THE CHINA MAIL, MARCH 8, 1989
Annual Meeting Under Review
Mr. Encarnacao Rides
Four
Winners To New Records: Rose Elect Unbeatable?
to be insurmountable, Mr. Pih called! on Navylight to respond much earlier than was generally expected, but Rose Elect continued morrily on and, despite all Mr. Pih's efforts, Navy- light made no impression in an effort to reduce the tremendous advantage
PASSING OF
A GREAT PONY
(By "RAPIER")
un-
which Rose Elect had secured, Amidst great enthusiasm, Rose Elect flashed A brilliant racing career premature- pust the post a worthy winner in rely cut short well describes the cord time.
timely passing of Mr. Eric Mollor's Silkylight, the announcement of whose death from colie yesterday was receiv ed with genuino expressions of regret' in racing circles.
MARKSMAN WORTHY CHAMPION SUB had been won by a Chinese owner.
(By "RAPIER”)
#THE ́Annual Race Meeting for 1939 has come and gone and un- the 1940 Carnival we shall have to remain satisfied with the extra race meetings. To-day I propose to review the five days of the Annual Meeting, touching on the salient features.
This was the second time the Derby
Mr. Ho Kom Tong was the first to do so, and on that occasion it was also being President Hall. ridden by Mr. Encarnacao, the pony
Mr. Encarnacao thus enjoys the distinction of having scored two wina on behalf of the only two Chinese owners to have won the Blueo Riband of the Hong Kong Turf.
When Silkylight first arrived in Hong Kong last year to take part at the 1988 Annual Race Meeting, it was generally agreed that here was a pony which had the appearance of a great The morning of the first day of racing broke with a clear sky
racer, and this opinion was later fully and brilliant sunshine prevailed throughout the afternoon.
justified. Built on strong and power- The
THE OTHERS
ful lines, Silkylight possessed not only second day was somewhat dull and the third day was much cooler, The next best pony, of course, was speed but stamina as well, and its suc- with a strong wind blowing, but the remaining two days were fine. Navylight. Mr. Eric Moller, no doubt, cess has been phenomenal. Up to the Ideal conditions prevailed and with perfect judgment and brought felt disappointed over the failure of end of 1938, it won stakes to the ex- with the track in a hard state it Navylight in to an easy win, and, left
his pony,
but it had to admit de- tent of $10,751.00, to which must be feat to a much superior animal.
added another $2,549,00, which it won' was inevitable that fast times no room for doubt that here was
Eve of real challenger for Rose Elect in the
Harvest, of the Sassoon this year prior to its fatal illness. would be recorded and actually Derby. Eve of Harvest came second Stable, came second in the Trial Plate, Last year Silkylight started off by four new records were establish- and Conquering Time just managed and secured its only win in the Grif-winning the Maiden Stakes in effort- ed. The standard of racing, how-to keep its head in front of Hyndford Heaven, from the same stable, lost to form in the Hong Kong Derby, in which Consolation Stakes. Eve of less manner, and then revealed its true ever, did not compare favourably Bridge to take third position.
Conquering Time in the Lusitano Cup, it clashed with the highly fancied with that of the previous year.
but made amends by winning the Tyro Desert Chief. The crowning achieve- There were far too many loose
Stakes on the following day.
ment of its career, however, was i finishes, and battles for honours, especially in the major events, were few and far between.
THE OWNERS
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With so many ponies entered under his colours, it was only natural that Mr. Eu Tong Sen should occupy the first position in the list of successful owners. His stable scored 10 firsts, due principally to the work of his two outstanding ponies, Rose Elect and De- sert Chief.
a
THE HONG KONG DERBY Bridge did not strip for this all-im- Contrary to expectations, Hyndford portant event, and only five ponies faced the starter. At the very out- set it became apparent that only two stables were actually concerned in this race, ie. Rose Elect (Mr. Encarna CRO) and Navylight (Mr. Pih).
fins
•
Mr. Li Po Chun's Conquering Time the Champions, in which it inflicted was third in the Trial Plate, won the the first and only defeat which Liber- Lusitano Cup, and then in a duel with ty Bay suffered, Many will recall Hyndford Bridge. in Stakes, was defeated."
the Hopeful how this race was run, the finish of which brought forth unstinted admira- Mrs. T. E. Pearce's Hyndford tion for the plucky manner in which Bridge was expected to do well in the Silkylight won the race. At subse- A tense atmosphere prevailed be- Derby, but, running unplaced in the quent Extra Meetings, Silkylight met fore the ponies were led out, and in Trial Plate, it was not sent out for with two reverses, but under the cap- view of Navylight's convincing per- the great race. This pony, however, able handling of Mr. R. B. Moller, who formance in the Trial Plate it was won the Hopeful Stakes and the came down to Hong Kong specially for not at all surprising that it was made Black Rock Stakes.
the purpose, Silkylight completed Inst favourite, the majority of the bet- The other new griffins to win a race year's list of achievements by winning The Cire Stable, (Mr. Eric Moller)ting public evidently believing that each are Blue Express, Galaxy, and the H. K. St. Leger and H. K. Autumn was second, with five firsts and one Rose Elect was likely to be beaten in Lilliber.
