PERUSHA’S HURDLING DEBUT

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25740, 28 February 1949, Page 4

PERUSHA’S HURDLING DEBUT

SUCCESS AT WINGATUI “The Press" Special Service DUNEDIN, February 27. Perusha, which at his previous start ran third in the Winton Cup, made a successful debut as a hurdler in the Taieri Hurdle Handicap on the first day of the Dunedin Jockey Club’s autumn meeting at Wingatui. Perusha, a surprise favourite, was always handy to the leaders, and he ran past Knight Crusader in the straight to win comfortably by four lengths from Benbecula, which made up a lot of ground from the five furlongs post. Knight Crusader was half a length away, third, five lengths clear of Cloister. After an exciting finish in the Trial Handicap the judge was unable to separate Robin Redbreast and Dinnyhazer with Sweet Lorraine half a head away third. Sweet Lorraina took he honours of the race for she was slow away and then ran about when challenging over the last furlong. Baygundi recorded an attractive perperformance to win the Maungatua Handicap. The Salmagundi three-year-old was slow to movte at the start from the inside position, and with half a mile to run was still near the back of the field. He was checked when improving his position about three furlongs from home, and at the straight entrance he was behind Ara Chief, Right Through, Crease, Attractive Air and Silver Spray. Attractive Air, which also dwelt slightly at the barrier rise ran to the front at the furlong and looked likely when he put a break on the field, but Baygundi, gaining ground at every stride, drew on terms 20 yards from the post and won going away by a neck. The little-fancied I-ute-chan, which was well back at the straight entrance, finished solidly to beat Paper View by half a head for third, and Silver Spray was close up fifth ahead of Crease, Lights On, Ara Chief, and Milly Mandy. Right Through, the leader to the straight, tired badly in the run home. Robinfaye. which had raced consistently if without major success, in her other 12 starts this season, opened her winning account in the Dunedin Handicap. A black filly by Robin Goodfellow from Condole and trained at Riccarton by G. Ridgway for Mr J. M. Samson (Dunedin), Robinfaye finished better than Swayup, the leader to the straight, to win by a length. Indiana, which was prominent behind the leaders to the straight, was third, three lengths further back. Tuatea recorded his first win since entering G. S. Barr’s Riccarton stable earlier in the season when he beat Flibbertigibbet narrowly in the Tradesmen’s Handicap. Tuatea was never further back than second in the running and he held on gamely when challenged inside the last furlong. The four-year-old paid more than a quarter of a century for a win. Rehandicaps The following rehandicaps have been declared for the Wellington Racing Club’s meeting, which will commence next SatMaiden Handicap: Miss Broiefort. 8-10. Rimu Handicap: Baksoon 9-7. Plunket Handicap: Sweet Spray 8-5. Tinakori Handicap: Outlook 8-13; Determination 8-7. Silverstream Handicap: Outlook 8-10. Banks Peninsula Racing Club Acceptances Acceptances (racing events) and withdrawals (trotting events) will close at 5 p.m. to-morrow. Advt.