FAVOURITES FAIL AT ELLERSLIE RACES

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 241, 12 October 1942, Page 5

FAVOURITES FAIL AT ELLERSLIE RACES

Supporters of favourites had a very lean time at the Auckland Racing Club's spring meeting at Ellerslie on Saturday, when only one first fancy, Lord Chancellor, succeeded In winning — and even in this case there was a catch, as the win pool was split three ways to cover the divisions. The result was that supporters of Mr. A. J. Court's horse found themselves betting odds on.

The biggest surprise of the day was associated with the Mltchelson Cup, which was won rather well by the outsider Lovaals, one of Mr. Ben Goldwater's breeding. The Vaals—Lomint mare paid well-nign three-quarters of a century, and this was easily the best dividend returned, the next best being that of Marble Fox in the Flying Handicap. Others to pay double figures were Aero King (Shorts Handicap), Ascot Bloom (third In Mltchelson Cup) and Olga's Pal, the Welcome Stakes winner. Notable Failures Bonny Pay was made a warm favourite for the Great Northern Guineas, won by the class Nlghtmarch colt Representative, but the little Autopay gelding met with interference early in the race, thus losing many lengths and being sent back to a bad last. The Judicial committee subsequently inquired into the "Interference" —the term used In the official report— but no further action was taken.

The report failed to disclose the nature of the Interference or the cause of It, with the result that the committee laid itself open to the dissatisfaction expressed at subsequent post-mortems. The presumption Is that no blame was attachable —but why not say so if proof beyond reasonable doubt was lacking? It is regrettable that no explanation was given for the reason which impelled the committee to take action, as the racing public is very Interested In points of this nature. Regal Fox, winner of the Avondale and Poland Cups, was heavily backed to win the Mitchelson Cup, but he gave his admirers a poor run for their money. As usual, he began well, and passing the stand was one of the leaders, but he was pulling unusually hard on the rails and commenced to lose ground before the straight was reached. He was not among the first seven at the Judge.