LADY PAY'S CUP

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 32, 8 February 1943, Page 5

LADY PAY'S CUP

FAVOURITE UNLUCKY MATAMATA SIDELIGHTS Although the four-year-old Autopay mare Lady Pay won the Matamata Cup on her merits on Saturday, there was little doubt in the minds of observers that Volifox, the each-way favourite, was unlucky to lose. The little B'oxbridge mare is invariably somewhat slow in the earjy stages of her races, md on this occacion she was also hampered at a vital stage, with the result that she was conceding the pacemaker, Lady Pay, five lengths at the home turn. Called upon by JDye to give of her best, she responded magnificently, and she was literally flying at the finish, but still a nose to the bad as Judge H. Dent was reached. Just Failed The defeat of Volifox was galling to her many admirers, but nothing can detract from Lady Pay's performance. Mr. Shand's mare commenced very smartly to take the lead, and thereafter Emmet Pope's apprentice, the diminutive V. Wood, rode a nice waiting race in front. The lad was not at all bustled when Foxlore ran to his mount after half the distance had been covered, and it was not until the field approached the home stretch that he shot Lady Pay away to gain an advantage which proved to be the vital contributing factor to success. It was nice work. Lady Pay has had eight runs this season for two wins, two seconds and two fourths, her previous success this term being in the Cambridge Handicap at Te Rapa on November 21, when she beat a strong field of sprinters over seven furlongs. Gay tally Shows TTp A surprise feature of the race was the prominent running of Mr. Norman Wade's representative, Gay Lally. This handy son of Whirlwind and Diversion had had only one race since last September, and, in the circumstances, it was not surprising to see him the outsider but one, Billy Peach. Gay Laily was in the middle of the field for most of the journey, but when the straight was entered he loomed up on the rails to finish on very strongly under pressure, and was only a head behind the winner as they went past the post. As he had a very hard race over the final quarter-mile, a few days on the easy list might well be to his advantage. A Return to Form Monte Cristo, which went all to pieces during a visit to Australia a couple of seasons ago, when his racing ability was highly rated, gayi a glimpse of form when he took the Walton Handicap from Chain Acre and British Mint. The six-year-old son of Bronze Eagle and Archeno was handicapped 8.12, but a 71b allowance was claimed for apprentice S. v ßrown, and the running suggested that this was a wise move, for Monte Cristo had to be ridden right out to secure a half-length win. He now races in the colours of the Hon. E. R. Davis and Mr. O. Nicholson, and is trained by T. S. Verner at Takanini. Local Horses Do Well Horses trained at Matamata had something in the nature of a field day, winning the Tirau Hurdles (Radiant Bay), First Railway Handicap (Bevace), Waharoa Handicap (Babrow), and both divisions of the Putaruru Stakes (Great Draw and Our Joy), while Prince Rewa, second in the First Railway, and Two Pals, second in the Second Railway, also added to the good record of the country centre. Spirited Wagering Betting, as usual nowadays, was nothing if not confident, and the final count showed £42,897 invested, this an increase of £14,925 10/ on the total at the previous meeting. ROTORUA REHANDICAPS Rehandicaps for the Rotorua Racing Club's annual meeting at Matamata on Saturday are:— Pohutu Hurdles.—Radiant Bay, 71b, making 10.9. Mokoia ' Hack Handicap.—Bevace, 71b, making 8.2; Sir Grant, 81b, making 8.6. Rotorua Cup.—Lady Pay, 61b, making 7.10. Geyser Hack Handicap.—Bright Fox, 61b, making 8.3. Hot ' Springs Handicap.—Babrow, 81b, making 8.1. Acceptances close to-day. AUCKLAND TROTS Acceptances for the Auckland Trotting Club's meeting at Alexandra Park on Saturday next close with Miss K. J. Glover, assistant-secretary, at 3 p.m. •to-day. N.Z. VICTORIES HART SCORES FOUR TRIES WALES AND AUSTRALIA GO DOWN (N.Z.E.F. Official War Correspondent) CAIRO, Feb. 6. Two All Blacks were the stars of a brilliant .exhibition of Rugby at Maadi Sporting Club, when a strong New Zealand team overwhelmed the Cairo Area Welsh fifteen by 41 points to nil. The Welsh team had had an unbroken run of victories until it met the New Zealanders. Given plenty of the ball by a pack which controlled the scrums and line-outs throughout, a fine set of backs gave a sparkling display. Behind the scrum was C. K. Saxton, South Canterbury, Otago and Southland All Black, who gave a brilliant exhibition in his first game as half in Egypt. He was well up to his best New Zealand form. G. F. Hart, Canterbury's crack All Black wing, scored four dazzling tries in the first spell. The scorers were Hart (4), Elkis, Newlands, Welch, Robinson, Snow and Kirschberg. Elkis converted four tries and Kenny, the fullback, kicked a penalty goal. A London message states that the New Zealand Combined Services Rugby team defeated the Australian Air Force by 8 points to 5. This was the first interDominion game in Britain since the outbreak of war. It was the Australians first game together, whereas the Not Zealanders have been playing against the best British clubs regularly and successfully. _ >