Champions. second, and here again the success a similar manner as Desert Chief ex-
NEW SUBSCRIPTION GRIFFINS *
At the Annual Race Meeting recent- achieved was due primarily to the racperienced last year,
The much discussed event, The Val-ly completed, Silkylight won the Foo- ing ability of one pony, Le. Silkylight, This time, however, Mr. Encarna ley Stakes, confined to subscription chow Cup, The Challenge Cup, and the The Anharry stable, owner of cao, made sure of his ground, and it griffins, China ponies, resulted in an Peking Plate, in all of which Mr. J. Marksman. the champion subscrip- was superb tactics on his part, which easy win for Musketeer, ridden, by Pote-Hunt was the jockey. In the last- tion .griffin, should. feel. thoroughly really won the race. He took the Mr. S. C. Liang, The finish was tame.
named event, which Was over 144 satisfied with their acquisition. Mr. only course open to him by making: as Musketeer jumped in front and miles, it was apparent that. Silkylight Li Po Chun was next, followed by S. a run of it from the very start. won without being challenged. In the was not running to form, and it was L. K., Lucky and Mr. L. Dunbar,
On the rise of the barrier, Rose Wong-Nei-Chong Stakes, for which revealed the next day that the pony
was not at all well.
Mrs. J. H. Taggart, whose colours Elect, shot in front, and, by the time appeared for the first time at an An- the first half mile was over, it had a nual Race Meeting, should also be sa-kommanding lead
of many
lengths. tisfied with her two ponies, Lancashire Realising that such a lead was likely Chips and Portrush, which brought her two firsts, two seconds and third. Mr. G. G. N. Tinson had two. wins to his credit, with one third, and Mrs. T. E. Pearce scored two successes with Hyndford Bridge.
THE JOCKEYS
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Mr. Encarnacao was the most suc- cessful jockey, with 13 wins, five se- conds and three thirds, representing a very successful meeting indeed.
a
Mr. Encarnacao also created sensation by being responsible for no less than four new records, and as this achievement is so unique I think it would be of interest if I were to repeat them here:-
1. The Maiden Stakes, Rose Elect,
1.28.4, over six furlongs.
2.
China Stakes, Desert Chief 1.05.0 from the 1% 'mile post distance.
3. Portrush completed half mile in 0.58.3 in Wong-Nei-Chong Stakes.
4. Hong Kong Derby won by Rose
Elect in 2.65.2.
The other successful jockeys in or- der of merit were 03 follows:- Messrs. V, V. Needa, T. L. Wong, J. Pote-Hunt, F. Marshall, D. Black, B. L. Tao, B. A. Proulx, H. C. Plh, P. Y. T. Wei, S. C. Liang, and L. B. Chao.. However, to Mr. P. L. Chiu fell the honour of being instrumental in paying out the highest win divi- dend over recorded; 88711,601
NEW: GRIFFINS, CHINA PONIES
In dealing with the new griffins, China ponies, no one can deny the fact that Mr. Eu Tong Sen's Rose Elect, stands in a class by itself.. During the course of its training, this pony was hailed as a record-breaker over sprint events. but there was nɔme doubt, as to whether it was capable of lasting the Derby distance.
That it did so, and in record time. was in itself not only a tributo to the pony, but, to rider and trainor as well. Ridden by Mr. Encarnacao, Rose Elect made its first appearance In the Maiden Stakes over six, für- longs, which it won in effortless man- ner completing the distance in 1.28.4, which was a record..
THE TRIAL PLATE In the absen Rose Elect and apparently TES bylight was being ridden by akikookwy in Mr. Pili the public, het bekvily on Hyndford Bridge: But Mr. Pih rode his mount"}
G
OLE ACENES.
+
there were three sections, the best race witnessed was that won by Por- trush, with Mr. Encarnaçao up. Ring Continued at foot of Next Column.
EXTRA SPECIAL
Old Bugkland Wikich
JAH WAKIP & TONS KILM
E
K
M
CO.,
LTD.
JOHNNIE WALKER
BLACK LABEL
R
The racing public now mourns the passing of a truly remarkable pony,. one that had a great heart for racing, and one which only required a little urge before responding generously.
Silkylight is the holder of the re- cord for 1% miles, which it accom- plished in 2.21 2/5 last year when it won the H. K. Autumn Champions.
Master (Mr. Tao) took the lead, and it was not until 100 yards from the end that Portrush came into the pic- ture to win a grand race,
The Mongolian Stakes was won by Marksman (Mr. Wong), which also won the Governor's Cup, but the best race among subscription griffins was, witnessed in the Sports Club Cup, over 1 miles.
The start of the race was tame and uninteresting, but no one was prepar- éd for the great finish it provided. Coming into the straight, Celtic Star (Mr. Marshall) and Marksman (Mt. T. L. Wong) were neck-and-neck as they raced down the track, and so keen the finish that the judges nounced a "dend-heat!
was
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THRILLING LATE BURST Another great race was seen in the Exchange Plate. in which Musketeer was made firm favourite after its easy win in the Valley Stakes: It led to within 20 yards of the finish, when Celtic Star shot forward with a great burst to win by a short head, w
Oranje Boven, a much heralded pony, was a failure in the Valley Stakes, but won the Hailar Stakes in most convincing manner,
Then came the Professional Cup and Subscription Griffins Champions. A great duol was expected in this race, but the, finish was very tame. Celtic Star, with Mr. Wong up, was axpected to make a great fight,
but
it did not appear capable of, extending Marksman at the finish. Marksman, ridden by Mr. Needa, was acclaimed the new Champion, and, proved itself well worthy of it.
In the first section of the Nil Den- perandum Stakes, for non-winning subscription griffins of this sonson, tremendous shock awaited‹ puntern,
Starlet, the ultimate winner was ignored in the betting, but, piloted by Mr. P. L Chin, this pony produced an- unexpected burst of speed at the crus clal moment to beat the z-favourite, Sports Venture, over the last 50 yarda, whas a dividend it paid- 88, TAI - the highest authe Valley and will Knit remain so for many yo to