundi-Honest Maid filly, owned and trained by R. E. McLellan, who won the- Novice Handicap, and Marquee, racing in the interests of the Estate of the late Mr Thomas Baird and trained by F. W. Ellis, who won the Clarendon Handicap. Place-getters were Colonel Rouge, Dark Colleen, Royal Flight, Sing Sing and Gnohill. Apart from the actual racing the features of the southern successes were the 100 per cent, wins gained by F. W. Ellis, who saddled up three horses for three wins, and the riding of W. F. Ellis, who scored three wins and a second m six races. W. F, Ellis has now ridden 90 winners. He is in his sixth season as a jockey. Horses from the Ellis stable on Saturday won £755. WAKARI HURDLES.— Strip won the Wakari Hurdles comfortably after being kept in behind the leaders until the run home. He had too much pace for the others and jumped better than he had done previously. He was well .handled by P- J. Boyle, jun., the Heddon Bush apprentice. Another Southland apprentice, F. Boyle, rode the second horse, Colonel Rouge, who raced prominently for his first outing for several months. Colonel French did not look like a winner, but Norse jumped wefll and held the lead across the top. He hung on for third money, three lengths behind Colonel Rouge. Auctor was half a length away fourth, then followed Lady Don and Last Refrain. NOVICE HANDlCAP.— Macedoine gave Southland stables their first win. She hopped out smartly from the rails position, and although temporarily headed by Silver Mask across the top, she quickly regained the lead and stalled off strong challenges in the run home. It was an impressive performance as she made the pace and then finished on when threatened by Pallid. The latter drew equal with Macedoine at the distance and the pair settled down to a neck and neck ride. It was a close finish, but Macedoine got the verdict by half a head. Pallid was well placed in the running and was unlucky to meet such a good one in Macedoine. He raced in fifth place behind Macedoine, Silver Mask, Damascus and Maiden’s Money and put in some telling work at the finish. Damascus was three lengths away third, two lengths clear of Foxleap, who finished fourth after getting away slowly. Jonnara, the Goretrained mare, was unruly at the barrier and was left when the field was started. KAIKORAI HANDICAP.— Desert Maid, the favourite, refused to face the barrier, and when it was released she was left standing. Help Mate also played up and was left hopelessly. Pianiste.and Lady Nuffield made the early running from Gnohill and Dark Colleen, and Milton Abbas raced in a handy position behind the leaders. Across the top Lady Nuffield appeared to go back on Gnohill who lost his position. Dark Colleen and Pianlste were clear of Milton Abbas Into the straight and in the run home Dark Colleen took the lead, but was overhauled by Milton Abbas who scored fairly decisively by half a length. Lord Midas, who ran into fourth position when Gnohill was checked, finished well for third three lengths behind Dark Colleen. Lady Nuffield was fourth, followed by Coy, Pianiste and Gnohill.

RANFURLY HANDICAP.— From a good start Atreus went to the front from Royal Lancer, Southern Sail, Taxpayer and Nightcalm. but racing into the back stretch Taxpayer and Night calm had run to the front from Atreus, Royal Lancer, Southern Sail and Gold Flight. The Raker and Boloyna were next and The Joker well back. Royal Lancer moved up across the top and into the straight was just behind Taxpayer, with Atreus and The Raker his nearest attendants. Royal Lancer took the lead without apparent effort and held off a determined challenge by Atreus who finished well three lengths in front of The Raker. The Joker finished fourth two lengths away; then came Gold Flight, Taxpayer and Fidelis. DUNEDIN GUINEAS.— Lord Advocate was backed as if unbeatable, but he had to strike his colours to the inconsistent Foxhaven, who won well. Lord Advocate and Steward led out from Botany, John Gay, Foxhaven and Pioneer, and at the halfmile the order was Lord Advocate, Steward, and Botany, with John Gay, Foxhaven and Straight Bat making up ground. John Gay challenged the leader and Botany made a run on the rails, but Foxhaven, on the outer, finished best and beat Lord Advocate by a length. Botany was half a length away followed by Straight Bat and John Gay. Pioneer, Steward and Lincoln were well back.

McLEAN STAKES.— RoyaI Flight was smartest away in a good start for two-year-olds, but Inside a furlong Invulnerable had run up to her, with Islam and Soncy handy. Hadrian was at the head of the others and Slipstream, who did not get away well, was showing up. Invulnerable had Royal Flight beaten as heads were straightened for home, and in the run to the judge the leader had, to shake off Soncy who was finishing strongly. Over the last 100 yards Invulnerable went away and won with ease by four lengths; Soncy beat Royal Flight by a length and Slipstream was two lengths further back. Islam and Hadrian were next.

TELEGRAPH HANDICAP.— St. Cloud came with a late run and won the open sprint with something in hand. All Night was backed “off the card,” but failed to make much impression on the leaders after a bad getaway. Both All Night and AngloIrish were slow away. Royal Chorus and Egyptian Rose were the first to break the line, but Sing Sing, from the rails position, quickly ran up to them and All Night ran into fourth place. Egyptian Rose and Royal Chorus held their positions into the straight and Sing Sing drifted, but came again, and although fifth below the distance, she got through for second money, two lengths behind St. Cloud, whose run from the distance was irresistible. Night, Pal finished fast, but was cut out of second money by Sing Sing. All Night was a poor fourth; then came Egyptian Rose, Royal Chorus and Leighnor.

CLARENDON HANDICAP.— Marquee brought Southland’s wins to four by a clear-cut win in the Clarendon Handicap. He was in about sixth place at the half mile, but he made a good ruri across the top and was third into the straight on the outside of the leaders. At the distance Marquee went to the front and won by two lengths from Arabian Night, who came with a late run and beat Gnohlll by a head for second money. Kohara was fourth, then came Tissue, Milton Abbas, Dark Colleen and Gold Nugget.