SOME SURPRISES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 309, 30 December 1940, Page 3

SOME SURPRISES.

MANAWATU MEETING.

DARK EAGLE AND TEACONY. Etruscan scored his second success at 'tlhe Manawatii meeting, when lie won the Tiritea High-weight Handicap from Foxiuna, who has run second in his two previous starts at the fixture, and 'had won over hurdles earlier in the season. Red Chief, w'ho was third, occupied a similar position on the opening day. Dark Eagle, who won tihe Birthday Handicap at Levin recently, created a Surprise wthen he accounted for the Liverpool Handicap, the chief event of the day, beating Little Robin by a lliead, with Du Maurier in third place, while Aurora's Star was fourth. Little Robin, who was fourth in the Manawafu Cup a week previously, and third in the Louisson t Handicap on Thursday, should get a stake Shortly. Du Maurier finished third in the Cup.

Teacony was allowed to go out at a good price in the Westbury Handicap, and in a great finish beat tlhe favourite Blue Border by a head, wit'h Lady Ex a similar distance away third. Teacony has previously won at Rotorua, where he is trained, and also ait Levin, and he looks as though' he will hold his own in muc'li better class later on. Blue Border has (been racing consistently this term and has a couple of wins to his credit.

Piastre took the Champion Hack Cup from Gay Fox and Gold Bridge. This is •his best performance since winning the North Island Hack Plate, one mile and a quarter, at Awapuni last April. Gay Fox was third in tlhe.Grandstand Handicap on the first day. .

Rakahanga, who was runner-up to Sir Beau in the Fitzfiieubert Handicap on the opening day, went one 'better when she won the open sprint, the Wood Handicap, nicelv from Wings of Song and Night Eruption. Now that she is ait her best again Rakahanga should get some more money during the New Year holidays. Wiws of Song had previously won at Levin and Feilding, while Night' Eruption J,as ;been showing good form recently, and was in the money on the first day.

Talenta, who was third in the Hidden Handicap on the middle day, annexed the Christmas Handicap from Kotua and Hui. This made W. J- Broughton s second success on tlhe. day. The itotalisator handled £38,380 10/, against £28,659 last year, an increase of £0791 10/. The aggregate for the meetin"- was £114,643 10/. compared with £108 712 for the 1939 fixture, an increase of £5031.